Dare You to Dance

by Rebecca Mock

From the award-winning illustrator of The Four Points series comes a heartfelt middle grade graphic novel about a small-town ballerina attending a prestigious dance workshop. Determined to push herself, she picks the best dancer in class to compete against—only to discover that what her rival really needs is…friendship.

Gracie is ready to take on the ballet world -- starting with the Young Dancer Summer Workshop in New York! It's a two week summer course, and while she misses her family in Ohio, she is ready to show this ballet school that she has what it takes.

Too bad none of the other students got the memo and now Gracie feels like she's already being left in the dust! Luckily, she knows the best way to get herself motivated is with a good rival and who better to pick than the star of the class, Sariah!

Except Sariah doesn’t seem interested in a fun competition with Gracie. In fact, she's so serious that it seems like she barely enjoys dancing at all? Can Gracie break through to Sariah and find the exciting rival she wants? Or is this rivalry, and Gracie's future in ballet, both doomed before it can even start?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Friendship, Comics, Graphic Novels Comics

224 pages, Paperback

Published July 28, 2026

Reviews

[carthi ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

《4.25 stars》

[Linda (The Arizona Bookstagrammer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Random House Kids Influencer Program @randomhousekids @rhkidsgraphic #RandomHouseKidsPartner and Rebecca Mock @rebeccamock for this free book!
“Dare You to Dance” by Rebecca Mock ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Middle Grade Graphic Novel. Location: New York City, NY, USA.

Gracie is attending a 2-week Young Dancer Summer Workshop in New York. Staying with her godmother Dani in a cramped apartment with 3 energetic dogs, Gracie struggles to adjust to the big city. Although she misses her family in Ohio, she’s ready to prove she has what it takes. As the girls come together for the end-of-session performance, the training, cliques, and bullying intensity. Gracie motivates herself by picking Sarah, the class star, as her rival. But serious Sarah doesn’t want a fun competition with Gracie. Can Gracie break through to Sarah and find the exciting rival she wants? Or will she discover a more important need for friendship and support?

Author and Illustrator Mock’s book is about a small-town ballerina determined to push herself. She highlights the intense, competitive nature of elite ballet, and describes Gracie as confident and focused, but with a relatable naïveté toward the big city. Mock’s fluid artwork illustrates the dancers’ strength and grace. It’s 5⭐️s from me 📚👩🏼‍🦳 #rebeccamock

[Samantha Sunderman-Drakeford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Rebecca Mock, Random House Children’s Books, and NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to preview Dare You to Dance in exchange for my sincere review.

The panels were beautifully crafted and helped bring the characters to life. I adored Gracie’s passion and spunk as she navigated this new ballet camp experience. As she fought to fit in, standing out was what she was made to do! The story seemed personal as the author drew on her own experiences of art and the need to be pushed by others, just like Gracie needed to be pushed by Sariah to come into her own greatness! Ballet rivalry is legit and it can make or break you. I loved the friendships built around Gracie, Jaz, and eventually Sariah!

This was a heartwarming graphic novel memoir and I will definitely be including this in my middle school library collection!

[Tiffany Seward · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐ Middle Grade Graphic Novel | Ballet | Friendship & Growth

Thank you to Random House Children's Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Dare You to Dance is a fun, engaging graphic novel that pulls readers right into the dramatic, disciplined, and inspiring world of ballet. The story follows three girls who all dance for very different reasons:

Our main character dreams of having a true rival and wants to follow in the footsteps of her ballet role model.

Her best friend dances simply for the joy of it.

And her rival is driven by the desire to redeem a past mistake made by her predecessor.

As their stories intertwine, the comic explores themes of motivation, pressure, comparison, and what truly matters at the end of the day.

It's a thoughtful and encouraging message for young dancers learning to balance passion with well-being. The visuals bring the ballet studio to life, and the glossary of ballet terms is incredibly helpful, especially for readers who are new to the world of dance.

Overall, Dare You to Dance is a must-read for kids who love ballet, are beginning to dance, or simply enjoy stories about ambition, friendship, and finding your own path.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is hard to be the new girl, in any situation, because you don’t know all the players. You don’t know who to trust, and who to hang out with. In her home town, Gracie is the best ballet dancer around. But in New York, she is a dime a dozen. Everyone there is good. And most everyone has been to this dance camp. Then she sees Sariah, and decides that is who she is going to be her rival, to do better than her.

But Sariah doesn’t want to play games.

Gracie makes a tentative friend with Sariah, and with Jazz, and even with the bullies, until she realizes what they are doing and saying.

This is a cute story, of finding her place, and experiencing the hustle and bustle that is New York City. I agree with Gracie, it is entirely too noisy.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book will be published on July 28, 2026.

[Chelsea]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

Dare You to Dance by Rebecca Mock is a middle grade contemporary graphic novel set in a New York school for young ballerinas. When Gracie was selected to attend a summer ballet program, her main intent was to emulate her idol, Tatiana. But when she arrives, she struggles to keep up with French in all the classes, the fast paced lessons, and her classmates’ rivalries. She meets Sariah, who has ambitions of her own, and Jazmin, a talented dancer struggling with whether she wants to continue dancing.

I loved how expressive and colorful the art was throughout the book. There's so much dynamic movement and Gracie and the other girls are allowed to have big, bold expressions without worrying if they would look ‘pretty’ on the page. The color palette is on the softer side, which lets both the gentle tone and the softer aspects of ballet really shine through even as some of the harsher aspects take center stage.

I really appreciated how the story showed several instructors taking injuries seriously and emphasizing rest instead of pushing through. Too many young people don't understand the limits of their own bodies and how important it is to actually listen when they have aches and pains. This also ties into how being tall can limit the roles a ballerina can play and the frustration that causes so many when it's not something they can even control.

Jazmin spending time considering if she even wanted to do ballet anymore but having very high technical skill and knowledge was a delightful surprise. There's such a long history of media telling people ‘you have a gift so you have to use it’ and here Jazmin is kind of rejecting that narrative. She might become a teacher in the future or maybe even change her mind by the time next summer rolls around. We can't know for sure, but we see that she is both talented and allowed to make her choices as to what she does with that talent.

I would recommend this to young readers who are starting to get involved in ballet or have been dancing for some time and readers of cozier contemporaries looking for a graphic novel on female friendship

[Lexi (Reads and Riesling) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for access to this ARC.

I was not the biggest fan of this graphic novel unfortunately. I felt Gracie was annoying and I was surprised she wouldn’t have just been kicked out of the program with her shenanigans, but I tried to suspend that reality while reading.

The illustrations were not in my favorite style, but they were still interesting. The beginning of the story was rough because it just didn’t make much sense to me with Gracie choosing a completely random person to make her “rival,” but I did like the ending where Jaz got the solo and Gracie and Sariah agreed to be friends. I also think the overall message of the story was good, so I give it a 3.75/5.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Gracie gets accepted into a prestigious Youth Dancer Summer Program in New York City, and lives with her godmother while attending. She is from Ohio, and a little star struck by the variety of dancers from around the world, who seem to know more about dance than she does. She runs afoul of Sariah, who is very standoffish, and Nicole also gives her a hard time. Luckily, Jaz reminds Gracie of moves when she is not paying attention, and translates the teacher's French for her. There is a lot of drama in the school, and jockeying for solos and opportunities. Gracie dares Sariah several times, but Sariah, battling stiff muscles, doesn't want to get hurt... until she does. It's not a horrible injury, but Gracie learns that Sariah's aunt is the dancer Manon, who had to retire from ballet because she was injured. Gracie meets her idol, Tatiana, and learns a lot about being a team player and part of an ensemble after she sabotages Jaz after her friend wins the solo. Luckily, by the end of the book, the campers are much nicer to each other and rediscover their love of dancing.
Strengths: The most intriguing part of the book was the author's note stating that at some point, they felt that they needed to DO something with their drawing, rather than just having it as a hobby, and that they translated this feeling to ballet. Certainly, Gracie and the other dancers think they can be professionals. The levels of drama are very high, and the meanness is right up there with the Sweet Valley Twins graphic novels, which appeals to some readers. The look backstage and how ballet training progresses was interesting, and I had a soft spot for Gracie's godmother and her tiny dogs.
Weaknesses: Graphic novels occasionally have one facet of the drawings (often noses) that really annoys me; in this, Gracie's head often looked flat on one side. No other characters had heads like that, so I had some questions. Otherwise, the illustrations are similar to Gale Galligan's or Gabe Mendez. I wish we had more graphic novels encouraging students to pursue interests like computer programming, where there might be more jobs.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who liked Chase's So Done or Ziegler's The Audition. It would be nice to see more middle grade novels about girls involved in local ballet programs.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of black and white arc with final copy expected to be full color.

Gracie has earned a spot in a prestigious summer ballet camp but finds herself a bit behind and needs a reason to step up her game if she is going to be able to fit in with girls who have been a part of the New York Ballet Company for much longer. So, she sets herself up as a rival to Sariah, one of the program’s more promising dancers. The “rivalry” turns out to be more of a distraction and Gracie learns some tough lessons about focus, listening to those who have more experience as well as how to be a friend even when in such a competitive environment.

The author was very free with ballet terminology, but its use is a tool to help convey the intensity of the program and understanding what ballet position each term represents is not needed in order to feel that mood. The illustrations and arrangement of the graphic panels, too, contribute to the frantic pace of the high stakes camp as well. The 4 named dancers, Gracie, Sariah, the helpful, kind and talented Jazmin, and the mean-spirited Nicole, form a diverse quartet and do a good job of representing the types of personalities often found not only in dance groups, but among competitive activities including sports, band, cheerleading and others. The pacing of the story does seem a bit off with such a limited page and word count but the book beginning on day one of dance camp and ending at the conclusion with a showcase performance.

Middle grade readers are sure to find a character or a situation they can relate to in DARE YOU TO DANCE and many libraries will appreciate will appreciate having a graphic novel featuring ballet.

Target age: grades 4-6
Profanity: none
Sexual content: none
Violence: a jealous on-stage push only
Representation: Illustrations in the b/w arc would lead readers to thinking that Sariah is Black and Gracie could be brown-skinned, possibly Hispanic
LBGTQ+: none

Thanks for the print arc, Random House Kids.

[Sacha · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Dance lovers, get your tights, leos, and buns ready. It's time to hit up summer youth ballet camp and all of the drama that comes with it.

First, I want to thank this author for the line about _Center Stage_. That alone cracked me up.

Young Gracie is staying with her wild godmother and memorably named dogs while she attends this ballet experience in the city. It's clear that Gracie has a lot to learn, and while she has some real grit, she also has a lot of maturing to do. That titular "dare you to dance" that is further reinforced by the image on the cover is proof enough: Gracie's not here for friends. It's too bad since there are some real missed opportunities on that front.

Folks who grew up - or are growing up - in this world will enjoy the over-the-top and simultaneously realistic portrayal of the world of dance for kids. They will also appreciate the chaotic imagery that pairs so nicely and reinforces the tone and feel of the plot, the characters' emotions, and the constant movement associated with being in a space like this.

This is a well executed effort, and I can see a lot of opportunity for follow-up books. I'll be snapping those up if they appear.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Graphic for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Katharine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was fast-paced, but it managed to keep my attention the entire time. Gracie, who is at the top of her ballet class at home, finds herself being just average when thrown into the ballet camp at NYCB. She aspires to be the prima ballerina, but has a long way to go. There are several other characters who are key to the story, but none more so than her "rival", Sariah. Sariah is the niece of a famed ballet dancer and doesn't really have an interest in cultivating a rivalry, but also aspires to be Prima. There is also Jazmine, a girl who has gone to the camp 4 years in a row but never moves forward, and her ex-friend, who will do anything, even cheating, to get the top spot. This graphic novel was a kinder view of how intense and cutthroat the ballet world can be. I did like that Gracie slowly unravels the mystery that is Sariah, and slowly builds upon their "rivalry". I did enjoy the while the focus was on Gracie, Sariah and Jasmine also got decent amounts of character development. I do think the ending leaves a lot of room for a potential sequel, which would be fun! The art style was very pretty, and I loved that it brings a bright energy to the pages.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Brittany Blackerby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I really liked this story. The art is beautiful, and it was so cool to see this particular style of dance captured on paper.

I loved to see the dynamics between the different students; it was a reminder of how easily kids can start friendships and that it never even needs to be said. (One of my longest friendships today started at a volleyball camp the summer before I started high school.)
I think it also showed the different attitudes athletes have for their sport, from the casual to the ultra-competitive to the perfectionists. We got to see all the different personalities through Gracie, who was an outsider and new to the program. Just like her, we were told many things about the girls she interacted with in her group from already-formed opinions, and not all of them correct.

My favorite part was watching Gracie grow from wanting a rival in order to prove her own superiority to wanting a rival in order to push herself to achieve more and also challenge her rival to strive for higher goals as well.

Super cute story that would do well for middle schoolers who compete in any capacity: whether it's sports, dance, or other creative outlet: as a reminder that there is a difference between healthy rivalry and toxic competition.

[fira ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

✦ synopsis :
Dare You to Dance is a middle grade graphic novel following Gracie as she attends a prestigious summer ballet program in New York. Expecting to easily follow in her idol's footsteps, she instead struggles with the rigorous and intense classes. Along the way, she crosses paths with Sariah, a talented but nonchalant dancer, and Jazmin, plunging Gracie into a world of unexpected rivalries.

✦ thoughts :
the illustrations are gorgeous with a fast-paced story! it gives a solid glimpse into the ballet world while highlighting healthy boundaries like resting injuries. however, the plot felt rushed and confusing? gracie forces a one-sided rivalry with a quiet classmate for seemingly no reason instead of focusing on her actual goals. i also wished we got more development for the side characters and the manon and tatiana situation to flesh things out. overall, while the story left a bit to be desired for me, i still recommend it for younger readers looking for a cute graphic novel about friendship and ballet.

thank you Netgalley and Random House publisher for the arc 💌

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall, I did not care for this book as much as I wanted to care for it. I loved the illustrations and they felt like dreamy watercolors from a dream. I have loved Rebecca Mock's other illustrations, so I'm not surprised I loved these. What I didn't care for was the developmental arc of our main character. She never really adjusts to living in NYC which is almost never addressed. Her aunt (who she is staying with) is almost never there so that feels inauthentic to me. Her 'rivalry' with this other dancer at the dance camp is entirely 1 sided until the last 10% of the book which was frustrating. I was more invested in the side issues with some of the other dancers vs the main character and what the book was trying to focus my attention on. I don't think this is a bad book by any stretch, just not one I will be sharing with my middle school students.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC of the book.

[Aubree Lanman · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐ (Thank you NetGalley for this arc!) This book is completely out of my usual genres as it is a realistic fiction middle grade graphic novel, but it is easily one of my favorite graphic novels I've read in a long time. I was first captivated by Rebecca Mock's illustrations. You can tell that they studied art for many, many years from their fluid figure drawings, the specific color combinations they use on every single panel, and how each and panel communicates expression and emotion. This is an artist showing how hours and hours devoted to study, as well as a huge heaping of passion, can create a true masterpiece.

The story itself is also such a delight and captures the spirit of young girls in sports, how challenging it can be to make friends, and how sports inevitably change us, often in the best of ways. I loved the individuality of each character, and how they all were flawed, but still just as lovable.

I don't give 5 stars out often, but this one easily deserves it!

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a digital ARC of this graphic novel via NetGalley. This book is filled with rivalries (both good and bad) and friendship, injury and perseverance. Dive into the cutthroat world of high-level ballet and all its drama in this middle grade read. I’ve enjoyed author Rebecca Mock’s other work, and this is also an enjoyable creation. The pastel illustrations were a bit chaotic at times giving a feel of sensory overload though fit well with the overall feel of the narrator. I appreciate that its scope expands beyond one singular pair of rivals with several interesting side characters with backstories. That being said, I craved a bit more depth in Gracie’s background and motivation, though Sariah was more appropriately fleshed out on the page. Overall this is interesting, intricate and enjoyable.

[Amy Sheng · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dare You To Dance tells the story of Gracie a young ballet dancer who participates in a two week summer intensive. This story shows how competitive ballet is and how the different girls interact with each other and their own dance journeys.

This graphic novel did an excellent job dropping you into the specific world of elite ballet dancers. It showed on the page the dancing and making this as realistic as possible. Also each character was drawn so that you understand them as a dancer but also as the character beyond dance.

I mostly liked the story but thought that it leaned too heavy on the competition and meanness side of dance. As a mom of a dancer this was a little too close to reality.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to review this graphic novel. All opinions are my own.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although Gracie outshines the other dancers in her small Ohio town, New York City is an entirely different matter. While staying with her godmother and feeling overwhelmed by the city's sights and sounds, she also realizes that most [maybe all] of the participants in the two-week summer ballet workshop are far more experienced, worldly, and maybe even better dancers than she is. It's clear that Sariah, a tall dancer with connections to the teachers, is the one to watch, leading Gracie to challenge her for supremacy. But Sariah has problems of her own, and there are other girls who might present problems or might not trustworthy. Ballet fans will love this graphic novel, filled as it is with scenes of grueling practices, a final performance, and rivals turned into friends. Some of the silliness associated with Gracie's dog-loving godmother seemed rather distracting.

[Ashley Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I scribed this question answer book review for my 8-year old daughter:

Who are the characters? And what do we know about them?

Gracie and Sariah are the main characters they are both dancers and they have a bet that their main dance teacher, Miss Margo, would give them the main solo out of the whole class

What lesson did you learn from the story?

To take risks, even when it’s scary.

How did the pictures make you feel?

They made me feel like I was actually in the story because the drawings were so good.

What did you think of the ending?

I liked the ending because it was funny.

Why should someone read this book?

If you like to read stories about competitions, this would be the book for you.

Thank you to Rebecca Mock, the publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Abby Aguilera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Netgalley!

3.5 stars rounded up! I really liked the art for this one - it was dramatic and a little messy, but like it was on purpose - it captured a certain sense of urgency, I thought. It was 3.5 for me because Gracie started to get on my nerves a little bit and I was left with a lot of questions about her mom that I wish had been addressed, since we're privy to the phone calls! I liked Jaz the most and the message around being able to do things just because we love them and not because we want to make a career out of it is so important. Thank you so much for this early copy!

I was given the opportunity to read this title by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[H.R.H. Carpathia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I miss ballet. This book made me miss ballet something bad. Every moment in the classroom came flooding back as I read Gracie’s story. I enjoyed reading all of the steps and the drawings of the characters practicing technique. Gracie is a new student staying in New York so she can attend the ballet school there. Her favorite ballerina Tatiana once attended there too. It does not take long for Gracie to find/ create herself a rival and humor ensues. My favorite part of this book was the look into the world of ballet. I found it portrayed it in a realistic way unlike what is often shown on TV. In class, there is no time for chatter and you must pay attention to your instructor. Gracie makes a number of mistakes as she focuses all of her energy on Saria, the girl she turned into her rival.

[Shannon Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up to 3
As someone who never was a dancer but is fascinated by the world of ballet, I was drawn to this title. That being said, I found myself disappointed in the plot and character development, as I felt they had promise but did not fully develop. Gracie starts off being very focused on others and not herself, and by the end she remains focused on others. I do like some of the messages sent about competition and having healthy competition while not being toxic, but I also wanted more of the side characters than I did of the main character. Overall, the art was good, and I do see the promise of the book, but it felt rushed and didn’t fully develop the plot, themes, or main character.

[Jeni Enjaian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wish I could have enjoyed this book more. In fact, I came close to disliking the book. Aesthetically, the artwork is not my favorite. Additionally, I had a difficult time figuring out the actual ability level of the main character in this book, ie was it a reasonable goal that she aimed for to obtain the solo in the showcase at the end of the summer camp. Also, the relationships did not feel adequately explained. Some of the aspects were endearing, like the childish "armpit farts." (Yes, I did just say that. No, I would not actually appreciate those. Rather, they made the main character more relatable.) Ultimately, I do not recommend this graphic novel.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for this arc.

Gracie is a budding dancer who travels to New York to attend a fancy summer program for ballet. There, she finds herself in the midst of drama, a little behind, and at odds with some of her fellow students. Through friendship ups and downs, she finds her place and gets to grow and improve.

This is a great book featuring many of the struggles young girls face in life, friendship troubles, bullying, and not always getting what you want, and having to grow from that. Gracie is an interesting character, and her surrounding cast creates a vivid world to enjoy. I would love to see more of these characters, but it's also a perfect encompassing story.

[Julia Pika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley & Random House Children's Books for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

The artwork is amazing! I love how stylish it is and the pastel covers are beautiful.

...the downside is that I didn't really care for the story or the characters. The protagonist was a brat just randomly challenging the other character for no reason. I didn't really like that. The book is very chaotic and messy--I like that in the art style, but it weirdly gave me anxiety in terms of the story.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for the free arc! I was excited to read this graphic novel because it is about the world of dancing and the rivalries involved. However, I was disappointed in this story as a whole. Not all of the characters were well-developed and the story itself felt rushed. Also, the energy of the drawing was very frenetic and cluttered. This could have worked well in the scenes in the streets of NYC and during specific dance scenes. However, the overall effect that it had was just leaving the whole story feeling cluttered and not much popped out about the art work.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!


I usually enjoy books and movies that have to do with dance, but for some reason this one just didn't hit. At first, I had a hard time following the plot, and then I had a hard time liking the main character enough to care about her. She was way too focused on a rivalry for seemingly no reason. The illustrations were great, but the story left much to be desired. It's the first time I found myself racing to complete an ARC in time because I wasn't enjoying myself.

[Bianca Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is so true to how the dance world really acts against each other in class, so whom is the best gets the spotlight.

As a kid my dream was to be in the NYC Ballet but my life took me down another path. It was so nostalgic to see all the dance terms and understand (even in French) what the ballet instructor was referring too. I absolutely loved it, especially for a graphic novel. 🫶🏼

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Lisa Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good book for my students for learning to get a long with others. Children assume things and don't know that others may have something else going on in their lives then what is happening in the present. Or something that they are doing may have to do with things in the past. This book helps to make others aware to think of others outside of the box. This would be a good upper elementary/middle school book.
Awareness and friendship and working together.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a fan of rivalry stories in girls' sports and hobbies. And while our MC Gracie is annoying with her rivalry obsession and some of her behavior becomes bullying, I appreciated the lessons learned by the end. The story explored the complexity of how girls can be both friends and competitors and the tensions between those dynamics. The art is fluid, matching the movement of dance. 3.5 stars.

Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for the arc.