Hope in a Ballet Shoe

by Michaela DePrince

Orphaned by war, saved by ballet.

Growing up in war-torn Sierra Leone, Michaela DePrince witnesses atrocities that no child ever should. Her father is killed by rebels and her mother dies of famine. Sent to an orphanage, Michaela is mistreated and she sees the brutal murder of her favourite teacher.

But there is hope: the Harmattan wind blows a magazine through the orphanage gates. Michaela picks it up and sees a beautiful image of a young woman dancing. One day, she thinks, I want to be this happy.

And then Michaela and her best friend are adopted by an American couple and Michaela can take the dance lessons she's dreamed of since finding her picture.

Life in the States isn't without difficulties. Unfortunately, tragedy can find its way to Michaela in America, too, and her past can feel like it's haunting her. The world of ballet is a racist one, and Michaela has to fight for a place amongst the ballet elite, hearing the words "America's not ready for a black girl ballerina".

And yet...

Today, Michaela is an international ballet star, dancing for The Dutch National Ballet at the age of 19.

A heart-breaking, inspiring autobiography by a teenager who shows us that, beyond everything, there is always hope for a better future.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, Autobiography, Africa, War, Biography Memoir

272 pages, Paperback

First published December 30, 2014

About the author

Michaela Mabinty DePrince was a Sierra Leonean-American ballet dancer who danced with the Boston Ballet.

DePrince rose to fame after starring in the documentary First Position in 2011, which followed her and other young ballet dancers as they prepared to compete at the Youth America Grand Prix. In 2013, DePrince danced with the Dance Theatre of Harlem as the youngest dancer in the history of the company, and, in the same year, was a soloist with the Dutch National Ballet.

With her adoptive mother, Elaine DePrince, she authored the book Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina (2014). From 2016 to 2024, she was a goodwill ambassador with the Amsterdam-based organization War Child.

Reviews

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet, touching “Africa to America” story. The author is likable and interesting, if not childlike in her writing. The memoir follows her journey from an orphanage in Africa to her life as a professional ballerina, and chronicles the hardships of getting into the industry not just as one of many competing young women but also as a minority. There is a fair bit of “ no one likes me cause I'm black” in this story, however considering the context (Classical Ballet), I felt that the whining was warranted. In all fairness, although the author does talk about the wrongs taken against her due to her race she does not wallow in self pity.

I was also quite amazed by her adoptive parents, they were awesome and everyone could definitely learn a thing or two from them. Their compassion was beautiful and helped make this memoir all that more special. Overall this is an engaging memoir, and apart from a single scene of graphic violence (shocking but not traumatizing) it is appropriate for all ages. I rate this 3.5/5 , there is just so much competition in the African Memoir genre, that this unfortunately pales a little in comparison to others that I have read, therefore the lowish rating.

Buy, Borrow or Bin Verdict: Borrow

Psst Pick this up for free and judge for yourself at https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/sho...



Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

[Hallie]

How cool! Michaela DePrince is the character in the documentary film First Position who totally won my heart/admiration/everything when we watched it last year. And it's because of her that I recommended First Position to everyone who loved Pointe, but also might appreciate a bit of relevant cheering-up after reading it.

[Kerran Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5* This memoir was written in quite a childlike way, which makes it an easy read stylistically, though it does deal with poverty, war, abuse, death, and racism. Most of the brutality occurs at the start of the memoir as Michaela's early years in Sierra Leone are covered. While she is studying ballet in America racist behaviours are touched on but they are not the focus, so the memoir is very hopeful and inspiring as a result. I particular liked reading about her adoptive parents who sound like such selfless people. An easy read but a touching one, and I am interested to learn what Michaela has achieved since writing this memoir at only 17.

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger warnings: war, death of a parent, violence, graphic death, gore, death of a sibling, grief, racism, mentions of HIV.

I have put off reading this for YEARS not because I wasn't interested in it but because it's hugely popular with the 12 year olds at work and my brain shelved it in the same category as Soul Surfer, a book I have flipped through a couple of times while shelving and ultimately decided is not for me.

But this? I was HOOKED from the first chapter and I flew through it. Michaela's story was utterly compelling and this is written in a very engaging way with a writing style and tone that very much fits the fact that she was still a teenager when she and her mother wrote this.

The timeline does jump around somewhat in the second half of the book, and at times I found it a little difficult to keep track of where they were living and which ballet school she was attending at which time. But ultimately, it didn't really matter because we all know what she will go onto, we know that she already has the career that she's aspiring to for so much of the book. So while the end felt a little abrupt, I didn't mind because I already knew her future.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This excellent book shows that with enough determination and support from family, adversities can be overcome to achieve anything. The book includes barriers such as racism in the competitive world of ballet and also includes other cultures as the main character strives to become a ballerina, despite there being very few black ballerinas in America. She grew up in Sierra Leone and was orphaned as a child, yet her love of ballet kept her going through the manga difficulties she faced. There are slight similarities to Billy Elliot with the barriers to professional ballet. It is aimed at teenagers, although it is written in quite a simple way, so it could be read bymore able Year 6 children.

[estelh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michaela DePrince's story has me questioning whether or not I can love what I will be doing for the rest of my life as much as she did, despite the fact it lacks the deeper meaning ballet has for her. The story enabled me to compare my life standards to the others'. It didn't show me anything I didn't already know but it made me more aware of how I live. I questioned myself on what I can give while jotting down names I'm sure I will enjoy in the future.

[Kerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

🩰
I'm not particularly passionate about dance, but I found the cover of this book striking enough that I read the back to find out more. Intrigued by the description I decided to read it and it enjoyed it quite a lot.

Michaela's childhood in Sierra Leone was harrowing, with her parents dying when she is very young, leaving her an orphan. The orphanage is place of hardship and abuse, but she also has the good fortune of being adopted, alongside her best friend who is now her sister - - they receive much needed medical care and find themselves a part of a wonderful family in America. Michaela is also able to start dancing, something she has wanted to do ever since she found a magazine with a ballerina on the cover (still in the orphanage at this time). Her new family are supportive of her dreams and encourage her in everything.

This is an inspiring story of achieving dreams and holding on to hope, as well a lovely insight into a family who raised five sons (three adopted, I think), before Elaine (the mother) took a leave of absence from law school to adopt a child from West Africa - - over the next few years they ended up with six daughters, including Michaela. They were older parents by this point, but didn't hesitate about opening their home to Mariel when her previous adoption didn't work out, doing the same again when Bernice and Jestina, who were originally adopted older son Adam, but when he and his wife separated, his parents accepted guardianship of the two girls. It was wonderful to read about one couple making such an immense difference to the lives of these girls.

[Teagan Weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is easy to read and very empathetic.

[Florence Kiff-Viruly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful and heartbreaking memoir of a very talented woman. It is such tragedy to hear that her life has been cut short at such a young age.

[16BlandfordI · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolutley wonderful book! I really enjoyed reading this book, and I didn't want it to end.I reccommend this book if you are in to dance, or even if you're not, you might enjoy this true story of a girl who followed her dream. Right the way through, I loved hearing all about Michaela's experiences in the world of ballet, and how she improved herself in order to become the amazing ballerina that she is today.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOPE IN A BALLET SHOE is one of the best autobiography i have read this whole year. I didn't realize how hard but eventful Michaela life had been til i read this book, i have so much more respects for her. Michaela is my new hero. This is a amazing book you should definitely read it, it will definitely inspire you.

[Niki · Rating 5 out of 5]

My absolute favourite book of all time 😍

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Released in the US under the title Taking Flight, this is a biography, not a novel as some reviewers seem to think.
A quick and interesting read, so far as it went. However there were so many things left out that could have been included without going to very great length, and that would have made the story come alive. For one thing, we see absolutely no interaction with other dancers and school peers. Oh, yes, on one or two occasions an older dancer or teacher will comfort her as she deals with nerves or the loss of a role, but very superficially. Did she really not talk to her peers at all? Or was she just so self-absorbed that she didn't notice them? Did her vetiligo pass unnoticed in ballet school? My father had it, as a white man, and he certainly dealt with remarks as an adult--I can just about imagine the meal some adolescents would make of it. But no--we are led to believe, at least by omission, that all of her age-mates were soooo absorbed in dancing that all that fell by the wayside. Permit me to doubt.

We also see minimal interaction with the father of the family--we don't even know what his job was. It must have been well-paid, to be able to afford a near-dozen overseas adoptions, which I know from acquaintances does not come cheap. Mom stays home and homeschools, so they didn't need two incomes to pay for the boarding school, the trips to Scotland for a large family, the two-week camping trips. We wouldn't even know that at least her mother and perhaps her father were Jewish, if Hannukah presents weren't mentioned just in passing. That's not the point, someone cries, it's all about dancing! But a better-rounded picture of family life would give the people she loves so much some depth instead of being background scribbles.

Throughout the early part of the book she talks about hiding her feelings and loving dance because she can become another person. This is reiterated in Ch 31, and yet in Ch 32 (only 3-4 pages later) she talks about how "hard" acting was, and that she couldn't hide how she felt on a given day. If she felt stormy, her face gave her away. Hmmmm.

[Carmel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A true story of a little girl orphaned in Sierra Leone who goes on to become one of the worlds prima ballerina’s. Her dream ignites when a magazine that has a beautiful ballerina on its cover flies into her on a dusty path in Sierra Leone. That dream is given legs by her adoptive American parents. The murder of Mabinty Bangura’s father, the death of her mother from disease and starvation, the beating by her uncle and then her sale into an orphanage are all told in a matter of fact way. She even observes first hand the murder of her favourite teacher at the orphanage before fleeing to Ghana where her adoptive parents arrive to take her and her best friend to the USA. There she becomes Michaela DePrince. By the age of 17 she is world renowned and has received incredible international honours and acknowledgement from the UN. Her adoptive parents are something to behold – after raising 5 sons and seeing 3 of them die, they go on to adopt another 6 or so daughters from poor war ravaged Africa – hearts of gold! This is a YA genre autobiography, very short ( I read it in a few hours) and very simply told. It could of done with some embellishment in my view!

[Lia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an autobiography about a girl named Michaela DePrince who was born in Sierra Leone and is then adopted by an American family after her parent's death in the Sierra Leone civil war. Michaela moves to America with her new family and finds her love and talent for ballet.

I love autobiographies because I love learning about the lives of real people (and the pictures are always a highlight too, of course :)).
Michaela DePrince's story is very heartwarming and I really enjoyed getting to know her through this book.

[Am · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will always have a soft spot for any literature that involves ballet and this did not disappoint. Such an incredible, honest, hard hitting and hopeful memoir detailing Michaela DePrince's life up to her late teenage years. Offering accounts on conflict, adoption and the ballet dancing industry, this is a truly inspiring and emotional read!

[Fatos Khalfallah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5✨

A story of resilience and hope. Michaela’s admiration for her adoptive parents shines through, especially the love and strength of her mother. Ballet becomes more than dance. It’s a lifeline, showing how sport can transform a child’s future. A brave and inspiring journey from war orphan to ballerina, simply told but deeply moving.

[Greenglasses · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring auto biography of ballerina Micheala Deprince

[Ellen Veenstra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vreselijk triest maar ook prachtig boek.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michaela DePrince lost both her parents when she was young. She was sent to live in a harsh orphanage, her only comfort her friend Mabinty. Michaela sees a magazine with a ballet dancer on the front, inspiring her to become one. Then the rest of the story follows Michaela when she and Mabinty get adopted by American parents and follows her dream to become a ballet dancer. SO GOOD! Read it. Like now!

[Nicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title says it all: this is a sincere teen memoir about ballet and family. Michaela provides a fascinating insight into a world I know of something of, competitive ballet, and a world I knew nothing of, a childhood in Sierra Leone. Heartbreaking but hopeful. Tissues required!

[Julia Cawele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope in a Ballet Shoe by Michaela and Elaine Deprince – A book summary and review by Julia Cawele
[SPOILER ALERT]

Born into a war-torn county, Sierra Leone, Michaela Mabinty Deprince witnessed atrocities no child should ever have to see. Her journey began with her birth mother and father who loved her dearly. Early on Mabinity was singled out often due to her unique appearance, she had spots that she later learned was a skin condition called vitiligo. This led her to be subject to hateful names but her birth parents thought she was beautiful and loved her regardless. Her father exposed her from a young age to the reading and the power of knowledge to which his brother (her uncle) critiqued, claiming no daughter should be taught to read as their only fate is to become a housewife. Moreover, Mabinity’s intellectual ability blossomed beyond her years, she was a very bright child.
Later, a tragedy occurred leaving Mabinity and her mother under her Uncles abusive control. Life moving forward became a horror with her mother later falling to death also. Mabinity’s uncle then declared there was no use for her as she was a spotty girl who no one would ever offer a good bride price for she was sent to live in an orphanage.
The orphanage was a place of sorrow with the children making their own fun with the scraps they had. However, amongst the darkness, Mabinity found her love for dance there and a young girl who became her best friend and would be for years to come. A day came when the girls were all adopted by American families, rescued from the disguised day-to-day trauma in the orphanage. It was this rescue and ignited Michaela Deprince’s dreams and the rest was history.
REVIEW
This book really left a profound impact on me, simply spectacular. Michaela encapsulated her life in an easy-to-read autobiography. I wholeheartedly enjoyed this read and am very glad I picked it up in my library when it caught my eye. The story of a young girl who had nothing, not even a mattress to sleep had so much hope and showed me that I can achieve anything I put my mind too. Her revolutionary story is definitely one that I will keep with me forever
Definitely recommend. Read: Amazing, rate: 5/5!

[Prachiti Talathi Gandhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hope in a Ballet Shoe is a memoir of a ballet dancer Michela or Mabinty Bangura. Ballet Dancing does not make Michela special but the struggle of her life does. While growing up her family was ripped apart by a civil war in Sierra Leone. Her father was murdered by rebels, her mother falls sick and dies. Her uncle gives her away to an orphanage in near by town as he hates girl child. 

The life in orphanage was not an easy one. Aunty Fathima, one of a care taker hates her and tortures her when she gets an opportunity. Michela finds hope in her maths teacher in the orphanage. Unfortunately, she was also murdered by rebels in front of her eyes. Her teacher once brings a magazine for Michela, where she was first introduced to the concept of Ballet. Michela's only respite in the orphanage was her best friend, Elaine. 

The orphanage gives away kids from the orphanage for adoption to American families. Michela was not sure whether any family will adopt her because of spots on her skin since her birth. She was teased as 'Leopard Child'.  But as the luck will have it, one American family adopts Elaine and her. Best friends becomes sisters from that point onward.

In America, the life was a struggle of different type. Racial prejudices present not only in the world of dance but also in modern day America makes it more difficult for her to become a professional ballerina.  Dedication, determination, family ties, a lot to learn from the book. A movie has been published based on the story of Michela. 

The book is written in simple language, which makes it possible for younger kids to read. I will recommend this book for younger teenagers probably 12 upwards. Michela stresses on the importance of understanding cultural differences. This is a truly inspiring book but you may need couple of tissues while reading. 

[Allegra S · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was really really cool! If you've seen First Position and became interested in Michaela's story you should definitely read this book.

I really enjoyed getting a more in depth story of how Michaela came to America. I'm not sure how she remembered so many details of the story as she left Sierra Leone as a 4-year old. I loved following Michaela's story discovering her new life and getting to pursue her dream.

I did feel that after Michaela grew up and had adjusted to life in America, and began to be recognized as a great dancer that the story was told with a lot of rose-tinted glasses. She talks about hard work and the of becoming a dancer, however there isn't much negativity or dark sides of her journey. I'm sure Michaela doesn't want to bad mouth the people or experiences that got her where she is today, and the struggle would pale in comparison to her upbringing, however maybe then she should have ended the story a little earlier.

I also would like to know what happened to Mia, as I loved their stories about their close relationship growing up, but there isn't much said about Mia towards the end.

Short readable chapters, and very interesting!

[Hannah Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though this isn't the most well-written book you'll ever read, and the portrayal of the Sierra Leone civil war will give you nightmares, I highly recommend it. Michaela DePrince's story of going from a starving, neglected orphan to ballerina extraordinaire is inspiring, beautiful, and heartwarming.

After seeing a picture of a ballerina during her horrific time at an orphanage, Michaela decides she wants to become a ballerina. She escapes Sierra Leone thanks to two extraordinary people who adopt both Michaela and her best friend, Mia. After years of hard work, Michaela becomes a globally renowned ballerina. This is the stuff of fairy tales, but unlike fairy tales, it's a true story.

I was blown away by the love portrayed in this book and how it overpowers the atrocities of Michaela's early life. Though the book doesn't hide the sacrifices made by Michaela and her parents, their selflessness, passion for life, and love for each other make those sacrifices look so small in comparison.

[Cardi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an inspiring story. I actually picked it up because I have a little girl who loves dance so I'm interested in reading about people who have a passion for dance, find it empowering and an outlet for their creativity (think Billy Elliott, LOL).
Being written by Michaela DePrince and her mother, who are not professional authors, the writing was not the most impressive part of the book but it did come across as authentic.
I was particularly moved by Michaela's memories of her birth parents - how much they loved her and encouraged her literacy and education, and the lasting friendship and sisterhood between Michaela and her sister.
The glimpse into racism in the world of dance was disturbing, here's hoping there is more and more diversity in ballet in coming years.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this lady interviewed on breakfast tv recently and was very struck by her.

She was orphaned as a young girl and then her teacher is murdered aswell. She is adopted by a great couple and begins her battle to become a professional ballet dancer- although she's battling against prejudice aswell as other dancers. She does start dancing for the Dutch National Ballet at 19 and has an amazing story to tell.

An engaging account of her journey to become a ballet dancer.

[Jonathon Hagger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful story of overcoming and never giving up on your goals and dreams. Easy to read, easy to enjoy, heart warming and simple. Easily a one sitting read if the reader is that way inclined.

[Smitchy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story of hope, perseverance and love suitable for 10+ children and adults. Michaela's early life was marred by death, violence and abuse, but now a talented ballerina, making her mark on the professional international stage, she is sharing her story.

Micheala was born in the 1990's to loving but poor parents in Sierra Leone. Her father worked long, hard hours in a diamond mine and both her parents wanted their only child to have an education - in spite of the fact she was a girl and had a skin condition called vitiligo (areas of skin lose pigment creating white spots - a harmless condition that can cause superstition and shunning in Africa and elsewhere). Sierra Leone in the 90's was a place overrun with violence and it soon came to Micheala's village. Every man in the mine was shot, causing Michaela and her mother to move into her uncle's house. Only men deserve respect in her uncle's eyes and both Michaela and her mother were beaten and starved. Eventually the treatment resulted in her mother's death and at the tender age of 4 Michaela was dumped at an orphanage by her uncle. Treated little better there than at her uncle's house at least for the first time Michaela had friends and the promise that an American family wanted to adopt them. One day a magazine was blown against the orphanage fence - it had a picture of a dancer, tall, elegant and standing en pointe - not that Michaela knew what en pointe was or even the word "ballet" but she wanted to be that girl more than anything.

It was not long before fighting reached the orphanage and, after Michaela witnessed the brutal murder of their teacher, the orphans and their guardians were turned out of their building, allowed only to take their personal documents. They walked all the way to the border, passing village after village that had been massacred. Finally getting to Ghana, adoptions were arranged and Michaela and her best friend Mia were adopted together by their new American family and began a new life at the age of 5.

It was fortunate for Michaela and Mia that their new parents were both kind and experienced. They had already raised 5 boys - two of whom had passed away due to being born with hemophilia and contracting AIDS via blood transfusions - and would go on to adopt 4 more girls after Michaela and Mia. Understandably, Mia and Michaela were extremely traumatised as well as having to learn a whole new way of life. They learned form their new family, started school, and soon they started dance lessons.

Michaela's early life was brutal and traumatising, but the love her birth parents had for her was never forgotten, and the care and dedication of her adoptive parents to ALL of their children made Michaela's dreams possible. Michaela's own dedication, hard work, and passion for ballet have taken her far but she wrote this book along with Elaine, her adoptive mother, to be an inspiration to all girls to pursue their dreams.

[Thea Holm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me think about the power of determination and resilience. Michaela, the main character, faced challenges growing up in an orphanage in the midst of war. However, she never lost hope and found her passion for ballet when she saw a magazine with a ballerina on it. Michaela said, "Someday I will dance on my toes like this lady. I will be happy too!" This shows her determination to follow her dream and find happiness despite her circumstances. The author uses Michaela's story to teach us that no matter how difficult our lives might be, we should never give up. The connection to current society is clear as many people face hardships and obstacles in their lives. Michaela's story reminds me that with determination and resilience, I can overcome any challenge that comes my way. It also highlights the importance of having a passion and finding something that brings happiness. In a society where people could feel discouraged or hopeless, Michaela's story is an inspiration to follow our dreams and find happiness in the face of hardship. No matter where we come from or what obstacles we face, we all have the ability to create a better future for ourselves. It is a good reminder that determination and resilience can lead to incredible achievements.