The Audition

Audition Trilogy #1

by Maddie Ziegler

From Dance Moms star and So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation judge Maddie Ziegler comes the first novel in a brand-new middle grade trilogy about friendship, dance, and going after your dreams.

Twelve-year-old Harper has been dancing practically since she learned to walk. She loves her dance studio and team, and just won her first ever top junior solo in a regional competition. But right before the school year starts, Harper’s parents drop a bombshell—the family has to relocate from their cozy town in Connecticut to sunny Florida for their jobs. That means saying goodbye to her friends, dance team, trips to see shows in NYC—and did she mentioned dance team?

While her parents reassure her that they will find her a new studio as soon as they move, Harper is not happy. When she arrives, she realizes that the competition in Florida will be fierce and it doesn’t matter how talented she is—she is the new girl and will have to prove herself. During her very first class, Harper finds it harder than she thought it would be. Even though they are all the same age and have been dancing for roughly the same amount of time, it feels like everyone has better feet, quicker turns, and faster taps than Harper. And it doesn’t help that a group of girls, who nicknamed themselves The Bunheads, wonder how she made the team if she can’t even do a simple turn sequence in front of the class.

Thankfully, Harper befriends Lily, a fellow newbie in the studio who is just as eager to make her mark and find a friendly face. With a big competition coming up for the dance team, Harper is determined to show everyone—especially those Bunheads—what she’s made of! And when a very badly timed sprained ankle threatens all of the work they have done, the Bunheads, Lily, and Harper must learn to truly work together to give them their best shot at the top spot!

Genres: Middle Grade, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Childrens, Sports, Young Adult

256 pages, Hardcover

First published October 31, 2017

About the author

Madison Nicole Ziegler, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on September 30, 2002, is a professional dancer and actress. She was one of the stars of Lifetime’s Dance Moms for six seasons, and was the lead dancer in Sia’s critically acclaimed music videos “Chandelier,” “Elastic Heart,” and “Big Girls Cry.” Maddie is a judge on So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation and stars in the film The Book of Henry.

Reviews

[Brianna Cheung · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maddie's one of my favorite celebrities-her dancing is incredible. When I first watched Dance Moms, I was fascinated by the dynamic and routine of competitive dancers. It really reminded me of what I dealed with when I went to piano comps and swim meets-but of course, they did it at a much higher level. I think the reason I liked this novel was because it reminded me of Dance Moms I got to know a little more about what these dancers go through to go to competitions. Dancing is definitely not something I would aspire to do or even have the ability to do but seeing people expressing something through this art form is really interesting to me. I liked this book, but I wish that it came out when I was a lot younger. Would probably have like it even more. Would recommend this book to peeps in middle school.

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harper's family relocates due to her father's job change. That means leaving her dance studio in Connecticut and starting over with a new one. The book begins with her audition for placement in a new studio -- DanceStarz. This book sparkles with situations where Harper must learn to balance competition with compassion. We also see a positive home environment in her interactions with parents and little sister Hailey. A wonderful book for girly girls!

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ehhh.....

[charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very thrilling with all the drama and I’m excited to read the other books of the series! Also, I love dance!!!!!!

[Esther]

Harper is a great dancer. I loved reading this book. I really liked the characters and it surprised me that Maddie Ziegler, who is not even that old, could write something as good as this book. Lily is such a good friend. She and Harper worked very well together and even had a fight. But it was upside down! I really enjoyed this book. It showed real team bonding and what it might actually be like in real life.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

My fourth and fifth grade dancers, gymnasts, and cheerleaders will love this book as it immerses them into the world of competitive dance. The five girls on the DanceStarz team have distinct personalities and will feel very authentic to readers. The developing friendships and the way the characters deal with the changes that life has handed them will provide positive lessons as well. I even think my girls will enjoy the constant description of absolutely every outfit that is worn both at practice and in competition...but I didn't. My 4 star rating reflects the enthusiasm that I believe that a particular group of my patrons will feel and not my level of enjoyment. And hopefully the editors will fix the spelling and grammatical errors found in the digital ARC copy that was provided to me by the publisher.

[Camella Douglas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I really liked the book, It was something different. I liked the theme of the story, how easy it was to read and I liked how dedicated Harper was in the Story and it felt like I was there. What I didn't like was that some things in the book were hard to follow and sometimes it was a bit boring. I would recommend this book to people who like fiction.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a spectacularly written book but it is cute. I read it to preview before I recommended it to one of my students, a fourth grade girl who loves dance and drama in books. She had finished The Maddie Diaries and was eager to read a book written by Maddie Ziegler. For a tween book, it is a fun read.

[Sevahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved every bit of it, couldnt put the book down. If anyone loves dance this book is perfect for them. I probably would read it again and again!

[Teagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I watched Maddie on Dance Moms from the start of the show and I loved her! So when she made a book, I was in shock!! I read this story in 3 days!!

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun and sparkly book about a girl who moves to a new place and finds a new dance studio, new friends, and new dance moves~


I just LOVE dancing. Nothing too fancy, not professionally. Just on my own, with my own music and the quiet of my garden or my house. So I just couldn’t resist this book when I spotted it for a very lovely price at a book store (and in English even, gasp).

Meet Harper, a sweet girl who has had to move from her wonderful town and wonderful squad and friends to a new town. We see that she immediately is trying out for a new dance studio because this girl needs dancing in her life and her mom is totally supportive of her. I was immediately a fan of Harper, she was such a sweet and wonderful girl and I loved how hard she worked and seeing how much she loves dancing (a whole lot).

She isn’t having the easiest times at the dance studio. She makes fast friends with Lily, another girl who is new to the town and new to the squad, but the other three girls.. well they are called Bunheads and they aren’t happy that these two new girls are in their team, they would rather have their old friends back. Harper tries her best to fit in, tries to make friends, and also does her best to get with the pacing as it is just a tad faster than what she is used to. Sadly, Megan makes her life very hard and is quite bossy. At times I wanted to hug Harper, and at other times I just wanted to shake her and tell her to talk to her mom, or Vanessa.

As the story progresses we see that things are improving, slowly, with Megan and the other two girls. We do see that while Megan has a mean streak, she is actually quite nice. She just doesn’t show it a lot. I would recommend she does though. 😛 It is Trina who is the sweetest out of the trio and the one who is the most eager to just be friends with Harper. I was definitely happy that it wasn’t the whole story with Megan being a mean girl. I am not sure if I would have rated it this high if it was. For now it was tolerable + with the change in Megan the story only became better. Plus, they formed a front against those ubermeanies The Bells.

I loved seeing the practises and also see the competition in the end. I was definitely smirking and laughing when the results were announced. Go girls!

I wasn’t always a fan of Harper’s mom. I understand that she has to work, I understand there isn’t too much money, but to often remind her 12-year old daughter of the fact? Eh, no. But there were luckily enough moments that I loved the mom.

Thankfully, something that doesn’t happen often, Hailey who is Harper’s little sister was actually not too annoying! Just sometimes. 😛

I did think it was funny that the mean girl trio (or at least Megan is the meanie) were of the standard trope. We had the mean bossy girl (Megan), the jealous third wheel (Riley), and the sweet ditz (Trina). I just think it is hilarious that so many mean girl trios are made up out of this.

All in all, I had plenty of fun reading this one. It is filled with friendship, fun, sparkles, and dancing. I will definitely have to see if I can find the other two books in the series. As long as they feature Harper as MC and haven’t switched to the other girls. Don’t get me wrong, I like the other girls, but I just want Harper the most as a MC.

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[quinnlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

slightly cringey, writing wasn’t the best, very cliché BUT at least maddie knows what she’s talking about in regards to dance. 👍
also it was entertaining and easy to read (for the most part. i will say the grammar was super confusing at times and made me look up and scratch my head like “huh? why is this phrased that way??” 😭)

[Kathleen Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it!!!! I love dance, but there were no chapter books about it so I am so glad this came out! One of my favorite books, but you have to read it in order,or it doesn’t make sense.

[Violet Parr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good! I think that this book is very relatable for dancers, and people who have general stress. Harper is a very sympathetic character that I automatically fell in love with.

[Poppy Braithwaite · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don’t judge, this used to be my favourite book

[Ashley Jacobson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m VERY surprised by this book. I expected it to be terribly written and hard to read, but I thought it would be fun for my 2nd grade dancer. She is reading a lot of books on her own, so she asked me to read this with her. I’m so glad it was better than I expected. It’s well written (and I’m picky) and an interesting story.

Harper moved to a new city and joins a new dance studio and team. She navigates fitting in and working hard to do new things. It’s a good message of team work, dealing with bullies, and doing hard things. I’m looking forward to following these girls on their adventures in the rest of the books.

[vaani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought it was really interesting. Its about 5 girls who have to learn to work together. 3 of them were really stuck together, they called themselves the bun heads, and Lilly and Harper had to learn to work with them and they had to learn to work with Lilly and Harper. They were doing just fine till the Belles came in and teased them and were kind of mean to them.

[anastasia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horrible,boring,and predictable like the rest of the series

[Reader-pops (Taylor’s version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished The Audition, by Maddie Ziegler, and it was such a good book. The Audition is about a girl named Harper who has been dancing her whole life, but suddenly moves from Connecticut to Florida. There she joins a new dance studio and gets on the advanced competition team with only four other girls. There she meets three girls who have been dancing together their whole life, but one other new girl. Although at first the other girls aren’t very accepting of her, they soon become friends. One thing that I really liked about The Audition, was that I really connected with and understand what Harper was going through. I’m not part of a competition team that is made up of the best dancers, but I have experience moving from Missouri to Texas.
Something that was different in this book, and that enjoyed, was that Maddie Ziegler and Julia Rozines DeVillers used real dance terminology. They didn’t just say “she turned” or “she jumped.” They used “pirouettes” or “jetés.” Usually in dance books they don’t use terminology, so they don’t confuse the reader if the reader isn’t a dancer.
This book was also super suspenseful! Not suspenseful in the same way as a fantasy or mystery novel is, but I couldn’t put it down. I read the whole book in about a day in a half just because I didn’t want to put it down!
I wouldn't consider myself a Maddie Ziegler super-fan. But ever since seeing her a couple of years ago in Lifetimes popular show Dance Moms , I realized how freaking talented she was. When I saw she came out with a middle-grade series about dancing, I was intrigued. Really intrigued. I started reading The Audition and kept telling myself to stop, you can finish it tomorrow. Yet, I couldn't my eyeballs of doing it. I was so sucked into the story and it was really good.
I'm getting more into middle-grade, and The Audition was a great book to read. Not only was it fun and quick, it empowered friendship and teamwork, and supported girl power and sisterhood. It always bothers me when books feature girl-hate, as it technically supports it. Especially in YA. I loved how this group of girls found a way to lean on each other and work together to succeed. It was real and heart-warming and once again shows how important it is to bring each other up, instead of tear each other down.
Harper and the rest of the characters were all wonderfully written and I made a deep connection with them. Harper was super nice and kind and always put her family first. Her family had a very special bond; they were very united and always found ways to support each other. Lily reminded me a bit of my best friend and Trina was the cutest piece of sunshine and we need more people in the world like her. I was incredibly annoyed by Megan and Riley's actions, but then my heart softened and I forgave them. As you can notice, I adored this cast.
I love descriptive writing, as it always adds a lot more to my reading experience. This book had that kind of writing, so my enjoyment levels shot up immediately. The way all the steps, choreographies, costumes, and simply how everything was described, was amazing. I just started dance in 2022 and this book gave me a lot of flashbacks from my start of my dance journey.

The Audition was a wonderful and perfect mix of dance, friendship, sisterhood, leadership, teamwork, and ALL THE FRO-YO! It makes me miss my local frozen yogurt place. I highly recommend this book and I am sure it will appeal to readers of all ages. Especially if you're a dancer, obviously. I seriously cannot wait to read the rest of the series and join DanceStarz in their incredible adventures and experiences.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.

[xue · Rating 3 out of 5]

𝟯.𝟱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀 ⋆⋆⋆
⤷ spoilers included

𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 is a simple novel about the classic tale of a new girl trying to adapt to a new environment. considering how this book is more catered towards a younger audience, i was surprised with the rage i felt towards megan and her crew whenever she was rude towards harper and lily. and the way harper just let it happen?? girl stand up.

⤷ 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙩. it’s a pretty basic premise, there’s not much complexity to it: new girl moves, she gets bullied, she fails, they fix everything, they shine.

the entire reason why harper gets taunted by the bunheads (megan, riley, and trina) so much is because she’s new, and their other friends isabelle and bella aren’t on the same team as them. and it turns out, it’s a whole misunderstanding between the bunheads and the bells because bella was acting like a snake and caused the drift between the two friend groups. which is so crazy to me because i swear this could’ve been sorted with a text message, not to bella, but to isabelle directly. but even when they figured out about the misunderstanding, they were still rude?? like pipe down. thank god they got humbled at the end.

i did wish the author (let’s be real it’s obvious there’s a ghost writer) explored more of the background between each character. obviously it’s hard when it’s in harper’s pov and she can’t just magically go inside the mind of everyone on the team, but i think small details would’ve sufficed. an example of this was when megan was telling her parents that she was going to sugar plums, immediately asking for money without any pleasantries. shows a lot about a character!!

.𖥔 ݁ ˖╭ ┆harper mccoy ╰⊹ ࣪ i get that she’s twelve, BUT SHE SERIOUSLY NEEDS TO STAND UP. like she took everything from the bunheads all for the sake of trying to get to know them better like what. like how did she honestly expect to befriend them when they’re literally targeting her, and they were even called out on it by vanessa like harper i beg you defend yourself. she does stand up to herself, but in the most subtle ways ever that the others don’t even register it. like please…and the way she always yaps about being the new girl blah blah blah and yet there isn’t a single mention of her texting or contacting her old friends.

⤷ 𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙤𝙢 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚. it was an ok read. it’s not outstanding. it’s definitely for those who actually know how to dance because the amount of dance terms i had to read and not understand what was going on…i legit only understood a pirouette and that was it… there’s also a lot of references to dance moms which are painfully obvious, and the maddie ziegler mention…good god…

[Vanessa-Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maddie's sister McKenzie (known as Kenzie), is one of my favorite non-celebrities, celebrities. Meaning, they didn't really do anything great for their fame, but somehow they got it! McKenzie and her sister Maddie, were sisters that were on Dance Mom’s, the reality show. My mom was not fond of the show and didn’t really permit me to watch it. But there were those days when she would give in, and I LOVED IT! It

McKenzie’s sister is Maddie. They are both incredible roll models. Their fame came to be from participating in the reality show. But they really grew with their use of Social Media. In particular Instagram. I have followed them for two years now and their followers continue to grow. They are great influencers with millions upon millions of follwers and have hearts of golds with great heads on their shoulders.

I was surprised to see that Maddie wrote a book. I hate to judge but I didn’t think it would be that great. She is young like me. I don’t know that I would be able to write but her talent for writing blew me out of the water!

The main character in the book is Harper. She is set and settled in her small town in Connecticut. A place where she was born and raised. She was happy there. When her father decides to take a job in Florida. At first, Harper has a hard time with the idea. Even once in Florida she has a hard time. Why? Because her favorite thing to do was dance. She had been with the same dance studio in Connecticut, since she was a little girl, and was considered the best of the best!

Harper was happy with her life in Connecticut. She was satisfied. But she had questions. Would she find another dance studio out in Florida? Would it be a great one like the one she was part of now? What if she couldn’t continue to dance? What about friends? She would have to leave the ones she had built a life with, but would the new kids in Florida let her in? Life seemed so uncertain now.

It turns out that the closest dance studio to her new home, was DanceStarz. A very competitive dance studio that accepted her as a dancer, but not so much as a friend. It was difficult for Harper to make friends at DanceStarz because everyone was so competitive. But she did make a new friend who also on her dance team...Lily. And it is Lilly she who supports Harper the most, throughout this difficult time, along with her parents.

At DanceStarz studio, there was a group of three girls known as the Bunheads. Harper knew if they would accept her, life would be so much easier on this dance team, but the truth was, it was probably easier to swallow glass. Fortunately, with time the Bunheads realize that they have no choice but to work together as a true team. And yes, that included Harper. There was no other choice if they want to beat their rivals and formal teammates who had left DanceStarz for the rival team earlier in the year.

The story is full of growth and learning about friendship.

Although I am a dancer and have taken dance (Ballet, Tap, and Hip-Hop), I could not relate. I found myself relating more to my cheerleading. It never did become possible to fit in. But it didn’t only remind me of cheer. The book is more than about dance. It’s so deep and unexpected. I enjoyed every second of it and was not able to put it down. I finished it in 3 days.

I give this book 5 stars and highly recommend it!

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interest Level: 5-8; Reading Level: 4.8

5 out of 5 stars!!!!!

What if you lived a happy life in Connecticut with your family and you were the top of your class at your dance studio, winning all kinds of awards? What if you found out that your dad got transferred to Florida and the closest dance studio was DanceStarz, a highly competitive dance studio? Will you fit in and be accepted by your new teammates? Well, this is exactly what happens to Harper McCoy. She is used to being the "top dog" at her dance studio in Connecticut, but when she makes the competitive dance team at DanceStarz her new teammates are not so willing to take her in. Harper learns to rely on her family and her new friend, Lily, who is also new to the team. It takes a while for this group of three girls, the Bunheads, to accept their new teammates, but they learn that they have to work together if they want to beat their rivals and former friends, Energii. All of the girls learn about friendship, deception, trust, and teamwork.

I am not a dancer and have never been associated with anything dance related so I was wary about reading this book, I just didn't think I could relate to it. Oh boy, was I wrong! This book is so much more than dance! The trials these girls go through and the friendships that they forge make this book one that I could not put down. This book got 5 out of 5 stars from me and I so hope there is a book two to continue the DanceStarz story.

Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book - all opinions are my own.

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[Phoebe Salomon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished The Audition, by Julia Rozines DeVillers and Maddie Ziegler, and it was such a good book. The Audition is about a girl named Harper who has been dancing her whole life, but suddenly moves from Connecticut to Florida. There she joins a new dance studio and gets on the advanced competition team with only four other girls. There she meets three girls who have been dancing together their whole life, but one other new girl. Although at first the other girls aren’t very accepting of her, they soon become friends.

One thing that I really liked about The Audition, was that I really connected with and understand what Harper was going through. I’m not part of a competition team that is made up of the best dancers, but I just moved from New York to Virginia. In New York, I left my friends, and my dance studio that I loved. I recently started at a new dance studio in Virginia, and went through a lot of what Harper goes through. I was jealous of how good the other girls in my class were, I didn’t understand certain things that they talked about or certain jokes.

Something that was different in this book, and that enjoyed, was that Maddie Ziegler and Julia Rozines DeVillers used real dance terminology. They didn’t just say “she turned” or “she jumped.” They used “pirouettes” or “jetés.” Usually in dance books they don’t use terminology, so they don’t confuse the reader if the reader isn’t a dancer.

This book was also super suspenseful! Not suspenseful in the same way as a fantasy or mystery novel is, but I couldn’t put it down. I read the whole book in about a day in a half just because I didn’t want to put it down!

I am totally going to recommend this book to all my dance friends, and to even some friends who aren’t dancers! I hope that Maddie and Julia write more, I could even see this book being turned into a movie or even a tv movie. I can’t wait to read more!

[Ashley Frankowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Audition by Maddie Ziegler, is about the protagonist, Harper McCoy, a dancer, she has been dancing since she can walk. She lives in Connecticut and she was one of the best dancers at her studio, but sadly her dad was transferred to Florida. She has to start off with a new dance studio and she has to make all new friends. She makes a great friend Lily and starts to become closer with her other teammates “The Bunheads,” Trina, Megan, and Riley. She has to prove to her teammates that she was worth adding to the competition team. Will she ever be accepted or will she always be an outsider? This book was very interesting for me because I am a dancer and understand what it is like to go and change to a different dance studio. I really enjoyed The Audition because I watched the show Dance Moms where the author, Maddie Ziegler, was the star dancer. The subject and author interested me into the book, especially I was curious to find out her style of writing. She used a lot of humor and excitement. Being a 15 year old who has inspired me almost my whole life, I was happy and excited that I was able to read this book. I was curious to think maybe this was her own story and part of it happened in her life. When I finished the book I said to myself, “Wow I hope there’s a sequel because I love these characters so much.” They were just so like me. I felt the story was especially strong in the area of where they have to do a dance in a parade and that is the time where she will prove herself worthy.
My favorite quote from the whole book is, “This is what it was all about. It didn’t even matter if we won or what place we came in. This feeling was everything, and we didn’t even need to know [who won].” (Ziegler, 226)

[BellaB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why did I select this book? I selected this book because it was written by Maddie Ziegler, who I am love so much, she is so awesome and talented, so I just had to read this book. Maddies first book "The Maddie Diaries" was so good, so I knew this book would be too.

The book is about a girl named Harper who loves to dance just like Maddie. Harper also has a little sister just like Maddie does. She has been dancing since she was two years old and made many friends along the way. But one day, her dad got a new job in Florida, which means they have to move there from there small town in Connecticut. Harper was really sad for awhile but she knew this was good for her family. Harper now worries about finding a new dance studio that will accept her and being able to fit in if she gets accepted. She tries out at a dance studio called Dancestars and the rest, well I guess you'll have to read to find out if she gets accepted.

What Worked? I loved the book, and I don't think it could have been written better. The readers learn about teamwork, friendships, hard work, determination and so much more throughout the story. I loved that Harper was so understanding when she had to give up her home, friends, and dance studio for her dads new job that's a tough thing to do and she handled it so well.

What could have been better? The only thing that I think could have been better who be the end of the book. I wish they didn't end on such a big cliff hanger. But since they did I am hoping that there will be a second book along the way, I mean they story can't end like that, can it?

[☘Tara Sheehan☘ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tale that that will appeal to young kids particularly if they’ve been through a move themselves where they find their entire life uprooted.

Ziegler perfectly captured adolescent angst, mean girls syndrome and the competitive spirit that comes at this age when it seems like all that matters in life is the next big win.

It reminded me a bit of the spirit from the Bring it On movie series only about dancing instead of cheerleading. She provides lots of details so you get a feel for how dance classes go along with their competitions, types of costumes and the intense rivalry that is created under these circumstances.

Even if you have little to no experience with the dance world Ziegler provides enough that you can still enjoy the plot, follow along with the characters and not get lost in the minutie. She even delves into the relationships between mothers and their dancers; everyone loves seeing moms trying to live through their kids.

It’s not a perfect story, at least from an adult’s point of view. The characters feel stereotypical but that didn’t stop the Bring it On story from becoming a franchise of six movies, a musical and even a book though it suffered from the same problem. As an adult I wish she had made the characters more diverse, given them a more well rounded set of interests and hopes but for the age group it’s directed towards I don’t think they’ll care.

If you have a dancing fan I’d recommend picking this up so they can enjoy diving into one of their favorite subjects.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you @kidlitexchange for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own. Spontaneous twirling was completely optional.

What a cute start to a new trilogy. Harper is new to town and looking to not only join a dance studio, but land a spot on their competition team. Change is hard, especially when you don’t know anyone and you are dancing with a group who has been together for years.

This is going to be such a hit for so many fans of dance. Growing up, I was with a studio for quite a few years so I loved the scenes that described choreography and the use of dance terminology. It definitely brought back many memories!!! The characters were great and will be easily relatable. They all showcased different talents and strengths. I loved Harper’s mom and sister. It was refreshing to see a family be so supportive and loving. Some of my favorite scenes were between Harper and Hallie. Loved their relationship and the games they came up with!! Beware: you will have an intense craving for fro-yo throughout the entire story. I definitely want to hang out at Sugar Plums!!!

Overall, this was a wonderful book about excepting change, not being afraid to start over and really just being open to new relationships and opportunities. All the characters had to learn to work together and repect one another which is such a valuable lesson. I know Maddie Ziegler has quite a following. She’s a wonderful role model. I would definitely purchases this book for my daughter and be interested in checking out the rest of the series.

[Cindy Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harper McCoy loves her life in Connecticut. She’s got great friends and everyone on her dance team knows her skills. But when her family moves to Florida for her dad’s job, she finds herself having to prove her ability at a new dance school. The girls on her new team would rather have their old friends than welcome a newcomer. To win their respect Harper must work hard and show them that they all benefit when they work together.

The Audition by Maddie Ziegler takes readers inside the world of competitive dance, revealing the stamina, athleticism, creativity and more required to stand out. Dancers often start out when they are very young, and they learn multiple styles even though they may excel at one. The world is very familiar to author Ziegler, who is an award-winning professional dancer and who starred on Lifetime’s Dance Moms for six seasons.

Ziegler’s expertise informs the story and makes it believable. Yet The Audition is also relatable to girls who don’t dance, as it may be a familiar story to anyone who has ever been shut out of a group of already close friends (a situation that applies to almost everyone at some point). Harper deals with mean girls, humiliating situations, and more without losing sight of who she is and what she can achieve. It’s an inspiring story for anyone.

I recommend The Audition for readers aged 9 to 12.

The publisher provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the @kidlitexchange for providing me with a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

There are very few middle-grade books that focus on the world of dance, gymnastics, or theater. For that reason alone, I think this is a book that has value, even if I felt that the story wasn't quite my style. Maddie Ziegler was once on the show Dance Moms and knows a lot of what it is like to live in the world of competitive dancing, a world that I will admit is foreign to me. For those in this world, finding a book that deals with the problems they face is great.

The story behind this book is compelling enough. Twelve-year-old Harper McCoy is thrown a curve-ball when her family decides to move from Connecticut to Florida. Her world has always been her dance company and now she has to audition for a new company and try to break into a team that has been together for years. Of course there is the requisite clique of bunheads that have been dancing together since they were 3, but there is also another new girl on the team who Harper befriends. Together, the team has to figure out how to actually work together to compete against another local dance team without allowing backstabbing, gossip, and social media to get in their way.

This is an interesting addition to the world of MG fiction, but the fact that it was written by a 15 year old shows.

[Valerie McEnroe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book will be highly enjoyed by girls who love dance, gymnastics or cheerleading. It will have no appeal beyond that, which is disappointing. It's possible to write books about sports and dance that will also appeal to kids who don't participate in those activities. Braced, about soccer, and Fadeaway, about basketball, are examples of books that are always checked out at my school.

Harper's family has just moved to Florida. Sadly, she had to say goodbye to the dance studio she attended since age 3. Now she's trying out for the competition team at a new studio. She and another new girl surprisingly make the team, but the existing team members are confused and a little miffed. Harper and Lily must figure out how to knock down the jealousy and bring this team together in time to beat their rival team at competition.

Predictable. The plot doesn't move toward anything outside the world of dance. No family situations. No details about Florida. Even the scenes between Harper and her younger sister are all about dance. Would have been nice to have gotten a bigger story.