What do you think?
Rate this book
Pointe, Claw
Jessie Vale dances in an elite ballet program. She has to be perfect to land a spot with the professional company. When Jessie is cast in an animalistic avant-garde production, her careful composure cracks wide open.
Meanwhile, her friend Dawn McCormick's world is full of holes. She wakes in strange places, bruised, battered, and unable to speak. The doctors are out of ideas.
These childhood friends are both running out of time. At every turn, they crash into the many ways girls are watched, judged, used, and discarded. Should they play it safe or go feral?
-- "Journal"
Meanwhile, her friend Dawn McCormick's world is full of holes. She wakes in strange places, bruised, battered, and unable to speak. The doctors are out of ideas.
These childhood friends are both running out of time. At every turn, they crash into the many ways girls are watched, judged, used, and discarded. Should they play it safe or go feral?
-- "Journal"
288 pages, ebook
First published October 1, 2016
7 people are currently reading
568 people want to read
About the author
Amber J. Keyser
20 books63 followersAmber J. Keyser writes fiction and non-fiction for young adults. Trained as an evolutionary biologist, she cares deeply about the intersection of art and science and the way these disciplines unlock how the world works. She believes in the power of sharing our stories.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
December 8, 2017
Knowing absolutely nothing about this, I chose to read POINTE, CLAW because the cover & dedication page (to her parents 'who raised me fierce') sucked me in. I was dazzled by the first sentence & didn't lose any interest throughout. In a way I'm surprised that this book has such low ratings & isn't more widely known, but in the same sense, I'm not. POINTE, CLAW demands your attention; it is bold, brave, unapologetic, raw, beautiful. Keyser doesn't hold the reader's hand or attempt to sugarcoat the intensity of the wanting, of the needing- which probably explains why this wasn't picked up by a larger publisher. Such a shame, this is a hidden gem! I was fascinated by this book & cannot wait to read more from Keyser.
Jessie & Dawn used to be best friends, until their parents split them up due to reasons that are later explained. For more than half a decade, each girl is trying to find their place in the world without their other half. Jessie has dedicated herself to ballet, whereas Dawn is taking prep biology classes for a chance to get into Stanford while dealing with a mysterious illness. Told from each girl's POV, readers are subjected to their suffocation as they are trying to (eventually demanding) take up space in a world that constantly tells them it is not permissible for them to claim. It is uncomfortable & makes the skin itch, watching each girl rebuild their life from the ashes. And I loved every single second.
As the story evolves, we discover the exact nature of Jessie & Dawn's friendship, just how close they used to be. Finally intertwining, they are reunited after all those years & realize how much they have missed. Now that it's time to get out of their cages, the pressure is on & the clock is ticking- for Jessie it's being chosen for the ballet's professional company, for Dawn it's being accepted into Stanford so she doesn't have to live with her awful mother & step-father. I was anxious to see if their escaped would be fulfilled; would the author choose the easy way out? But an even bigger question is raised here- how different are we from animals, do we ever really escape our cages or do we just trade out one for the other until death do we part?
For a YA novel only 275 pages long, this is IN-TENSE. Similar to other books that involve dancing, POINTE, CLAW does that & dives one step further by not romanticizing the sport, rather by bearing all its ugly teeth. There are a lot of intimate moments that regard this on the mature/older YA side & I am appreciative that Keyser took the risk rather than make it absurdly 'pretty'. A considerable amount of time is spent on Dawn's sickness storyline, going to doctor after doctor, no one knowing what is wrong with her. Her mother growing frustrated, desperately wanting to 'fix' her 'broken' daughter. This resonated with me so much. Years ago before my autoimmune disease was diagnosed I spent so much time at the doctor's & constantly being at my mother's side it really screwed with our relationship. To acknowledge this in a book meant so much to me.
I do wish the romantic aspect of Jessie & Dawn's relationship had been explored more. The queerness was unexpected & I adored it; the simplicity was lovely, but I think it would have been even more powerful with some spark. 👩❤️💋👩 The ending is open, yet final in a sense, & I like that it's up to the reader to determine what happens to our MCs. So really, this is more of a 4.5* read for me, but I'm giving it 5 because the writing is outstanding & I admire Keyser for not holding back. I think a lot of people will misunderstand or hate the brazenness & tenacity of Jessie & Dawn, like they are just supposed to roll over & submit. But for those wanting a way out, a different path, I cannot recommend this enough.
You are free. There are other ways to be. POINTE, CLAW is genuinely a powerhouse of a novel & one I won't soon forget.
Jessie & Dawn used to be best friends, until their parents split them up due to reasons that are later explained. For more than half a decade, each girl is trying to find their place in the world without their other half. Jessie has dedicated herself to ballet, whereas Dawn is taking prep biology classes for a chance to get into Stanford while dealing with a mysterious illness. Told from each girl's POV, readers are subjected to their suffocation as they are trying to (eventually demanding) take up space in a world that constantly tells them it is not permissible for them to claim. It is uncomfortable & makes the skin itch, watching each girl rebuild their life from the ashes. And I loved every single second.
As the story evolves, we discover the exact nature of Jessie & Dawn's friendship, just how close they used to be. Finally intertwining, they are reunited after all those years & realize how much they have missed. Now that it's time to get out of their cages, the pressure is on & the clock is ticking- for Jessie it's being chosen for the ballet's professional company, for Dawn it's being accepted into Stanford so she doesn't have to live with her awful mother & step-father. I was anxious to see if their escaped would be fulfilled; would the author choose the easy way out? But an even bigger question is raised here- how different are we from animals, do we ever really escape our cages or do we just trade out one for the other until death do we part?
For a YA novel only 275 pages long, this is IN-TENSE. Similar to other books that involve dancing, POINTE, CLAW does that & dives one step further by not romanticizing the sport, rather by bearing all its ugly teeth. There are a lot of intimate moments that regard this on the mature/older YA side & I am appreciative that Keyser took the risk rather than make it absurdly 'pretty'. A considerable amount of time is spent on Dawn's sickness storyline, going to doctor after doctor, no one knowing what is wrong with her. Her mother growing frustrated, desperately wanting to 'fix' her 'broken' daughter. This resonated with me so much. Years ago before my autoimmune disease was diagnosed I spent so much time at the doctor's & constantly being at my mother's side it really screwed with our relationship. To acknowledge this in a book meant so much to me.
I do wish the romantic aspect of Jessie & Dawn's relationship had been explored more. The queerness was unexpected & I adored it; the simplicity was lovely, but I think it would have been even more powerful with some spark. 👩❤️💋👩 The ending is open, yet final in a sense, & I like that it's up to the reader to determine what happens to our MCs. So really, this is more of a 4.5* read for me, but I'm giving it 5 because the writing is outstanding & I admire Keyser for not holding back. I think a lot of people will misunderstand or hate the brazenness & tenacity of Jessie & Dawn, like they are just supposed to roll over & submit. But for those wanting a way out, a different path, I cannot recommend this enough.
You are free. There are other ways to be. POINTE, CLAW is genuinely a powerhouse of a novel & one I won't soon forget.
May 1, 2017
What matters is not what was taken
BUT THAT WE FIGHT.
Once upon a time our mothers tucked us in bed. Our fathers woke us up for school. Perhaps they thought we were no different from the china ballerinas I got on every birthday, tiny figurines who got dusted off and moved from stage left to stage right and back again. Rosy-cheeked and graceful, we were girls who did not bite or complain or wander.
After all, if we stepped out of line, they could knock us together and watch us shatter.
"I look at my heels. At nine o'clock tomorrow morning I will go back to Ballet des Arts. I will shove my battered, bloody feet into ballet slippers. I will ignore their screams and dance."
"It's never been this bad.
But she won't see.
I'll shower and change, and besides, she never gets any closer than she has to. Doesn't squeeze me to her side. I think she's afraid of me.
Correction---
I know she's afraid. "
"My heart pounds and spins and spins and pounds, galumphing against my ribs like it has become unmoored and free to tumble home. Back then, our days were woven tight. Moments unbroken. We fit together. Never sure where I ended and she began. Peasinapod , they said. Practically sisters , they said. Inseparable ,they said. Every moment. Every day. None of this splintered time. None of these fractures that assault me."
"There's an animalistic quality to the way he moves. Not anything that resembles ballet. It's strange and threatening. The three of us exchange glances. We don't know what to make of the movements or that he seems oblivious to our presence. I can read the tension in the other girls. It matches my own. The anger that drove me to the studio has dissipated, and I'm starting to think this was a terrible idea."
"Vadim takes center stage. He is waiting for me to join him,but I'm turned to stone by the realization that both my excuses are true. Our attraction is part of the dance, and my mistake was thinking it was more than that. "
"I am far bigger than the skin that holds me. "
----
This is another one of these books I most likely wouldn't have discovered without Goodreads and a certain friend of mine:) Seeing the summary and the cover intrigued me right away... I entered the goodreads giveaway but didn't win so I claimed my spot in line on paperbackswap and put it on my wishlist, waiting for the chance to grab it.
It didn't disappoint.
~~~~
There was a wildness/otherworld to the writing that completely drew me in. The tension and rawness in the air was present in both girl's POVs, more so in Dawn's (specially in her fugue state).
In Dawn's case, we get hints as the story moves along with what is going on with her. To me that is better than if everything was spelled out in installments.. more intriguing this way. It's never made completely clear, at times I was wondering if this was in Dawn's head or this was actually happening.
Jessie's is more clear but still has that certain 'quality' as well. The Ballet portions were interesting but also made me glad I never wanted to be a ballerina. The punishing your body takes, the drive these girls have to outdo each other, the rituals they had... left me in awe and at the same time amazed at what they were willing to do to stay in the game.
There were times I would stare into space and let the story wash over me...
The descriptions of Turbulence had me wishing I could see the dance in person. Even the unfamiliar (to me) ballet terms didn't deter me. That 'edge' to it was enthralling. Something I would likely see in person if tickets weren't super pricey.
The ending wasn't a letdown completely... it was mostly confusing. It had both an openness to it in one sense and a finality to it in the other. Not sure what I wanted exactly, just something... more
Would still recommend, something different :)
*This review didn't come out like I wanted haha but oh well*
BUT THAT WE FIGHT.
Once upon a time our mothers tucked us in bed. Our fathers woke us up for school. Perhaps they thought we were no different from the china ballerinas I got on every birthday, tiny figurines who got dusted off and moved from stage left to stage right and back again. Rosy-cheeked and graceful, we were girls who did not bite or complain or wander.
After all, if we stepped out of line, they could knock us together and watch us shatter.
"I look at my heels. At nine o'clock tomorrow morning I will go back to Ballet des Arts. I will shove my battered, bloody feet into ballet slippers. I will ignore their screams and dance."
"It's never been this bad.
But she won't see.
I'll shower and change, and besides, she never gets any closer than she has to. Doesn't squeeze me to her side. I think she's afraid of me.
Correction---
I know she's afraid. "
"My heart pounds and spins and spins and pounds, galumphing against my ribs like it has become unmoored and free to tumble home. Back then, our days were woven tight. Moments unbroken. We fit together. Never sure where I ended and she began. Peasinapod , they said. Practically sisters , they said. Inseparable ,they said. Every moment. Every day. None of this splintered time. None of these fractures that assault me."
"There's an animalistic quality to the way he moves. Not anything that resembles ballet. It's strange and threatening. The three of us exchange glances. We don't know what to make of the movements or that he seems oblivious to our presence. I can read the tension in the other girls. It matches my own. The anger that drove me to the studio has dissipated, and I'm starting to think this was a terrible idea."
"Vadim takes center stage. He is waiting for me to join him,but I'm turned to stone by the realization that both my excuses are true. Our attraction is part of the dance, and my mistake was thinking it was more than that. "
"I am far bigger than the skin that holds me. "
----
This is another one of these books I most likely wouldn't have discovered without Goodreads and a certain friend of mine:) Seeing the summary and the cover intrigued me right away... I entered the goodreads giveaway but didn't win so I claimed my spot in line on paperbackswap and put it on my wishlist, waiting for the chance to grab it.
It didn't disappoint.
~~~~
There was a wildness/otherworld to the writing that completely drew me in. The tension and rawness in the air was present in both girl's POVs, more so in Dawn's (specially in her fugue state).
In Dawn's case, we get hints as the story moves along with what is going on with her. To me that is better than if everything was spelled out in installments.. more intriguing this way. It's never made completely clear, at times I was wondering if this was in Dawn's head or this was actually happening.
Jessie's is more clear but still has that certain 'quality' as well. The Ballet portions were interesting but also made me glad I never wanted to be a ballerina. The punishing your body takes, the drive these girls have to outdo each other, the rituals they had... left me in awe and at the same time amazed at what they were willing to do to stay in the game.
There were times I would stare into space and let the story wash over me...
The descriptions of Turbulence had me wishing I could see the dance in person. Even the unfamiliar (to me) ballet terms didn't deter me. That 'edge' to it was enthralling. Something I would likely see in person if tickets weren't super pricey.
The ending wasn't a letdown completely... it was mostly confusing. It had both an openness to it in one sense and a finality to it in the other. Not sure what I wanted exactly, just something... more
Would still recommend, something different :)
*This review didn't come out like I wanted haha but oh well*
July 2, 2017
3.5 review to follow.
January 11, 2025
This is a fascinating book about two girls on the edge of wildness. Tense, engrossing, and raw. I liked the animal-like poetic writing for Dawn's thought processes in her fugues. I'm not sure how I feel about the ending, but I was completely engrossed in the book.
July 28, 2017
I wasn't sure what I would think of this book when I picked it up. It seemed kind of out of the norm for me to read. But I picked it because it fit a couple of my challenges. And I'm really glad I did! It was really intense the whole way through. And I wasn't sure I would really like it when I started it. All I kept thinking was this is weird. But it actually turned out to be really interesting. I felt invested to see what the outcome in both Jessie and Dawns situations/life would be.
Dawn and Jessie were best friends, more than best friends if that is possible. Until Dawn was ripped away at the age of 9 and forced to live away from Jessie all the while thinking it was something they had done to cause this. 8 years later Dawn and Jessie end up living in another city together unknowing until their parents reconnect them. But things are not the same. They are older and they both have some major struggles.
Dawn is going through a medical trauma. She wakes up from these black out episodes where she is bloody, bruised, and in intense pain. She wakes in weird places with no recollection of how she got there. Dawns mother has taken her to every specialist possible with no answer to the cause of the these fugues.
Jessie is trying to make her way into the Ballet des Artes Dance Company giving it everything she's got. But there are only 2 spots open and one is already filled and the other is almost as good as filled to the promising pre professional dancer Lily. If she doesn't succeed into making it in dance her mother will make her move back home and take up a practical career. And her dream will be gone.
The girls cling to each other through their struggles and try to find their way back to a friendship that was everything.
Things I Liked:
This book was definitely unusual, but a good unusual. I started to really get into about 1/2 through and actually looked forward to reading it. It's nice to go outside you're comfort zone once in a while to find a good book.
Though a bit odd I thought Dawn and Jessie's friendship was really special. Just as Vadim says "A friend like that is a rare thing". You felt how important these two girls were to each other. It was very touching.
Things I didn't like:
Dawns mother Monica for one. She was a cold hearted mother that cared more about her new husband than her daughter. I also couldn't stand David, Dawns Step-Dad he was a serious douche. I also didn't like Dawns father. He just seemed to give up on his daughter and only care about his new family.
I really got frustrated with Dawns storyline. I kept trying to figure out what the hell was wrong with her. It is physical, is she mentally unstable? Is she mentally unstable because something happened to her? What is the deal?! I think I figured it out in the end but it was a bit bizarre.
The only real complaint I have is that book involved a bit of science. I hate Science! I sucked so bad in school. I just couldn't get interested. But it was not really hard to follow and it did fit in with the storyline.
This is the first book I've read by Amber J. Keyser and hopefully this won't be my last. This unique and interesting story has made me a fan and I am definitely looking forward to more of her books. I really hope this one catches on as well.
Dawn and Jessie were best friends, more than best friends if that is possible. Until Dawn was ripped away at the age of 9 and forced to live away from Jessie all the while thinking it was something they had done to cause this. 8 years later Dawn and Jessie end up living in another city together unknowing until their parents reconnect them. But things are not the same. They are older and they both have some major struggles.
Dawn is going through a medical trauma. She wakes up from these black out episodes where she is bloody, bruised, and in intense pain. She wakes in weird places with no recollection of how she got there. Dawns mother has taken her to every specialist possible with no answer to the cause of the these fugues.
Jessie is trying to make her way into the Ballet des Artes Dance Company giving it everything she's got. But there are only 2 spots open and one is already filled and the other is almost as good as filled to the promising pre professional dancer Lily. If she doesn't succeed into making it in dance her mother will make her move back home and take up a practical career. And her dream will be gone.
The girls cling to each other through their struggles and try to find their way back to a friendship that was everything.
Things I Liked:
This book was definitely unusual, but a good unusual. I started to really get into about 1/2 through and actually looked forward to reading it. It's nice to go outside you're comfort zone once in a while to find a good book.
Though a bit odd I thought Dawn and Jessie's friendship was really special. Just as Vadim says "A friend like that is a rare thing". You felt how important these two girls were to each other. It was very touching.
Things I didn't like:
Dawns mother Monica for one. She was a cold hearted mother that cared more about her new husband than her daughter. I also couldn't stand David, Dawns Step-Dad he was a serious douche. I also didn't like Dawns father. He just seemed to give up on his daughter and only care about his new family.
I really got frustrated with Dawns storyline. I kept trying to figure out what the hell was wrong with her. It is physical, is she mentally unstable? Is she mentally unstable because something happened to her? What is the deal?! I think I figured it out in the end but it was a bit bizarre.
The only real complaint I have is that book involved a bit of science. I hate Science! I sucked so bad in school. I just couldn't get interested. But it was not really hard to follow and it did fit in with the storyline.
This is the first book I've read by Amber J. Keyser and hopefully this won't be my last. This unique and interesting story has made me a fan and I am definitely looking forward to more of her books. I really hope this one catches on as well.
Read
March 26, 2017Review to come.
________________
BEFORE READING
What a bizarre concept!
I hadn't thought to imagine that something like this existed, and now that I know it does I am desperate to read it!
________________
BEFORE READING
What a bizarre concept!
I hadn't thought to imagine that something like this existed, and now that I know it does I am desperate to read it!
June 28, 2017
"What matters is not what was taken but that we fight."
This is a story about wild girls. Girls that are amazing and raw and so free, no one can cage them or separate them. They were beautiful as children - complete and whole when only together. Dawn and Jessie.
Until....their parents tore them apart. But that is not where our story begins.
Our story begins with 2 girls living separate lives. Dawn is having blackouts, where she wakes up in strange places losing hours of time. She's woken in scary places like crack houses and dark alleys but also in the middle of a forest. There is no way to predict her blackouts or why.
Jessie is a ballerina, destroying her feet and pushing her body to limits - she's moved out living with parent's friends while she tries to compete at a ballet company.
They are still searching for friendship, struggling to figure out who they are. They still remember each other but there is distance and time and two sets of parents between them.
This is a story about the beauty of friendship. How friendship when you are young is such an all-consuming thing. And once swallowed, it frightens parents because it starts to mold and define you. And once ripped apart, the girls are forever changed. But finding each other again, they can become whole again and just pick up where they left off - almost seamlessly.
My only complaint was that I felt the author took the easy way out. This world must learn how to handle us wild girls. The paranormal slant was interesting but I would have loved to have seen it take a different direction. There was a strong moment to make a bold statement.
This is a story about wild girls. Girls that are amazing and raw and so free, no one can cage them or separate them. They were beautiful as children - complete and whole when only together. Dawn and Jessie.
Until....their parents tore them apart. But that is not where our story begins.
Our story begins with 2 girls living separate lives. Dawn is having blackouts, where she wakes up in strange places losing hours of time. She's woken in scary places like crack houses and dark alleys but also in the middle of a forest. There is no way to predict her blackouts or why.
Jessie is a ballerina, destroying her feet and pushing her body to limits - she's moved out living with parent's friends while she tries to compete at a ballet company.
They are still searching for friendship, struggling to figure out who they are. They still remember each other but there is distance and time and two sets of parents between them.
This is a story about the beauty of friendship. How friendship when you are young is such an all-consuming thing. And once swallowed, it frightens parents because it starts to mold and define you. And once ripped apart, the girls are forever changed. But finding each other again, they can become whole again and just pick up where they left off - almost seamlessly.
My only complaint was that I felt the author took the easy way out. This world must learn how to handle us wild girls. The paranormal slant was interesting but I would have loved to have seen it take a different direction. There was a strong moment to make a bold statement.
Read
March 27, 2017Just too weird. DNF.
April 26, 2017
“Pointe Claw” which I won through Goodreads Giveaways is an intense and unusual novel that revolves around two young women, childhood friends torn apart because of the narcissistic self-gratification of two of their parents. One a pre-professional with the Ballet des Arts and the other dealing with blackouts that leave her lost and afraid of not finding her way back home, they suffer pain and heartache as they search for acceptance, love and their own identity.
Jessie Vale one of thirteen pre-professionals in an elite company ballet company endures the stressful competition, physical pain and rigorous training that will make her dream come true if she earns a spot. Taller than the other ballerinas, when the director of the company and the talented principal male dancer pick a cast for their productions, Jessie is distressed at first to find she’s been condemned to work with Vadim Ivanov on a new modernistic piece that’s uninhibited and animalistic in concept. To be a success she must lose her reserve and not hold back which has her sexually enthralled and yearning for Vadim.
Dawn McCormack a semi-overweight boyish girl with an egocentric mother and negligent father struggles with blackouts that often leave her battered, bruised and waking up in strange places unable to speak. A teen with a brilliant mind, she bears the brunt of medical doctors who can find nothing wrong with her and a mother and stepfather who’d like to rid themselves of the problem. Only with a caged bear, an abused dog and a revived friendship does Dawn feel a sense of connection, love and acceptance.
In a fluid, poetic writing style Amber J. Keyser brings to life the girls’ struggle to make sense of their lives past and present, to brush aside their parents’ mistakes and misgivings, and find their own place in the world. There’s a sense of sexual awakening with Jessie’s arousal in the dance movements that have her passionately yearning for Vadim as well as with overtones of homosexuality left unexplored by the two friends. Even as the story progresses towards an ending that elicits more questions than answers and leaves a taste of something mysterious and unusual happening, the author stirs an appreciation for the depth of the girls’ bond and a feeling of purpose in Jessie as well as hope for Dawn.
What fuels this plot with emotional intensity and depth are the characters like the entrapped, unpredictable and troubled Dawn McCormack whose only love and happiness comes from her revived friendship with competitive, naive, but steadfast and non-judgmental Jessie McCormack. Both are unforgettable in their journey of discovery.
I liked the concept behind “Pointe Claw” although at times I found it confusing especially with Dawn’s mental down-slide, and would also have liked a more definitive ending.
Jessie Vale one of thirteen pre-professionals in an elite company ballet company endures the stressful competition, physical pain and rigorous training that will make her dream come true if she earns a spot. Taller than the other ballerinas, when the director of the company and the talented principal male dancer pick a cast for their productions, Jessie is distressed at first to find she’s been condemned to work with Vadim Ivanov on a new modernistic piece that’s uninhibited and animalistic in concept. To be a success she must lose her reserve and not hold back which has her sexually enthralled and yearning for Vadim.
Dawn McCormack a semi-overweight boyish girl with an egocentric mother and negligent father struggles with blackouts that often leave her battered, bruised and waking up in strange places unable to speak. A teen with a brilliant mind, she bears the brunt of medical doctors who can find nothing wrong with her and a mother and stepfather who’d like to rid themselves of the problem. Only with a caged bear, an abused dog and a revived friendship does Dawn feel a sense of connection, love and acceptance.
In a fluid, poetic writing style Amber J. Keyser brings to life the girls’ struggle to make sense of their lives past and present, to brush aside their parents’ mistakes and misgivings, and find their own place in the world. There’s a sense of sexual awakening with Jessie’s arousal in the dance movements that have her passionately yearning for Vadim as well as with overtones of homosexuality left unexplored by the two friends. Even as the story progresses towards an ending that elicits more questions than answers and leaves a taste of something mysterious and unusual happening, the author stirs an appreciation for the depth of the girls’ bond and a feeling of purpose in Jessie as well as hope for Dawn.
What fuels this plot with emotional intensity and depth are the characters like the entrapped, unpredictable and troubled Dawn McCormack whose only love and happiness comes from her revived friendship with competitive, naive, but steadfast and non-judgmental Jessie McCormack. Both are unforgettable in their journey of discovery.
I liked the concept behind “Pointe Claw” although at times I found it confusing especially with Dawn’s mental down-slide, and would also have liked a more definitive ending.
July 5, 2017
Intense, beautiful, painful, raw, wild and wonderful... This book was a whirlwind. A beautiful, all-encompassing ode to two girls on the brink of wildness, struggling against the pressures of society and parents and restrictive art forms and bedrooms that feel like cages. Jessie and Dawn carve out spaces for themselves in this world that was not made for them, and watching their struggle and their triumph was moving, inspiring.
This is a book about taking up space, something girls are so rarely encouraged to do. This is a book about stretching and reaching and unknitting the closely-pulled fabric of your rib cage until you can finally breathe. This is a book about remembering how to breathe in the first place. And the experience of reading this book in one wild, frenzied gulp, feels like a breath itself: the inhale, building tension, on and on until you feel as though your lungs will burst and you can't keep going because you're being driven mad -- and then the exhale. Freedom. Peace. Release. Expanse.
Read this book while outside. Give it to your girls, so that they may learn to be large and expansive, free and fierce and wild. Put it in the bookshelf next to Mary Oliver -- "Tell me, what is it you plan to do / with your one wild and precious life?" "You do not have to be good. / You do not have to walk on your knees / For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting." -- and let them sing to each other. Let the warm, fluid prose wash over you, fill you up, make you strong.
Read this book.
This is a book about taking up space, something girls are so rarely encouraged to do. This is a book about stretching and reaching and unknitting the closely-pulled fabric of your rib cage until you can finally breathe. This is a book about remembering how to breathe in the first place. And the experience of reading this book in one wild, frenzied gulp, feels like a breath itself: the inhale, building tension, on and on until you feel as though your lungs will burst and you can't keep going because you're being driven mad -- and then the exhale. Freedom. Peace. Release. Expanse.
Read this book while outside. Give it to your girls, so that they may learn to be large and expansive, free and fierce and wild. Put it in the bookshelf next to Mary Oliver -- "Tell me, what is it you plan to do / with your one wild and precious life?" "You do not have to be good. / You do not have to walk on your knees / For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting." -- and let them sing to each other. Let the warm, fluid prose wash over you, fill you up, make you strong.
Read this book.
March 5, 2017
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Pointe, Claw by Amber J. Keyser was one of those rare books that was a wild ride that culminated in my not being quite sure what I read while still being relatively pleased at the end.
The story of Jessie and Dawn is told in alternating points of view, each of which has its own advantages. Jessie is a ballerina working toward a career as a classic dancer whose story was very fluid, much like her style of dance. I noticed that certain elements of her story, particularly classically trained ballerina goes to ultra good school, does well but not well enough, gets thrust into an avant-garde performance, and ultimately doesn't get the role in the company she wanted, were remarkably similar to the plot of the movie Center Stage. It felt odd at times reading those chapters because it felt like I knew where everything was going as it was happening, so while I appreciated the style in which it was written, I would have liked a bit more originality in regards to Jessie's character and her plot development.
Dawn was a thought provoking character because I never quite knew where I stood with her. At the beginning of the story, it is introduced that something is wrong with her, but what? Her mother has dragged her to dozens of doctors and continues to do do throughout the length of the novel, each one more patronizing than the last. Her thought process was jarring compared to Jessie's, much rougher around the edges, and I enjoyed it at least as much, though in a different manner.
The, and I hesitate to use this phrase, "love story" portion of the book was difficult and sad. There were tragic elements resulting from parents thinking they knew what was best for their children, definite instances of homophobia, and Jessie and Dawn's life paths from those points onward. I'm glad that neither Dawn nor Jessie succumbed to self hate, given the behavior of their parents.
Now to the center of my confusion about this book: I'm not sure what it was trying to be. There are a few things that occurred within in that never quite got solved. Several threads ran through the story that felt supernatural, but could have been something else: no definitive explanation. There was a flash of something at the very end of book that seems like it might have answered some questions, but again, no definitive explanation. The connection between the two girls, for example: there were moments when it truly felt like something otherworldly was going on, maybe some kind of psychic connection, but at the end I wasn't sure where they stood in that regard.
Pointe, Claw left a lot up to the reader regarding the ending and that left a slight bitter taste on my literary palette.
The journey of watching Dawn trying to figure out what is going on with her was fascinating, what with the adults around her have next to given up on her and rather than submitting to depression or complete darkness, her struggling through and trying to discover the core of her being. Jessie's fighting for her dream, only to see it alter right before her eyes, becomes something that felt cliche but energetic, giving it something to stand on besides older stories.
An enjoyable book, though again, I wish I had some more definite answers about the ending.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Pointe, Claw by Amber J. Keyser was one of those rare books that was a wild ride that culminated in my not being quite sure what I read while still being relatively pleased at the end.
The story of Jessie and Dawn is told in alternating points of view, each of which has its own advantages. Jessie is a ballerina working toward a career as a classic dancer whose story was very fluid, much like her style of dance. I noticed that certain elements of her story, particularly classically trained ballerina goes to ultra good school, does well but not well enough, gets thrust into an avant-garde performance, and ultimately doesn't get the role in the company she wanted, were remarkably similar to the plot of the movie Center Stage. It felt odd at times reading those chapters because it felt like I knew where everything was going as it was happening, so while I appreciated the style in which it was written, I would have liked a bit more originality in regards to Jessie's character and her plot development.
Dawn was a thought provoking character because I never quite knew where I stood with her. At the beginning of the story, it is introduced that something is wrong with her, but what? Her mother has dragged her to dozens of doctors and continues to do do throughout the length of the novel, each one more patronizing than the last. Her thought process was jarring compared to Jessie's, much rougher around the edges, and I enjoyed it at least as much, though in a different manner.
The, and I hesitate to use this phrase, "love story" portion of the book was difficult and sad. There were tragic elements resulting from parents thinking they knew what was best for their children, definite instances of homophobia, and Jessie and Dawn's life paths from those points onward. I'm glad that neither Dawn nor Jessie succumbed to self hate, given the behavior of their parents.
Now to the center of my confusion about this book: I'm not sure what it was trying to be. There are a few things that occurred within in that never quite got solved. Several threads ran through the story that felt supernatural, but could have been something else: no definitive explanation. There was a flash of something at the very end of book that seems like it might have answered some questions, but again, no definitive explanation. The connection between the two girls, for example: there were moments when it truly felt like something otherworldly was going on, maybe some kind of psychic connection, but at the end I wasn't sure where they stood in that regard.
Pointe, Claw left a lot up to the reader regarding the ending and that left a slight bitter taste on my literary palette.
The journey of watching Dawn trying to figure out what is going on with her was fascinating, what with the adults around her have next to given up on her and rather than submitting to depression or complete darkness, her struggling through and trying to discover the core of her being. Jessie's fighting for her dream, only to see it alter right before her eyes, becomes something that felt cliche but energetic, giving it something to stand on besides older stories.
An enjoyable book, though again, I wish I had some more definite answers about the ending.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 23, 2024
read this book in one sitting. forgot i existed while reading it !! got suuuuper into it. feels like a book you would read in AP lit but would have really good class discussions about. really cool premise / gets cooler the more i unpack it / very different from anything else i’ve read before.
May 19, 2021
i read this book in like 4th grade while disassociating mildly and it made a lasting impression on me. time to reread.
July 20, 2025
For some reason, I've always been draw to ballet. I've never danced ballet beyond a Parks and Rec program, but I find ballet to be so classically beautiful and, well, elegant, everything I love. Degas is one of my favorite painters, because of it. So I picked up Pointe, Claw, because it reminded me of several other YA ballet books that, well, I didn't like per say, but it seemed like a safe pick.
Right away, I could tell that Keyser takes herself way too seriously. I got this impression from both the summary and the author bio in the back, in which she told us exactly what she was trying to do with the book, which was apparently trying to answer some philosophical question nobody really cares about. That struck me as a slightly narcissistic move, like she was trying to show off how smart she was even though she's writing a YA novel about sick kids and ballerinas, which is more common than you'd think it is (like Maybe One Day and Side Effects May Vary).
And the book does come across as a vanity project. The abstract prose and open, slightly confusing ending just came across as the author majorly feeling herself and her intelligence. I mean, the writing's very pretty, I'll give her that, but also screams of pretension. The narrative style and characters made me think Keyser was trying to be Wintergirls-era Laurie Halse Anderson, but Wintergirls was a more successful novel because Anderson seemed more genuine and like she wasn't writing the book because she wanted to show off her brain. I'm starting to also think Keyser really wants to be Anais Nin, what with the abstract and erotic nature of her prose.
I feel like a big part of what Keyser was also trying to do in this novel is shock people. She wanted to write a controversial novel involving female sexuality, and none of those parts honestly felt genuine either. The constant references to masturbation and sex and strippers felt like a little kid who just learned how to swear, so he drops f-bombs left and right to try and get a rise out of people. Eh. I suppose in that respect it's very avant garde of her. Shocking for the sake of being shocking, amiright? Seriously though, it got to the point where I could have a fucking drinking game for every time masturbation is brought up and it's mentioned in the oddest of places, like Keyser always has to remind us girls do it too.
Continue reading this review on my blog here:
https://bookwormbasics.blogspot.com/2...
Right away, I could tell that Keyser takes herself way too seriously. I got this impression from both the summary and the author bio in the back, in which she told us exactly what she was trying to do with the book, which was apparently trying to answer some philosophical question nobody really cares about. That struck me as a slightly narcissistic move, like she was trying to show off how smart she was even though she's writing a YA novel about sick kids and ballerinas, which is more common than you'd think it is (like Maybe One Day and Side Effects May Vary).
And the book does come across as a vanity project. The abstract prose and open, slightly confusing ending just came across as the author majorly feeling herself and her intelligence. I mean, the writing's very pretty, I'll give her that, but also screams of pretension. The narrative style and characters made me think Keyser was trying to be Wintergirls-era Laurie Halse Anderson, but Wintergirls was a more successful novel because Anderson seemed more genuine and like she wasn't writing the book because she wanted to show off her brain. I'm starting to also think Keyser really wants to be Anais Nin, what with the abstract and erotic nature of her prose.
I feel like a big part of what Keyser was also trying to do in this novel is shock people. She wanted to write a controversial novel involving female sexuality, and none of those parts honestly felt genuine either. The constant references to masturbation and sex and strippers felt like a little kid who just learned how to swear, so he drops f-bombs left and right to try and get a rise out of people. Eh. I suppose in that respect it's very avant garde of her. Shocking for the sake of being shocking, amiright? Seriously though, it got to the point where I could have a fucking drinking game for every time masturbation is brought up and it's mentioned in the oddest of places, like Keyser always has to remind us girls do it too.
Continue reading this review on my blog here:
https://bookwormbasics.blogspot.com/2...
February 21, 2017
*Review copy received from publisher*
This is a strange book and I think I had a confused WTF expression all the way through.
Is it contemporary? Or is it fantasy trying to be contemporary? I couldn't tell you.
Having said that the writing itself is powerful, or it would have been if I had been able to work out what was happening to Dawn. Jessie I understood. She is more straightforward and her life slightly more normal.
I need more information, the ending left me even more confused!
This is a strange book and I think I had a confused WTF expression all the way through.
Is it contemporary? Or is it fantasy trying to be contemporary? I couldn't tell you.
Having said that the writing itself is powerful, or it would have been if I had been able to work out what was happening to Dawn. Jessie I understood. She is more straightforward and her life slightly more normal.
I need more information, the ending left me even more confused!
August 31, 2016
SO GOOD. SO GOOD. I loved this book so flippity flipping much!! Phenomenal. Everyone grab it in 2017 and prepare to be blown away.
June 8, 2017
POINTE, CLAW by Amber Keyser captures the lives of two separated childhood friends, Dawn McCormick and Jessie Vale, as they come of age. Jessie is every mother's perfect child. She's chic, beautiful, independent and a talented ballet dancer with the chance to become a professional. Yet hidden beneath that flawless exterior is her obdurate family who refuses to acknowledge her passion as a realistic career choice. Dawn, on the other hand, is her mother's worst nightmare. Despite taking a college course that, if she passes, will guarantee Dawn a college education at Stanford, she is nothing but a disappointment to her egocentric mother. She isn't the frilly, girly princess her mother wants or the obedient, invisible, daughter her stepfather wants. On the surface these two teenagers have lost the bond that they once held sacred. However, when fate offers a second chance for these friends to reunite, their bond and love for each other only strengthens.
Jessie and Dawn were best friends growing up until they were ripped from each other’s arms when Jessie’s family spontaneously moved. Eight years passed and as they adjusted to living without each other, they developed into unique individuals who possess entirely new personalities. It isn’t until Jessie enrolls at the Ballet des Arts, a prestigious ballet program for adolescents that has launched the careers of many renowned ballet dancers, in hopes of obtaining a permanent spot in the Ballet des Arts Academy that Jessie and Dawn live near one another again. Only two dancers from this training program will be brought into the company permanently, and this is Jessie’s last opportunity to succeed before she turns 18. If she fails, her parents will oblige her to give up ballet and obtain a professional job. The dancers will be chosen by Eduardo Cortez, the head of the Academy, after the final performances of the year. Eduardo will direct Four Variations, a traditional piece, while Vadim Ivanov, the star male dancer in the Academy, will direct Turbulence, an untraditional dance he constructed that showcases the ugliness of human nature instead of its beauty. Just as Jessie feels like she is on the verge of a breakthrough, she is selected to dance in the less prestigious performance, Turbulence. Even more unnerving, she is suddenly reunited with Dawn via a phone conversation. As Jessie struggles to maintain her composure she is riddled with concern over reconnecting with Dawn.
Meanwhile, Dawn has been struggling with blackout episodes wherein she can’t control what she does or where she goes. Doctors are baffled by her condition which results in no diagnosis. Unbeknownst to her mother, Dawn has kept a meticulous record of her blackout episodes. She discovers that her episodes are brought on by aggression and that she appears to feel an attractive pull towards captive animals while in a blackout. Unfortunately, Dawn is unable to tell a soul about her findings until she reunites with Jessie. Both girls are no longer the carefree 9 year olds they once were, but as they spend more time together they find their love for one another is as strong as it once was. Sadly, Dawn’s blackouts are increasing in both severity and frequency. Jessie and Dawn’s lives climax the opening night of Jessie’s grand performance.
While I thought the transitions between Jessie and Dawn were executed well, I did find that the book fell a little flat overall. The ending elicited more questions than answers, and Dawn’s mental state was never clearly defined. However, the reunion between Dawn and Jessie seemed to be well constructed and felt genuine. I would recommend this book to any realistic fiction lovers or for anyone who enjoys ballet.
Reviewed by Emily G., Teen Board Member
Jessie and Dawn were best friends growing up until they were ripped from each other’s arms when Jessie’s family spontaneously moved. Eight years passed and as they adjusted to living without each other, they developed into unique individuals who possess entirely new personalities. It isn’t until Jessie enrolls at the Ballet des Arts, a prestigious ballet program for adolescents that has launched the careers of many renowned ballet dancers, in hopes of obtaining a permanent spot in the Ballet des Arts Academy that Jessie and Dawn live near one another again. Only two dancers from this training program will be brought into the company permanently, and this is Jessie’s last opportunity to succeed before she turns 18. If she fails, her parents will oblige her to give up ballet and obtain a professional job. The dancers will be chosen by Eduardo Cortez, the head of the Academy, after the final performances of the year. Eduardo will direct Four Variations, a traditional piece, while Vadim Ivanov, the star male dancer in the Academy, will direct Turbulence, an untraditional dance he constructed that showcases the ugliness of human nature instead of its beauty. Just as Jessie feels like she is on the verge of a breakthrough, she is selected to dance in the less prestigious performance, Turbulence. Even more unnerving, she is suddenly reunited with Dawn via a phone conversation. As Jessie struggles to maintain her composure she is riddled with concern over reconnecting with Dawn.
Meanwhile, Dawn has been struggling with blackout episodes wherein she can’t control what she does or where she goes. Doctors are baffled by her condition which results in no diagnosis. Unbeknownst to her mother, Dawn has kept a meticulous record of her blackout episodes. She discovers that her episodes are brought on by aggression and that she appears to feel an attractive pull towards captive animals while in a blackout. Unfortunately, Dawn is unable to tell a soul about her findings until she reunites with Jessie. Both girls are no longer the carefree 9 year olds they once were, but as they spend more time together they find their love for one another is as strong as it once was. Sadly, Dawn’s blackouts are increasing in both severity and frequency. Jessie and Dawn’s lives climax the opening night of Jessie’s grand performance.
While I thought the transitions between Jessie and Dawn were executed well, I did find that the book fell a little flat overall. The ending elicited more questions than answers, and Dawn’s mental state was never clearly defined. However, the reunion between Dawn and Jessie seemed to be well constructed and felt genuine. I would recommend this book to any realistic fiction lovers or for anyone who enjoys ballet.
Reviewed by Emily G., Teen Board Member
June 15, 2017
‘Pointe, Claw’ by Amber J. Keyser.
Publisher: Walker Books.
Published: April 1st 2017.
Page Count: 280 Pages.
Genre: YA Contemporary, Realistic Fiction.
Review:
Firstly, a huge thank you to Walker Books Australia for sending us a gorgeous copy of ‘Pointe, Claw’ to review 😊.
We are honestly so surprised with this book! We don’t normally buy and read these types of books so we had no idea what to expect. We are very pleased that we took the time to read this novel! It was a little weird but at the same time, we found it really interesting. Not to mention, the plot was just so intense between the relationship of the two main characters, Jessie and Dawn.
There was a certain wildness and untamed side to the author’s writing style and ability that completely reeled us in! This intense and truly surreal story really outlines certain struggles that both girls face. Both of their points of view are completely unique whilst still portraying a deep connection towards each other as they try and piece together their complicated past, where childhood best friends were ripped away from each other.
Whilst reading this unique novel, we found that both girls had a certain honesty and rawness about them when they faced different situations.
In Dawn’s case, the author allows us to clearly see fragments of what she is dealing with as the story progresses. This is partly the reason why we were so intrigued with this novel! As we slowly grasped what was happening to Dawn, we were constantly left wondering if we should believe something serious was going on with her health or if it was just all in her head? The lead up and suspense in this novel was really entertaining. The author would start to describe different accounts of what was happening then she would just leave us on the edge of our seats!
Don’t even get us started on Dawn’s mother. She is just so frustrating! She rarely cared about Dawn and what she truly wanted out of life. She only cared about finding a cure for an unknown medical condition and about her daughter’s body image to try and help her dress and act differently.
The other character, Jessie is a lot easier to understand. Jessie is a dancer in an elite Ballet program which requires her absolute full attention and 100% perfection. As Jessie begins to experiment throughout her dancing style and technique, the author does an incredible job at portraying the ultimate stakes!
She describes the brutality of being a ballerina with the constant pain, blood and strain that each performer learns to overcome. The drive that the dancers had left us in awe. Their determination in the way they connect to the music and themselves was truly inspiring.
We have always loved reading books about Ballet. ‘Pointe, Claw’ is all about mental pain, physical pain, determination and the ability to follow your own advice and dreams.
This book didn’t give us all the answers however, it left us thinking about how strange and extraordinary this book is with its unique characters. We do wish this book had a greater resolution however, it let us fill in the gaps ourselves.
We just loved how both girls created their own idea of feminism and how they embraced each other, including their distinctive wildness.
This is the first book that we have read by Amber J. Keyser and it won’t be the last! We definitely recommend this novel. It’s something completely different! You will either love its uniqueness or hate it entirely, but we can honestly say we loved it!
Book Rating: 4/5 Stars⭐️
Publisher: Walker Books.
Published: April 1st 2017.
Page Count: 280 Pages.
Genre: YA Contemporary, Realistic Fiction.
Review:
Firstly, a huge thank you to Walker Books Australia for sending us a gorgeous copy of ‘Pointe, Claw’ to review 😊.
We are honestly so surprised with this book! We don’t normally buy and read these types of books so we had no idea what to expect. We are very pleased that we took the time to read this novel! It was a little weird but at the same time, we found it really interesting. Not to mention, the plot was just so intense between the relationship of the two main characters, Jessie and Dawn.
There was a certain wildness and untamed side to the author’s writing style and ability that completely reeled us in! This intense and truly surreal story really outlines certain struggles that both girls face. Both of their points of view are completely unique whilst still portraying a deep connection towards each other as they try and piece together their complicated past, where childhood best friends were ripped away from each other.
Whilst reading this unique novel, we found that both girls had a certain honesty and rawness about them when they faced different situations.
In Dawn’s case, the author allows us to clearly see fragments of what she is dealing with as the story progresses. This is partly the reason why we were so intrigued with this novel! As we slowly grasped what was happening to Dawn, we were constantly left wondering if we should believe something serious was going on with her health or if it was just all in her head? The lead up and suspense in this novel was really entertaining. The author would start to describe different accounts of what was happening then she would just leave us on the edge of our seats!
Don’t even get us started on Dawn’s mother. She is just so frustrating! She rarely cared about Dawn and what she truly wanted out of life. She only cared about finding a cure for an unknown medical condition and about her daughter’s body image to try and help her dress and act differently.
The other character, Jessie is a lot easier to understand. Jessie is a dancer in an elite Ballet program which requires her absolute full attention and 100% perfection. As Jessie begins to experiment throughout her dancing style and technique, the author does an incredible job at portraying the ultimate stakes!
She describes the brutality of being a ballerina with the constant pain, blood and strain that each performer learns to overcome. The drive that the dancers had left us in awe. Their determination in the way they connect to the music and themselves was truly inspiring.
We have always loved reading books about Ballet. ‘Pointe, Claw’ is all about mental pain, physical pain, determination and the ability to follow your own advice and dreams.
This book didn’t give us all the answers however, it left us thinking about how strange and extraordinary this book is with its unique characters. We do wish this book had a greater resolution however, it let us fill in the gaps ourselves.
We just loved how both girls created their own idea of feminism and how they embraced each other, including their distinctive wildness.
This is the first book that we have read by Amber J. Keyser and it won’t be the last! We definitely recommend this novel. It’s something completely different! You will either love its uniqueness or hate it entirely, but we can honestly say we loved it!
Book Rating: 4/5 Stars⭐️
July 6, 2017
This review was originally posted on The Moonlight LibraryWhat can I say about Pointe, Claw?
I'll start with telling you why I wanted to read it. I love those books that are about performing, whether it be musicians, actors, or dancers. And Keyser is a former ballerina, an actual former performer who can tell it like it is - and she does. She knows intimately not just the moves in ballet but how each muscle works while doing them, and delivers it with the knowledge of someone who hasn't just researched but lived it. This makes Jessie's narration so believable and so easy to live in.
The same can be said for Dawn's discussions on evolutionary biology. Keyser has taken two huge parts of her identity and given one to each of the main characters in this book so that once again, it's doesn't feel like research. It's more than research when you literally write what you know.
I wanted to read a book about a strong female friendship and I'll admit I was a little thrown when I discovered the girls' friendship was somewhat more than that. I loved reading about how strongly the girls felt about each other back when they were children, and how they felt about each other now they were almost grown up. I liked how both girls came from broken homes and neither wanted to return to them. I liked how the voices of the girls were so distinct. It was a very well written book.
While the book seems a little light on plot, it does a good job of unraveling the questions that pop up. The best thing about this book, I feel, is Jessie's sexual awakening at the hands of her ballet teacher, which very much reminded me of the Phantom of the Opera, the film version, where Gerard Butler is Emmy Rossum's sexual awakening but Patrick Wilson is her romantic awakening. I very much expected them to have sex even though Jessie was underage. At the same time, Jessie is struggling with her feelings for Dawn that she's had since they were kids.
The book is certainly about girl bodies and how other people try to control them. Jessie is learning a dance that feels dangerous because it is so un-classical. Dawn's mother drags her from doctor to doctor trying to diagnose what is happening to her body. Strangers leer and drool over the thin ballerina with no chest, grope the girl who dresses like a boy to hide her flesh. Both girls initially fight their animalistic urges, and both, eventually, succumb, in choices that are purely theirs.
It's kind of hard to say why I enjoyed this weird book so much. I wanted to read about a dancer and a girl who's turning into a bear, and I got both: but I got so much more. I got a real dancer's experience. I got sexual chemistry and an almost love triangle but not quite (seriously it is NOT a love triangle). I got friction between parents who don't understand their daughters. I got girls fighting to control their bodies. I got an ending I'm still thinking about, that I think works, but still makes me a little sad.
I know I haven't actually said very much about this book but I really enjoyed it and I think if you like feminism, performing arts stories, magical realism or just plain weird then you might enjoy it, too.
I'll start with telling you why I wanted to read it. I love those books that are about performing, whether it be musicians, actors, or dancers. And Keyser is a former ballerina, an actual former performer who can tell it like it is - and she does. She knows intimately not just the moves in ballet but how each muscle works while doing them, and delivers it with the knowledge of someone who hasn't just researched but lived it. This makes Jessie's narration so believable and so easy to live in.
The same can be said for Dawn's discussions on evolutionary biology. Keyser has taken two huge parts of her identity and given one to each of the main characters in this book so that once again, it's doesn't feel like research. It's more than research when you literally write what you know.
I wanted to read a book about a strong female friendship and I'll admit I was a little thrown when I discovered the girls' friendship was somewhat more than that. I loved reading about how strongly the girls felt about each other back when they were children, and how they felt about each other now they were almost grown up. I liked how both girls came from broken homes and neither wanted to return to them. I liked how the voices of the girls were so distinct. It was a very well written book.
While the book seems a little light on plot, it does a good job of unraveling the questions that pop up. The best thing about this book, I feel, is Jessie's sexual awakening at the hands of her ballet teacher, which very much reminded me of the Phantom of the Opera, the film version, where Gerard Butler is Emmy Rossum's sexual awakening but Patrick Wilson is her romantic awakening. I very much expected them to have sex even though Jessie was underage. At the same time, Jessie is struggling with her feelings for Dawn that she's had since they were kids.
The book is certainly about girl bodies and how other people try to control them. Jessie is learning a dance that feels dangerous because it is so un-classical. Dawn's mother drags her from doctor to doctor trying to diagnose what is happening to her body. Strangers leer and drool over the thin ballerina with no chest, grope the girl who dresses like a boy to hide her flesh. Both girls initially fight their animalistic urges, and both, eventually, succumb, in choices that are purely theirs.
It's kind of hard to say why I enjoyed this weird book so much. I wanted to read about a dancer and a girl who's turning into a bear, and I got both: but I got so much more. I got a real dancer's experience. I got sexual chemistry and an almost love triangle but not quite (seriously it is NOT a love triangle). I got friction between parents who don't understand their daughters. I got girls fighting to control their bodies. I got an ending I'm still thinking about, that I think works, but still makes me a little sad.
I know I haven't actually said very much about this book but I really enjoyed it and I think if you like feminism, performing arts stories, magical realism or just plain weird then you might enjoy it, too.
January 19, 2018
I was a little nervous going into this book because it seemed to have very polarizing reviews. However, I was immediately drawn in by the seductive and intoxicating writing style and storyline - in fact, I don't think I've ever felt like that about a book before.
Thanks so much to Thomas Allen Books for sending me a copy of this book for an honest review, as always, all opinions are my own.
This story follows two main POVs and characters, Jessie, a pre-professional ballerina who is fighting for a position in the ballet company, and Dawn, her childhood best friend who she hasn't seen in years but faces her own issues coming to terms with her life. I think this is one of those books that is kind of hard to summarize and actually better if you go in not knowing or expecting too much, so I won't say any more in terms of plot.
When I first started this book, I was a little confused by the writing style, in Dawn's POV, at least, because it was so unlike other books I've read. But once I got a little further in, I knew that this was a book that I was going to savour and really enjoy reading if nothing else, in terms of style. As I mentioned earlier, the writing is seductive and alluring - once the story sinks its claws in (no pun intended), it won't let you go until the very end.
I've only read a handful of books about ballerinas, but they always really intrigue me, both in fiction and reality. The author herself is a former ballerina and you can see that in the technicality of the performance of the characters. Nothing is too advanced that it goes over the head of someone (like me) who isn't a ballerina and has very little knowledge, but she includes details that let you know that she knows what she is talking about.
Keyser also writes in this beautifully descriptive way that tells a story you can visualize - something that I've been more aware of as lacking in a lot of the books I've been reading. I felt like I really connected to the story and could see what was happening, even if I didn't relate to the characters on a personal level (i.e. as a ballerina). That isn't to say that the characters weren't relatable, on the contrary, both Dawn and Jessie struggle with what it means to make the most of this one crazy life we are given.
I will just briefly touch on the situation with Dawn because I don't want to spoil anything, but I will say that I think, in the end, the conclusion we got was the best one we were going to get. Part of me wanted to see more of what and why, but the majority of me recognizes that stylistically, this conclusion makes the most amount of sense, in a backwards kind of way. Either that or I didn't understand anything.
I was worried that because this book was so short (in my books, anything under 300 pages is hit-or-miss), it wouldn't be able to tell a story in the way that it did. Like I said earlier, I savoured every page and was completely engrossed in the story. I can already tell that this is going to be one of those books that stays with me for a long time.
Overall, a truly seductive and intoxicating read!
Thanks so much to Thomas Allen Books for sending me a copy of this book for an honest review, as always, all opinions are my own.
This story follows two main POVs and characters, Jessie, a pre-professional ballerina who is fighting for a position in the ballet company, and Dawn, her childhood best friend who she hasn't seen in years but faces her own issues coming to terms with her life. I think this is one of those books that is kind of hard to summarize and actually better if you go in not knowing or expecting too much, so I won't say any more in terms of plot.
When I first started this book, I was a little confused by the writing style, in Dawn's POV, at least, because it was so unlike other books I've read. But once I got a little further in, I knew that this was a book that I was going to savour and really enjoy reading if nothing else, in terms of style. As I mentioned earlier, the writing is seductive and alluring - once the story sinks its claws in (no pun intended), it won't let you go until the very end.
I've only read a handful of books about ballerinas, but they always really intrigue me, both in fiction and reality. The author herself is a former ballerina and you can see that in the technicality of the performance of the characters. Nothing is too advanced that it goes over the head of someone (like me) who isn't a ballerina and has very little knowledge, but she includes details that let you know that she knows what she is talking about.
Keyser also writes in this beautifully descriptive way that tells a story you can visualize - something that I've been more aware of as lacking in a lot of the books I've been reading. I felt like I really connected to the story and could see what was happening, even if I didn't relate to the characters on a personal level (i.e. as a ballerina). That isn't to say that the characters weren't relatable, on the contrary, both Dawn and Jessie struggle with what it means to make the most of this one crazy life we are given.
I will just briefly touch on the situation with Dawn because I don't want to spoil anything, but I will say that I think, in the end, the conclusion we got was the best one we were going to get. Part of me wanted to see more of what and why, but the majority of me recognizes that stylistically, this conclusion makes the most amount of sense, in a backwards kind of way. Either that or I didn't understand anything.
I was worried that because this book was so short (in my books, anything under 300 pages is hit-or-miss), it wouldn't be able to tell a story in the way that it did. Like I said earlier, I savoured every page and was completely engrossed in the story. I can already tell that this is going to be one of those books that stays with me for a long time.
Overall, a truly seductive and intoxicating read!
March 22, 2023
I picked this up at a library discard sale because it looked like it was a transition to adulthood story that happened to include a girl who could become a bear which sounded really, really cool.
This book follows two narrators/protagonists: Jessie and Dawn. Jessie is a ballerina who took the GED so she could focus more wholly on ballet and who desperately wants ballet to remain her whole life, as, in the way teenagers view things, a life without the one big thing you have, is no life at all. Dawn is her opposite, a girl who is in an online science program that guarantees her a spot at Stanford should she graduate but who is having weird fugue states her mother can't figure out. Dawn's family life is also a disaster. Jessie's is too, with parents who seem to only tolerate one another, but Dawn's parents divorced and she hates her step-father while her relationship with her mother is fraught with the tension of both being a teen and having a mother who is catering to someone who doesn't like you very much.
The author does a great job immersing you in the worlds of both characters and drawing you into them. I neither knew nor cared anything about ballet and yet I found myself caring for Jessie's sake. The same with Dawn. The writing built sympathy for both characters.
However, the writer also pooh-poohs creationist biology and Dawn's dad's new family is Christian as a laughable plot point only which seemed like a cheap shot and a disservice to genuine Christians and scientists everywhere. I also didn't need that many (read: any) references to underage lesbianism in a book; had I known beforehand, this is not a book I would have read.
Finally, I found the ending a mixed bag. Jessie's parts were satisfying but Dawn's, while probably ending in the best possible way given the set up, I found deeply unsatisfying. There was an exchange at the end that I think most people will like however.
Who I think will like this book: Leftists, teenagers rebelling against parents who would find this unacceptable reading material, anyone pro-LGB
Who I think won't like this book: anyone who wanted more were-bear and less preaching, anyone who doesn't fit into the 'like this book' categories - save your time, go read something else.
This book follows two narrators/protagonists: Jessie and Dawn. Jessie is a ballerina who took the GED so she could focus more wholly on ballet and who desperately wants ballet to remain her whole life, as, in the way teenagers view things, a life without the one big thing you have, is no life at all. Dawn is her opposite, a girl who is in an online science program that guarantees her a spot at Stanford should she graduate but who is having weird fugue states her mother can't figure out. Dawn's family life is also a disaster. Jessie's is too, with parents who seem to only tolerate one another, but Dawn's parents divorced and she hates her step-father while her relationship with her mother is fraught with the tension of both being a teen and having a mother who is catering to someone who doesn't like you very much.
The author does a great job immersing you in the worlds of both characters and drawing you into them. I neither knew nor cared anything about ballet and yet I found myself caring for Jessie's sake. The same with Dawn. The writing built sympathy for both characters.
However, the writer also pooh-poohs creationist biology and Dawn's dad's new family is Christian as a laughable plot point only which seemed like a cheap shot and a disservice to genuine Christians and scientists everywhere. I also didn't need that many (read: any) references to underage lesbianism in a book; had I known beforehand, this is not a book I would have read.
Finally, I found the ending a mixed bag. Jessie's parts were satisfying but Dawn's, while probably ending in the best possible way given the set up, I found deeply unsatisfying. There was an exchange at the end that I think most people will like however.
Who I think will like this book: Leftists, teenagers rebelling against parents who would find this unacceptable reading material, anyone pro-LGB
Who I think won't like this book: anyone who wanted more were-bear and less preaching, anyone who doesn't fit into the 'like this book' categories - save your time, go read something else.
November 20, 2017
I enjoyed reading this book, but I didn't really like the story.
I have a really hard time understanding Dawn. I feel like her story was left unresolved. She was turning feral? When did her fugal states begin and why? Did she just fall apart once she and Jesse were separated? I'm sure her shitty family life played a role in her deterioration.
She's poked, prodded, and judged by those who are supposed to help and support her. Her mom wants to "fix her"without really helping her, her dad wants to heal her with prayer, and her step-dad wants nothing to do with her. Her step-dad says something like "This isn't how girls are supposed to be" when he sees her messy room. Her mom wishes she would dress "better." Doctors comment on her weight. If she looked more appealing, would she get better treatment? Probably.
Jessie's story is easier. She started ballet when she was 12 and that's pretty much been her life. She has few friends (but no real friends) and she has a distant relationship with her parents. When Jessie reveals what she knows about their parents, it catches Jessie by surprise and she becomes angry. In regards to her ballet, I suppose that's supposed to be her outlet? She is chosen to dance in a non-conventional ballet. At first she is upset and ashamed, but eventually she lets go and embraces her "wild side." It doesn't seem to me that Jessie has ever thought for herself, not even when she decides to embrace the new type of dancing.
The author set out to write about what it means to be a girl in a girl's body. I think she missed the mark. Interesting story, nonetheless.
I have a really hard time understanding Dawn. I feel like her story was left unresolved. She was turning feral? When did her fugal states begin and why? Did she just fall apart once she and Jesse were separated? I'm sure her shitty family life played a role in her deterioration.
She's poked, prodded, and judged by those who are supposed to help and support her. Her mom wants to "fix her"without really helping her, her dad wants to heal her with prayer, and her step-dad wants nothing to do with her. Her step-dad says something like "This isn't how girls are supposed to be" when he sees her messy room. Her mom wishes she would dress "better." Doctors comment on her weight. If she looked more appealing, would she get better treatment? Probably.
Jessie's story is easier. She started ballet when she was 12 and that's pretty much been her life. She has few friends (but no real friends) and she has a distant relationship with her parents. When Jessie reveals what she knows about their parents, it catches Jessie by surprise and she becomes angry. In regards to her ballet, I suppose that's supposed to be her outlet? She is chosen to dance in a non-conventional ballet. At first she is upset and ashamed, but eventually she lets go and embraces her "wild side." It doesn't seem to me that Jessie has ever thought for herself, not even when she decides to embrace the new type of dancing.
The author set out to write about what it means to be a girl in a girl's body. I think she missed the mark. Interesting story, nonetheless.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2023
Dawn has a secret. If only she could remember what her secret is. Instead, her mind goes dark and she wakes up, bruised and bloody in strange places, barely able to speak. The doctors call them fugues. Her dad calls them dangerous. Her mom and stepdad call them problematic. All Dawn knows is that she is feeling less and less comfortable in her skin.
Jessie lives and breathes ballet. She cannot afford to fail to execute the beautiful lines and rise to claim her spot in the company. She must fight the other girls for the spot, but can she learn to dance with the same beast she feels in her soul?
Dawn and Jessie are connected and must save each other from the beasts inside of themselves or else learn to let them roar.
Opinion:
Pointe, Claw is an incredible book. It is dark, mysterious, and impossible to put down. The characters grow a ton throughout the book as they explore what they really want. The main message of the book is about defying expectations and being who you really are. The writing style and tone makes it feel as if you are actually inside the characters’ heads and hearing their thoughts, which makes the book feel personal. As someone who loves poetry, the poems and flashbacks interspersed were appreciated. However, my one complaint is there are some sexual scenes which seem out of place and unnecessary. Due to this, I recommend the book for teens at least 17 or 18 years old.
Jessie lives and breathes ballet. She cannot afford to fail to execute the beautiful lines and rise to claim her spot in the company. She must fight the other girls for the spot, but can she learn to dance with the same beast she feels in her soul?
Dawn and Jessie are connected and must save each other from the beasts inside of themselves or else learn to let them roar.
Opinion:
Pointe, Claw is an incredible book. It is dark, mysterious, and impossible to put down. The characters grow a ton throughout the book as they explore what they really want. The main message of the book is about defying expectations and being who you really are. The writing style and tone makes it feel as if you are actually inside the characters’ heads and hearing their thoughts, which makes the book feel personal. As someone who loves poetry, the poems and flashbacks interspersed were appreciated. However, my one complaint is there are some sexual scenes which seem out of place and unnecessary. Due to this, I recommend the book for teens at least 17 or 18 years old.
October 18, 2018
Pointe, Claw by Amber J. Keyser, 275 pages. Carolrhoda Lab (Carolrhoda Books), 2017. $18.99
Language: R (82 swears, 25 “f”); Mature Content: R; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS – NO
AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW
Jessie is trapped by the knowledge that she has to be the best dancer to get one of the two available company spots or else her parents won’t let her continue dancing. Dawn is trapped by mental illness with her mother in denial and doctors unable to diagnose what is wrong with Dawn. Pulled apart at a young age, both girls yearn for the feeling of belonging that now only occupies childhood memories.
This book was really confusing, and I everything that I understood of the book is what I wrote the summary above. Every time that I thought things were starting to make sense, one character or another would go off the deep end again and I couldn’t follow what happened. Furthermore, I was made very uncomfortable by the constant crude sexual content and felt more and more gross the longer I read.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
Language: R (82 swears, 25 “f”); Mature Content: R; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS – NO
AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW
Jessie is trapped by the knowledge that she has to be the best dancer to get one of the two available company spots or else her parents won’t let her continue dancing. Dawn is trapped by mental illness with her mother in denial and doctors unable to diagnose what is wrong with Dawn. Pulled apart at a young age, both girls yearn for the feeling of belonging that now only occupies childhood memories.
This book was really confusing, and I everything that I understood of the book is what I wrote the summary above. Every time that I thought things were starting to make sense, one character or another would go off the deep end again and I couldn’t follow what happened. Furthermore, I was made very uncomfortable by the constant crude sexual content and felt more and more gross the longer I read.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
March 6, 2018
Dawn and Jessie alternate telling the story of their destruction and rebirth. Dawn is experiencing fugue states, where she returns from where ever she has physically been smelling of earth, soil under her fingernails, scratches on her body, and barely able to speak. Jessie desperately wants to be chosen for one of two spots in the ballet company she has been training for since she was twelve. When she is tapped to perform a modern animalistic dance, it frightens and frees her at the same time.
This was a weird book, very weird. It is magical realism after all. I ended up skipping a chunk of it in the middle. But after finishing it, my once dormant, English lit critique brain woke up and screamed at me. There is such heavy symbolism about teenage girls in this book. Their animal natures, wanting to find their place in society, in relationships, and in family. The fierceness of both girls is fascinating. The ending...remember I said it was magical realism? Yeah, that. But it worked.
Not for Gateway.
This was a weird book, very weird. It is magical realism after all. I ended up skipping a chunk of it in the middle. But after finishing it, my once dormant, English lit critique brain woke up and screamed at me. There is such heavy symbolism about teenage girls in this book. Their animal natures, wanting to find their place in society, in relationships, and in family. The fierceness of both girls is fascinating. The ending...remember I said it was magical realism? Yeah, that. But it worked.
Not for Gateway.
September 13, 2018
Language: R (82 swears, 25 “f”); Mature Content: R; Violence: PG
Jessie is trapped by the knowledge that she has to be the best dancer to get one of the two available company spots or else her parents won’t let her continue dancing. Dawn is trapped by mental illness with her mother in denial and doctors unable to diagnose what is wrong with Dawn. Pulled apart at a young age, both girls yearn for the feeling of belonging that now only occupies childhood memories.
This book was really confusing, and I everything that I understood of the book is what I wrote the summary above. Every time that I thought things were starting to make sense, one character or another would go off the deep end again and I couldn’t follow what happened. Furthermore, I was made very uncomfortable by the constant crude sexual content and felt more and more gross the longer I read.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
Jessie is trapped by the knowledge that she has to be the best dancer to get one of the two available company spots or else her parents won’t let her continue dancing. Dawn is trapped by mental illness with her mother in denial and doctors unable to diagnose what is wrong with Dawn. Pulled apart at a young age, both girls yearn for the feeling of belonging that now only occupies childhood memories.
This book was really confusing, and I everything that I understood of the book is what I wrote the summary above. Every time that I thought things were starting to make sense, one character or another would go off the deep end again and I couldn’t follow what happened. Furthermore, I was made very uncomfortable by the constant crude sexual content and felt more and more gross the longer I read.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
February 13, 2018
I rarely rate books so low, but I rste for my own memory, so I'm being honest. I picked up the book because I thought it was a book about a ballet dancer. I did not read the blurb until I was about to start the book weeks later. I should have stopped there. I continued because I liked the description of ballet steps and combinations...at least in the first bit of the book. (As a personal aggravation, could "modern ballet" get an entirely different name? There's modern, jazz, tap, hip hop, etc. They all have their own name, audiences, and dancers, and I respect that. Stop pretending modern ballet is ballet at all, let ballet keep the art form, and do the rest under it's own category). Suffice it to say, I do not agree with any of the author's ideas, it was much too weird, and like another reviewer said, it's like she wrote what and how she did, just to shock.
June 3, 2017
First off, the cover of this book grabbed my attention. I loved the dancer and upon closer inspection, saw the shadow of the animal. This is a great visual of the two sides of this story where one character is a beautiful dancer and the other character is attracted to wildlife.
I really found this an engaging read regarding animal views of our self that tie us back through evolution. I think have the one character explore evolution and animal behavior shows that this book was well researched. The parts about the dancing were also realistic and well painted for the reader.
As many other reviewers have stated, the ending was not what I expected. I don't know how I fell about it as I still had many unanswered questions.
I really found this an engaging read regarding animal views of our self that tie us back through evolution. I think have the one character explore evolution and animal behavior shows that this book was well researched. The parts about the dancing were also realistic and well painted for the reader.
As many other reviewers have stated, the ending was not what I expected. I don't know how I fell about it as I still had many unanswered questions.
June 20, 2017
What a different, unique story of two young girls who were best friends but got separated at the age of 9 years old when one's family moved away. They were torn to pieces and neither ever forgot the other.
Years later they reconnect and each is very different from the girl that they had both remembered; however, they were also still very much desirous of being that friend again.
Jessie is a ballet dancer and her dream is to become a well-known ballerina; while Dawn has a mysterious challenge where she has fugues and doesn't know where she's been or how she's gotten to where she is when she awakens. It's actually quite frightening.
I think the story of the two girls is intriguing and unique. I ended up liking it more than I thought I would.
Years later they reconnect and each is very different from the girl that they had both remembered; however, they were also still very much desirous of being that friend again.
Jessie is a ballet dancer and her dream is to become a well-known ballerina; while Dawn has a mysterious challenge where she has fugues and doesn't know where she's been or how she's gotten to where she is when she awakens. It's actually quite frightening.
I think the story of the two girls is intriguing and unique. I ended up liking it more than I thought I would.
December 6, 2016
A beautiful and intense read. Dawn and Jessie are so different - their worlds are almost polar opposite in many ways. But there's a thread that binds them, and it's not just their shared childhood. I've always loved reading books about the reality of ballet - the competition, the mental games, the physical pain, the sexual complications, and Pointe, Claw has all of that. It also brings you down Dawn's difficult path. She cannot control where it leads, though she tries. If you like books that don't serve up all the answers but keep you thinking about the characters weeks later, read this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews