No Ballet Shoes in Syria

by Catherine Bruton

Aya is eleven years old and has just arrived in Britain with her mum and baby brother, seeking asylum from war in Syria.

When Aya stumbles across a local ballet class, the formidable dance teacher spots her exceptional talent and believes that Aya has the potential to earn a prestigious ballet scholarship.

But at the same time, Aya and her family must fight to be allowed to remain in the country, to make a home for themselves, and to find Aya’s father – separated from the rest of the family during the journey from Syria.

With beautiful, captivating writing, wonderfully authentic ballet detail, and an important message championing the rights of refugees, this is classic storytelling – filled with warmth, hope and humanity.

“A perfect balance of tragedy and triumph” – Natasha Farrant, author of The Children of Castle Rock

Genres: Middle Grade, Fiction, Contemporary, Childrens, Novels, Young Adult, War

268 pages, Paperback

First published May 2, 2019

About the author

I live just outside Bath with my husband, Jonny, and my two children (plus two toy monkeys, six goldfish and we’re hoping to get some chickens!). I teach English two days a week at a local secondary school. I also write articles for newspapers and magazines. Oh, and I write novels too!

Reviews

[Marie the Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good and emotional and superimportant book! Read it!

[Daisy May Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aya is eleven, Syrian, and seeking asylum in Britain. Her mum, her, and her baby brother, escaped from the war in Syria - but her father got separated from them on the way. Her whole family is suffering from the experience (and it's handled so delicately and sensitively and well by Bruton but fyi if you're working with children who may have undergone a similar experience), and her life is not easy. One day she comes across a ballet class, and it's there that everything starts to change...

In her introduction to this, Bruton name-checks some of the best dance stories out there - the Sadlers Wells books by the wonderful Lorna Hill; Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild; and The Swish of the Curtain by Pamela Brown. It's a small thing, but incredibly important as it means that she knows her stuff. These are totemic books, in a perenially popular genre of children's literature, and I think that No Ballet Shoes In Syria more than stands up to them. In fact, it's out in May and I'm telling you about it now because I think it's great. It made me cry, and it made me smile, and it feels like one of those quietly classic stories that British children's literature does so utterly well.

It's full of a lot of heart this, not in the least with the representation of Aya. She's a powerful, brave character and the impact of her experience is never far from her. It's no easy thing to write somebody suffering from trauma, let alone to render that in such a beautiful, under-stated and kind manner, but Bruton manages it extremely well. The narrative engages in a series of flashbacks, talking about her life in Syria and the slow erosion of this by war, and the contrast is starkly rendered at some points. I was particularly moved by the points where the relative privilege and comfort of Aya's new life in Britain triggered some painful flashbacks for her. It's also important to note that this is a book that knows its stuff; the distinction between a refugee and an asylum seeker is carefully made, and the historic parallels of Aya's journey are sensitively and movingly explored.

This is a good book. It's honest, kind, heartbreaking and really rather utterly lovely.

My thanks to the publisher for a review copy.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really don’t know where to start with this book, it is so beautifully written and I absolutely loved it from the first page!

The story follows Aya on her new life in England with extracts written following her journey from Syria to England. The minute you start this book you have so much sympathy for Aya and want nothing but good things to happen to her but life isn’t that easy, which Aya soon realises.

This is a must read for everyone!

[Christina Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel privileged to have read this beautiful book -one that is destined to become a classic, like the books that inspired it, When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit and the Sadler's Wells series.
The story follows Aya as she attempts to help her mother and younger brother negotiate the vagaries and difficulties of life as an asylum seeker. They have had a long, hard journey from their home in Syria in order to reach the safety of England, but it is dtill unsure if they will be able to stay or not.
This book gripped me from the first page, with each and every character brought to life in just a few words. From the people she meets in the commhnity centre, to those along the way on their journey, the kindness Aya and her family are met with is awe-inspiring. Yet, it is equally upsetting how much cruelty and ignorance they must overcome too.
This book is both an ode to the power of dance to express emotions and change lives and an eye-opening look at the dangers causing many families to flee their homes. I read this with both a full heart at the resilience of the human spirit and tears trickling down my cheeks at the challenges Aya and her family face. Such an important and inspiring story!

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

a child's journey from war torn Syria to the UK and her ballet journey from lessons in Aleppo to lessons in UK under a former refugee from the former Czech republic escaping the Nazis. Felt it was an easy read in grammar even though its a tough topic of fleeing violence and repression.

[Sophie Snowden · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly wonderful story about a journey to pursue a passion, overcoming several battles on the way. This book tells the story of Aya and her family, who are refugees from Syria. Aya has to take on the role of the mother in the story, because although she has a mother, she is not very well, therefore Aya is looking after her and her baby brother, Moosa. Aya is invited by a local ballet teacher to come and join her ballet school, Aya used to dance when she was in Syria. Aya joins the school where she becomes great friends with Dotty who helps to understand Aya's story. Aya is going through a tough time, not knowing whether their request for asylum will be granted in the UK, but she uses her dancing to help her overcome these feelings. She receives great support from her ballet teachers who really look after Aya and her family, helping her to develop as a dancer. After a long time of uncertainty, Aya realises that the only chance she might have of staying into the UK is to audition for a ballet school. She choreographs a dance all about her past, and after a rough start, she performs this amazing dance, but she has to wait and see if she'll get in. After organising a wonderful event to raise money for the centre, Aya recieves the news that she has been offered a place at the Ballet school, alongside Dotty, who will be taking a different course. Then she finds that Momma and Moose have been granted the asylum - with help from some friends - so Aya uses her dance in the recital, she has put on, to portray wonderful memories of her dad. Throughout the story there are flashbacks to times from Syria, which link so beautifully to the story, and help the reader understand what Aya has been through. You could use these to plot Aya’s journey from Aleppo which could link to Geography.
This truly heartwarming story is a perfect balance of triumph and tragedy, and portrays how far perseverance can get you. It's a great story about the importance of passion, and how far this can take you. It is a story that would inspire anyone to pursue a dream, as long as they believe in themselves, and use their experiences to help performance. A wonderful story which would suit KS2 readers, both boys and girls.

[Tamsin Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It tells the story of eleven-year-old Aya who is seeking asylum in Manchester with her mother and brother. An incredibly moving and important story about war, survival, friendship and the power of dance. I finished it late last night in a mess of tears, heartbreak & joy. One that will stay with me for a long time.

[Louise Goddard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fantastic story about the emotional, heartbreaking journey of a young girl from Syria to England. I really enjoyed the way the author jumped from past to present to show how the main character was feeling, and I think that children in Year 5 or 6 would really enjoy this book.

[sofia ؛༊ · Rating 4 out of 5]

i read this years ago, it was the first book i ever cried about.

[Andreia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am very obviously not the target demographic for this book but I read the synopsis on my library app and thought it sounded interesting, and it was short enough for me to get through in a single sitting so 🤷🏾‍♀️ why not!

Despite me not being the target audience for this story, I thought it was a worthwhile read anyways. Sure, the writing wasn't anything spectacular and the plot a bit simplistic despite the serious subject matter, the message behind the words was very important and something children should definitely be exposed to.

My main critique of this book is that due to the author being white and British, the story lacks certain nuances that I feel would have elevated the story and garnered a stronger emotional response. I am aware that the author did her research and consulted with British-Syrian people and refugees; that is clear to see in the text through specific vocabulary, cultural foods written about, and region specific names also used for some characters. However, due to the story being written through a white, western lens it lacks the rawness and emotional connection from someone who has had a lived or adjacent experience to Aya's story. At times it felt like I was reading a cut and dry "idea" of what a refugees story should look like, though I am sure that is partly due to the story being targeted towards children and I am very obviously not a child.

In terms of the plot and characters, nothing to write home about. It was a fairly generic and simple plot and the ending was a little too neat for my liking, but again, this is likely due to this book being for a middle grade audience. The characters were also not massively fleshed out and many of them (particularly Dotty) sometimes felt like caricatures.

Overall 2.5-3*. Not for me, for obvious reasons, but I can see the importance of a story like this for younger audiences.

[Naadhira Zahari · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is insightful, heartwarming and about one girl's journey to fight for her rights and her dream. As the title describes it, this is Aya's journey of running away from what was once her home and leaving it behind in hopes for a better future for her family. This particular middle grade book has so much depth, Aya goes through so much and it was a very eventful ride through the end.

For Aya, doing ballet is her own coping mechanism and her passion. Anybody can tell just how much she loves it and I'm so glad that the people around her are so supportive. Its so nice to see that families and strangers even are willing to go to such length just to make her dream come true.

I never knew about the term 'asylum seekers' let alone ever heard of it. But when Aya explained what it meant, it left me feeling so ignorant and wanting to know more about the people that had dealt through and is going through this everyday. I just assumed that everyone were refugees and I was wrong. It is heartbreaking that there are so many families out there who has no choice but to run away from everything just to live a peaceful life. There has to be a way to end their suffering and waking up everyday going through a war zone. How many people needs to suffer? How manh more children are they willing to risk it all? Its unfair and it needs to stop. Immediately.

After reading this book, I feel more empathetic towards those who deal with this everyday. I cannot even begin to imagine what it must have felt like to go through something as heart wrenching as that. They don't deserve the prejudice and bullying as some people give them. Instead, we must welcome and help refugees and asylum seekers because they deserve more.

[Izzy Dorrance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked reading this book because it was a moving story. It clearly told the story of Aya who has recently moved to England as a refugee. It explores the similarities and differences between her life and the other children in England her age and how she copes with the changes in her life. The book is well written. As well as, the story being told it present day, it also contain flash backs. It is similar to ‘the boy at the back of the class’ because they both tell the story of refugee children. However, ‘No ballet shoes in Syria’ is told through the eyes of Aya (a refugee) unlike ‘the boy at the back of the class’.

I would recommend people to read this book because it tells an important story.

[Francesca Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a powerful, moving story. This book tells the story of Aya and her terrifying journey to the U.K as well as the uncertainty of her future- being able to live in Manchester and following her dreams to become a prestigious ballet dancer. Aya's story is told with honesty and compassion, much like 'The boy at the back of the class', that tells the story of a boy seeking asylum in the U.K. They are not only well-written books but they are important stories to have in a primary classroom, they reflect the heart-breaking realities that many children currently face but they also show how the kindness and understanding of adults and children can be so powerful.

[Saskia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and simple middle grade story of Aya who wants to dance; a tricky thing to dream about when you're a refugee from the Syrian war.

The story of Aya's journey is juxtaposed against her current experience of seeking asylum in the UK, which is, in turn, juxtaposed against a Holocaust story. Very cleverly woven. ♥️

I read the author's note and discovered she was influenced by the same books I had growing up: Noel Streatfeld's Ballet shoes, Kerr's When Hitler stole pink rabbit, and the Sadlers Wells books (I possibly have read these all about 50+ times each!) ... and I felt a kindred spirit flutter! 🤗

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Y9

[Judith Regeling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Het boek 'De balletschoenen van Aya', dat zo simpel en toch zo krachtig is, geeft de vluchtelingenproblematiek voor jongeren een gezicht. Je voelt en leeft helemaal mee met de pas elfjarige Aya, die niets liever wil dan dansen om haar verleden een plek te geven. Je ziet de strijd die het haar kost, de moeilijkheden die ze heeft en hoopt dat ze mag blijven. Puur op basis van het verhaal alleen zou ik het boek bijna vijf sterren geven (vooral aangezien dit verhaal binnen komt), maar helaas kan ik dat nu niet.

Ik vond er namelijk wel erg veel slordigheden inzitten (als af en toe een spatie die ontbrak, een hoofdletter waar het niet hoort en taalfoutjes) en ik vond de schrijfstijl soms iets te moeilijk voor de doelgroep waarvoor het is geschreven. Tel daarbij op dat ik soms het gevoel had dat de personages ouder waren (of zich voordeden) dan ze daadwerkelijk waren - al kon ik dat bij Aya nog wel begrijpen - en er 1 personage behoorlijk stereotype bleef en dan heb je toch een boek dat mij geraakt heeft, maar niet overtuigd.

[Expat Panda · Rating 4 out of 5]

No Ballet Shoes in Syria by Catherine Bruton is a heartwarming and thought-provoking story about resilience, hope, and the transformative power of art. The novel follows the journey of 11-year-old Aya, a Syrian refugee who has escaped the horrors of war and now lives in London with her uncle and aunt. Aya is a passionate dancer, but the trauma of leaving her home and her dreams behind weighs heavily on her.

What makes this book stand out is its sensitive portrayal of the refugee experience, particularly for a young girl caught between two worlds. Bruton does a wonderful job of capturing Aya's internal struggle – the pull between her love for ballet, which offers her a sense of identity and escape, and the painful memories of the life she left behind in Syria. Aya’s story is both heartbreaking and inspiring, and readers will root for her as she navigates a new life in an unfamiliar city.

The supporting characters, including Aya’s uncle and the dance teacher who takes a special interest in her, are well-drawn and offer a sense of warmth and community amidst the challenges. Bruton’s prose is clear and accessible, and she skillfully weaves in themes of loss, belonging, and the importance of finding a place where you can be yourself.

The only reason I’ve docked a star is that at times, the pacing can feel a little too quick, especially in the latter half of the book where some emotional beats could have been explored in more depth. However, the overall message of resilience and hope remains strong, and the ending, though hopeful, doesn’t sugarcoat the difficulties that refugees face. It also didn't escape my notice that this was perhaps not the author's story to tell as its not drawn from her own personal experience.

No Ballet Shoes in Syria is a beautiful read for anyone looking for a story that touches on themes of displacement, family, and following one’s dreams in the face of adversity. It’s a timely and important book that will resonate with readers of all ages. For middle & high school teachers, this is a good book for a literature study.

[Luca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm definitely far from the target audience for this book but I think it's important and a compassionate look at the child behind the word refugee written for children. If I had read this when I was younger I would have loved it.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a lovely story. So interesting about Syria & asylum. I enjoyed reading it

[Jayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I've ever read
I nearly cried while I was reading it.

It really touches u and after u read this u always remember the people in Syria and turkey and now know that there are people out there like Aya

[Maria Giraldo-Pérez · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Ballet shoes in Syria is the gripping and thought-provoking story of Aya, an eleven-year-old girl fleeing with her family from the war-torn city of Aleppo.

Aya, her mother, and baby brother Moosa, have just arrived in the U.K., and Aya is desperately trying to help them navigate their way through the vagaries and difficulties of their new and complicated life as asylum seekers in Manchester. This no easy feat, especially as they are still suffering from the trauma of the war back in Syria, their perilous journey to England , and their harrowing separation from her father at sea - as well as the imminent threat of deportation. But everything begins to change when Aya rediscovers her love of ballet at Miss Helena’s class in the community centre and befriends a girl called Dotty Buchanan.

Bruton’s narration is exquisite and will take the reader on a real empathy journey. Aya’s character is caring, compassionate, and courageous, and is a wonderful depiction of the true resilience and buoyancy of children. Her intermittent flashbacks to her life in Syria, the war and their journey, were in equal parts heart-wrenching, enlightening, and touching, but can make this book a difficult read in parts. Nonetheless, the story is also full of kindness and compassion and wisdom, and it shows the impact that true friendship and understanding can have on someone’s life.

This book is pretty much guaranteed to make you cry!

Whilst I would definitely recommend this for children aged 9+, due to its educational nature and overall outstanding quality, I would suggest that it is read with an adult. The story deals with themes such as death, loss, bereavement, depression and prejudice, and vividly depicts war zones and refugee camps. A link is also made in the story to the Holocaust and refugee Jewish children fleeing from the Nazis — which should all be discussed with care.

I truly believe this is a must-read for everyone and anyone, and I think children would greatly benefit from it in order to, not only understand and sympathise with children and families seeking refuge, but to see that they are no different from us and that war and tragedy can strike anywhere.

[Lena Blomme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Erg genoten van dit jeugdboek.
Allen lezen zou ik zeggen.Ontroerend verhaal.

Aya is een jong meisje dat de oorlog in Syrië ontvlucht met haar moeder en broertje.
Ballet was haar leven in Syrië, kan ze, nu ze in Engeland is aangekomen, haar droom om balletdanseres te worden, waarmaken?


Een prachtig verhaal over hoop, wanhoop, verdriet, vriendschap.
Kortom een boek om in één ruk uit te lezen, niet enkel voor de doelgroep, maar ook voor volwassenen.

💓

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Burton’s book is a beautifully moving story about a young girl called Aya who completes the devastating journey from her home in Syria to England after the war enters her town. This story shows the true danger and difficultly many people face as they make similar journeys to find safety. The book fantastically highlights many themes including loss, loneliness, friendship, family and struggles. Aya takes on the role of parent in her family after they are separated from her father, looking after both her mother and baby brother. After arriving in England she finds a ballet school and with the kindness of strangers, flourishes in her new home. This book can teach some important messages such as making children aware of what a refugee is and how countries like England can help. It also carefully shows how you don’t know other people’s stories and you should be kind to all because you might not know what others are going through. I will definitely be reading this book with upper ks2 children in the future.

[Judy Wollin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aya must look after her mother and brother. Her father asked her to as they struggled to survive when their inflatable migrant boat was upturned in a storm off the coast of Greece.
Manchester is so different from Syria. Hours spent trying to see their case worker, trying to navigate the immigration system.
Aya hears music she recognises from her ballet classes back home in Syria. She sneaks a look and is transported to her dream to be a dancer. She is spotted by the teacher. What happens next? Where is her father?
I enjoyed the realism of a child migrant, the burden of adult responsibilities and uncertainty the only constant in her life.
Recommended for Middle Grade and Tween readers 10-14 years

[Jeremy London · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this to my ten-year-old. There’s a lot she wouldn’t have understood without having been able to discuss it with me as we went. It’s got some heavy themes, like the Holocaust. It’s well-written and poignant. The main character is a Syrian refugee girl aged about 11, so it was relatable for my daughter. Even though the main character is a child, and it was in the primary school library, I enjoyed it too, as an adult. There’s no need to be a ballet fan to enjoy it.

[Abigail Yarwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aya is an asylum seeker and she loves to dance. It is a sad book because of everything that happened to her in Syria and on her way but it is happy too. Everyone should read this book because it shows that it doesn't matter who or what you are you can always help someone.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this in half a day. This should be one of those mandatory books for year 5 upwards. The world needs more Dotty's/Miss Helenas and less judgemental Ciaras.....
Loved it. Beautiful.

[Kaelijn · Rating 3 out of 5]

ISTG this was so beautiful

[Wrenn · Rating 1 out of 5]

No ballet shoes in Syria book review

Catherine Bruton has written some good books but I have to say this is not one a her finest pieces. It was a sweet idea but its just missing the Syrian touch that was needed. Not a huge fan. I understand the concept but it was all the same. In the middle of the book it sort of turned, you see at the start it was interesting, what’s going to happen? How will aya cope? But like I said in the middle it was just sort of boring. It was the Same all the time. Talking about the missing dad, crying, panic attack. It was all the same. I did enjoy certain parts. Like how it went into detail about chasing little girls trying fix the fake cat tails but over all I guess it wasn’t the best. It was easy to read but the writing was a bit sloppy. I think she needed to make it more clear a refugees life is not as easy as she made it out. 6 weeks it took to finish and im just thinking it was a bit of a waste of time. Again I understand the concept but not great writing. It would be great if you were maybe a year 5 or 6 but it was just so dull. And the ending was…
*sigh*
The ending was so sloppy, its as if she was bored enough of the book already and just threw together an ending so she could snuggle down on the sofa and watch her soap opera. No plot twist, no dad, nothing. It was emotional and stuff but honestly not the greatest

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I am going to be telling people to read this book for years to come, I just know it.
Possible idea for improvement? A GLOSSARY. I am a huge fan of helpful glossaries, and I would really have liked an illustrated glossery explaining the ballet terms. Also, the Syrian words. And the terms used to describe refugees throughout the book (asylum seekers, I can't remember now but I know there was other interesting lingo too). Okay, maybe this book needs 3 separate glossaries. I just think it would add that extra informative layer.
Let's get into all the wonderful things about this novel, shall we?
This is a beautiful, simple children's book about the Syrian refugee crisis. Also, ballerinas.
Aya is new to England - she's only been in Manchester for 3 weeks with her Mumma and her little brother, Moosa. She's come because her homeland, Syria, is currently torn apart by war and it's not safe for her family to live there anymore.
This book is beautiful.
It tells this incredibly delicate story with such sensitivity, such gentleness. Yet it never diminishes the importance of the story being told. It's a blend of Aya's ongoing present story, with flashbacks to things she has already experienced expertly woven in.
The story it follows is very current. The Syrian refugee crisis is happening RIGHT NOW. But also, this book takes the opportunity to delve into the not-so-distant past to find other examples of refugees - things which the reader may or may not already be familiar with. I feel thoroughly educated after reading this book. I had never realised quite what went on - what is STILL going on - in Syria.
Yes, the contents of this book are shocking. But also, portrayed in such a way that children will be able to comprehend and cope with the information. Catherine Bruton has managed to make this a hopeful story focused on the future, even though it encompasses so much pain of the past and the present.
I really enjoyed reading the Afterword at the end. The author explained there how she grew up addicted to books that made you focus on your dreams, etc, but as she got older she realised the value of books that broaden your mindset. The type of books that encourage empathy towards those who have experienced trials you personally know nothing of. So when she wrote this book, she intended to blend those two themes together.
I think she has done the most wonderful job.

[Daisy Cave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catherine Bruton empathetically tells the story of eleven-year-old Aya, who carries the trauma of having escaped the civil war in Aleppo with her mother and baby brother (having lost her father in the Mediterranean). The book cleverly and powerfully switches between the current story of Aya trying to audition for a prestigious ballet school, whilst her family appeals their rejected plea for asylum, and Aya’s memories of her home in Syria.

The story is emotionally captivating and raises many questions about why certain mundane things such as ‘home time’ and going swimming cause Aya to become upset or have flashbacks. Parallels are drawn between current refugees and the refugees of the Holocaust. The sensitive topics of war and refugees would be best suited to older children, in years 5 or 6.