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Marie, Dancing
Marie van Goethem, a fourteen-year-old ballet dancer in the Paris Op_ra, has led a life of hardship and poverty. For her, dancing is the only joy to counter the pain inflicted by hunger, her mother's drinking, and her selfish older sister. When famed artist Edgar Degas demands Marie's presence in his studio, it appears that her life will be transformed: He will pay her to pose for a new sculpture, and he promises to make her a star. But will being Degas's model really bring Marie all she hopes for?
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
9 people are currently reading
1579 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Meyer
112 books1,089 followersCarolyn Meyer is as versatile a writer as you will find. Along with historical fiction and realistic novels for young adults she has written nonfiction for young adults and books for younger readers on topics as diverse as the Amish, the Irish, Japanese, Yup'ik Eskimos, a rock band, rock tumbling, bread baking, and coconuts. And ten of her books have been chosen as Best Books for Young Adults by the American Library Association. In her most recent historical novels she has dealt with the young lives of Mary Tudor, Princess Elizabeth, Anastasia, and Isabel of Castilla, Spain.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
November 17, 2012
Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com
I can't count the times that I've seen a truly inspiring painting or sculpture and wondered what the inspiration behind it was. With MARIE, DANCING, the story behind Edgar Degas's well known sculpture, Little Dancer Aged Fourteen, is brought to vivid life in this fictionalized account.
At fourteen, Marie van Goethem still holds out hope that one day her life will be, if not grand, then better than it is now. Her drunken mother is unable to hold down a job, and the place where they're forced to live can only be described as squalor. Marie knows their family--made up of Mother, Tante Helene, older sister Antoinette, and younger sister Charlotte--are poor and destitute. The only thing that brings joy to Marie's life is dancing in the Paris Opera. Ballet is her life, along with the life of both of her sisters, enrolled under the tutelage of Madame Theodore at the ballet school.
Things soon change, though, for Marie and her entire family. Antoinette is being wooed by much older, and much wealthier men, and although she promises to send them money when she's set up as a mistress by her benefactor, she never does. But when Marie meets Edgar Degas and he asks her to pose for him, Marie prays that her life is about to change forever.
And change it does, but not in the ways she had suspected. Mother is still drinking, Charlotte is the only girl of the three who shows real promise as a dancer who can make it her career, and her love interest, Jean-Pierre, has asked her to wait for him while he makes a name and a home for the two of them. It's only within the safety and glory of Degas's studio, or while on the stage of the Opera that Marie feels secure that her life will improve--until the day she's dismissed from the School, Antoinette asks her to play nursemaid to her unborn child, and Jean-Pierre asks her to move away from Paris, the only home she's ever known.
Carolyn Meyer has brought the world of Paris, art, and dance to vivid life in MARIE, DANCING. This is a story of a girl who only wants a better life, some small pleasure within this dreary existence. And although posing for Degas doesn't change Marie's life in the way she had planned, it definitely does change it more than she could have ever dared hope or imagine.
I can't count the times that I've seen a truly inspiring painting or sculpture and wondered what the inspiration behind it was. With MARIE, DANCING, the story behind Edgar Degas's well known sculpture, Little Dancer Aged Fourteen, is brought to vivid life in this fictionalized account.
At fourteen, Marie van Goethem still holds out hope that one day her life will be, if not grand, then better than it is now. Her drunken mother is unable to hold down a job, and the place where they're forced to live can only be described as squalor. Marie knows their family--made up of Mother, Tante Helene, older sister Antoinette, and younger sister Charlotte--are poor and destitute. The only thing that brings joy to Marie's life is dancing in the Paris Opera. Ballet is her life, along with the life of both of her sisters, enrolled under the tutelage of Madame Theodore at the ballet school.
Things soon change, though, for Marie and her entire family. Antoinette is being wooed by much older, and much wealthier men, and although she promises to send them money when she's set up as a mistress by her benefactor, she never does. But when Marie meets Edgar Degas and he asks her to pose for him, Marie prays that her life is about to change forever.
And change it does, but not in the ways she had suspected. Mother is still drinking, Charlotte is the only girl of the three who shows real promise as a dancer who can make it her career, and her love interest, Jean-Pierre, has asked her to wait for him while he makes a name and a home for the two of them. It's only within the safety and glory of Degas's studio, or while on the stage of the Opera that Marie feels secure that her life will improve--until the day she's dismissed from the School, Antoinette asks her to play nursemaid to her unborn child, and Jean-Pierre asks her to move away from Paris, the only home she's ever known.
Carolyn Meyer has brought the world of Paris, art, and dance to vivid life in MARIE, DANCING. This is a story of a girl who only wants a better life, some small pleasure within this dreary existence. And although posing for Degas doesn't change Marie's life in the way she had planned, it definitely does change it more than she could have ever dared hope or imagine.
February 16, 2013
This story follows Marie, a 14 year old French girl who is also a dancer in the Paris Opera. Her family lives in poverty while her and her two sisters dance full-time. They are uneducated and their mother dreams of them becoming stars, but life gets in the way. When Marie's sister makes some mistakes, Marie has to suffer the consequences and take on the burden of her family. She continually sacrifices her own dreams for those of her family. This is the story of the girl who was the model and muse for Degas' "Little Dancer" statuette. The story does not have a happy ending, but is realistic.
I full enjoyed this story. I have a hard time finding YA historical fiction that I love, but this one passes the test. The characters were riveting and I loved reading about the realities and harshness of the life of a dancer in Paris in the late nineteenth century.
I full enjoyed this story. I have a hard time finding YA historical fiction that I love, but this one passes the test. The characters were riveting and I loved reading about the realities and harshness of the life of a dancer in Paris in the late nineteenth century.
December 9, 2009
Marie never gets to be ballerina. I never thought that would affect me so much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2018
“Marie, Dancing” is a novel about the life and experiences of Marie Van Goethem. Marie and her two sisters, Antoinette and Charlotte, are dancers for the Paris Opéra in 1878. They are very poor and their single, alcoholic mother struggles to maintain a steady income. The girls are forced to fend for themselves. Antoinette, the oldest, turns to the foyer de la danse, where dancers act as prostitutes in between acts of their performances. She makes a small amount of money this way, but refuses to share it with her sisters out of greed. Marie is completely against going to the foyer de la danse, so she becomes a model for Monsieur Edgar Degas, a celebrated artist. She poses for Monsieur Degas once a week and the pay she earns from those sessions, in addition to her meager wages from the Opéra, is enough to support both her and Charlotte. But Monsieur Degas plans to make a statuette of Marie, and once he is done with the preliminary sketches, doesn’t need her to model anymore. She is devastated and starts looking for new ways to support herself and Charlotte. Meanwhile, Antoinette is thrown in jail for stealing from one of her “gentlemen friends”, and therefore, is kicked out of the Paris Opéra. She begs Marie to visit her in jail as often as possible. Marie tries her best to do so, and she even misses a few dance rehearsals for Antoinette. But as Antoinette’s demands keep increasing, Marie misses more and more rehearsals and performances until she, too, is thrown out of the Paris Opéra. Marie is forced to work as a seamstress until she can find a better job to support herself and Charlotte. During this time, Monsieur Degas’s finished statuette is put on display. The statuette depicts a young dancer in a different light than most of the others at its time. It shows the hardships dancers at the Opéra go through on a daily basis, and the physical and emotional wear-and-tear their career path causes. At first, the statuette is rejected by most of society, but as time passes, people become more accustomed to the idea that ballet is more difficult than they thought, and accept statuette’s unique beauty.
In my opinion, “Marie, Dancing” is a story about overcoming hardships while staying true to one’s beliefs. Marie worked day in and day out to support her mother and sisters in an honest way, while still finding time to dance at the Paris Opéra. Even after she was dismissed from the Opéra, she refused to go down an immoral path and become a prostitute like Antoinette. She found a new job and created a somewhat prosperous, new life for herself and Charlotte. In a similar way, ballet is also about overcoming hardships. Ballet puts an incredible toll on the physical and emotional health of dedicated young dancers like Marie. However, they push past their aches and pains every day, so they can do what they love- dance.
In my opinion, “Marie, Dancing” is a story about overcoming hardships while staying true to one’s beliefs. Marie worked day in and day out to support her mother and sisters in an honest way, while still finding time to dance at the Paris Opéra. Even after she was dismissed from the Opéra, she refused to go down an immoral path and become a prostitute like Antoinette. She found a new job and created a somewhat prosperous, new life for herself and Charlotte. In a similar way, ballet is also about overcoming hardships. Ballet puts an incredible toll on the physical and emotional health of dedicated young dancers like Marie. However, they push past their aches and pains every day, so they can do what they love- dance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2025
I discovered this book around the same time I discovered my love for reading. Carolyn Meyer came to my middle school and talked to us about writing historical fiction. I thought it was the coolest thing. I bought and read this book about Edgar Degas's model for the ragged little ballerina statue that, to my delight, I later happened upon at the Met. I read about Degas and his ballerina models and have been enchanted with his artwork ever since. I remember Marie felt self-conscious getting undressed for Degas to sketch her, that she and her sister were poor and had to resort to difficult means to get money, that she was too tall, and that the end surprised me.
July 15, 2022
B-But Jean-Pierre?
July 8, 2019
First sentence: "You," said the man wearing blue-tinted eyeglasses.
Premise/plot: Edgar Degas is known for his paintings of dancers. But he is also known, of course, for his sculpture Little Dancer Aged Fourteen. Marie, Dancing is a fictional account of that fourteen-year-old dancer, Marie van Goethem. The novel opens in 1878 with Degas inviting the young girl to model for him. It follows her through several years--even when she is no longer dancing.
Marie is the middle daughter. She has an older sister, Antoinette, and a younger sister, Charlotte. All three are ballet dancers. Dancing alone would never bring home enough money to pay the rent and buy food. That's one reason their aunt disapproves of the way her sister is raising the girls. (Another reason is that the mom is a drunk who takes what little money they have to drink.) Marie and Charlotte are almost always on the hungry side. Antoinette has started looking for men willing to pay for her company. So she'll come home with extra money, jewelry, and clothes. She's a vain girl; the more attention she receives from men the less attention she gives to her sisters and her dancing. Marie uses the money she gets from modeling to support her family. The modeling does not last long--at least through the eyes of Marie herself. She misses the money when it's gone. It took years for the sculpture to get finished and be ready for exhibition. (1881)
My thoughts: Marie, Dancing is set in Paris, France, during the late nineteenth century. It stars a few historical figures--Edgar Degas and Mary Cassatt. Marie van Goethem was a real girl; the novel has its basis in truth. But the novel is definitely fictional!
Carolyn Meyer is one of my favorite historical writers. I definitely enjoyed this one! I loved, loved, loved the setting. Although the novel could make one hungry....if one is prone to really getting immersed in a novel. I loved the sprinkling of French throughout the novel. I found that aspect delightful.
I thought the characterization was wonderful. I really loved Marie and Charlotte. I loved Marie's friendship with Jean-Pierre. I was really hoping these two would have a happy ending. (I was disappointed.)
Premise/plot: Edgar Degas is known for his paintings of dancers. But he is also known, of course, for his sculpture Little Dancer Aged Fourteen. Marie, Dancing is a fictional account of that fourteen-year-old dancer, Marie van Goethem. The novel opens in 1878 with Degas inviting the young girl to model for him. It follows her through several years--even when she is no longer dancing.
Marie is the middle daughter. She has an older sister, Antoinette, and a younger sister, Charlotte. All three are ballet dancers. Dancing alone would never bring home enough money to pay the rent and buy food. That's one reason their aunt disapproves of the way her sister is raising the girls. (Another reason is that the mom is a drunk who takes what little money they have to drink.) Marie and Charlotte are almost always on the hungry side. Antoinette has started looking for men willing to pay for her company. So she'll come home with extra money, jewelry, and clothes. She's a vain girl; the more attention she receives from men the less attention she gives to her sisters and her dancing. Marie uses the money she gets from modeling to support her family. The modeling does not last long--at least through the eyes of Marie herself. She misses the money when it's gone. It took years for the sculpture to get finished and be ready for exhibition. (1881)
My thoughts: Marie, Dancing is set in Paris, France, during the late nineteenth century. It stars a few historical figures--Edgar Degas and Mary Cassatt. Marie van Goethem was a real girl; the novel has its basis in truth. But the novel is definitely fictional!
Carolyn Meyer is one of my favorite historical writers. I definitely enjoyed this one! I loved, loved, loved the setting. Although the novel could make one hungry....if one is prone to really getting immersed in a novel. I loved the sprinkling of French throughout the novel. I found that aspect delightful.
I thought the characterization was wonderful. I really loved Marie and Charlotte. I loved Marie's friendship with Jean-Pierre. I was really hoping these two would have a happy ending. (I was disappointed.)
July 15, 2024
Marie, Dancing is a young adult historical fiction novel by Carolyn Meyer, it is a fictionalized account of Marie van Goethem's life as she becomes a model for artist Edgar Degas. Born into a struggling household that is always near poverty, Marie finds solace in dancing, hoping someday to become a famous ballerina. With her mother becoming a drunk, and the need to support the family, Marie reluctantly becomes a model for Degas newest inspiration, who is willing to pay her time. Though she eventually grows to tolerate Degas as an artist, her home life becomes more unbearable, her mother spending more time to drink, her little sister, Charlotte, ever-growing hungry, and her older sister, Antoinette's ambition to snag a rich man as a mistress. Though still young, Marie must find ways to support her family and to keep moving forward at the cruelty she endures to her passions as she does so.
Given that there is very little public information known about the real Marie, Meyer has managed to give a glimpse of what Marie's life must have been like at the time. It is easy-reading, with good details, even with more adult themes for a YA for a bittersweet tale of a girl who's face has been immortalized in art culture.
Given that there is very little public information known about the real Marie, Meyer has managed to give a glimpse of what Marie's life must have been like at the time. It is easy-reading, with good details, even with more adult themes for a YA for a bittersweet tale of a girl who's face has been immortalized in art culture.
January 9, 2015
Wow. That is what I thought of this book. Jut wow. I t wasn't a book I would read on normal day but dang was this book good. It had so many different elements to it that just make it so interesting. I was kind of reluctant to read it at first but as I started getting into it I couldn't stop. It was like it kept pulling me into it more and more, and I think of myself as a fast reader so as soon as I got to the end I was devastated. When I read books they kind of become a part of me, so this definitely had a big impact on me. It made me appreciate things more because in the book Marie and her family kind of have nothing. Carolyn Meyer is an amazing writer.The way she made all of the characters mesh together so perfectly makes you wonder if she was actually there when the events were happening. It made me sad that Marie had to go through all of these things-her mom being a drunk, being poor, having to sell yourself for money- she was only FOURTEEN for cying out loud. I think that I had a real connection with the book because my name is Marie or maybe it was because this book was really good. A definite must read.
November 9, 2008
Thought I might like it at first, but her conditions never improved, she was kind of stupid, and she got with the wrong guy. I finished it thinking, "WOW that was a waste of time."
Read
March 12, 2014Read it years ago, it affected me so much, not sure why. I need to read it again.
July 10, 2020
This book may have unconsciously shaped what I have wanted to write about and what I have wanted my writing style to be
September 1, 2019
I read this as a kid but it had such a big impact on me that I still remember it. It seems like it naturally attracted me because it has a ballerina on it and as a little girl ballerinas were sooo COOL and still are tbh. It’s a historical fiction set in Paris about three sisters who are ballerinas. There is a hint of romance as well which I always enjoy. The book really emphasizes how poor the three sisters are and what a struggle it is to train as dancers, but they are reaching for that ultimate dream of being a star.
The biggest thing that I remember about this book though, is the ending. It was absolutely not what I wanted to hear at the time. But it was absolutely right for the story. So, this was really a lesson in appreciating the beauty of a story and not complaining because it doesn’t turn out how you want or expect. And once you do accept the ending to this book you can appreciate how poignant and beautiful it is.
The funny thing is that this book had such a big impact on me because once I understood this ending I never wanted to complain about any of the other endings I read. Basically I was mentally saying, “Oh you were annoyed about that ending? Well you wouldn’t believe this ballerina book I read...”
The biggest thing that I remember about this book though, is the ending. It was absolutely not what I wanted to hear at the time. But it was absolutely right for the story. So, this was really a lesson in appreciating the beauty of a story and not complaining because it doesn’t turn out how you want or expect. And once you do accept the ending to this book you can appreciate how poignant and beautiful it is.
The funny thing is that this book had such a big impact on me because once I understood this ending I never wanted to complain about any of the other endings I read. Basically I was mentally saying, “Oh you were annoyed about that ending? Well you wouldn’t believe this ballerina book I read...”
October 16, 2021
This was one of the rare books I really liked. I read it awhile back when I was waiting for my ballet classes and decided to read something. The studio had a bunch of ballet books on famous ballerinas like Misty Copeland, etc. but then I saw this book that struck me since the dancer; Marie van Gotham was someone I was familiar with from Edgar Degas’s “Little Dancer Age 14”. I decided to give it a go since the summary from the back looked good so I went ahead and read it. And my gosh it was beautiful. I still think of this wonderful book from time to time. The story depicts the hardships that Marie went through to live her life for dance and caring for her poor family. While progressing as a dancer, Marie has troubles fighting her selfish older sister Antionette’s influence as well as continuing her relationship with Jean Pierre, a carriage boy for Degas’s friend Mary Cassatt. I would love to spoil the ending, but that would ruin the fun of it! Read the book and see for yourself what you think of Marie’s story. (
WARNING: THIS STORY IS FICTIONAL NOT REAL BUT THAT STILL DOESN’T STOP IT FROM BEING A GREAT STORY!!!
WARNING: THIS STORY IS FICTIONAL NOT REAL BUT THAT STILL DOESN’T STOP IT FROM BEING A GREAT STORY!!!
May 19, 2024
This is a more youthful version of The Painted Girls, but it still contains a darkness that is unexpected for a book intended for middle readers.
Based on Degas Little Dancer of Fourteen Years, this is an historical fiction retelling about the girl behind the statue. Unlike the aforementioned Painted Girls book, Marie here is far more simple and almost wilfully naive to the world around her. She's meant to be relatable to the modern readers of the book, instead of being a culture shock to the way the world used to be.
I will saw I was surprised that Marie didn't get the boy in the end. The remark about going to America 'on honeymoon' was incredibly eyerolling and mildly unforgiveable. But Marie marrying a far older man (who somehow permitted her to keep her money in a tin in his store) and never dancing again did strike me as being a little more realistic.
It was fine. Just... fine.
Based on Degas Little Dancer of Fourteen Years, this is an historical fiction retelling about the girl behind the statue. Unlike the aforementioned Painted Girls book, Marie here is far more simple and almost wilfully naive to the world around her. She's meant to be relatable to the modern readers of the book, instead of being a culture shock to the way the world used to be.
I will saw I was surprised that Marie didn't get the boy in the end. The remark about going to America 'on honeymoon' was incredibly eyerolling and mildly unforgiveable. But Marie marrying a far older man (who somehow permitted her to keep her money in a tin in his store) and never dancing again did strike me as being a little more realistic.
It was fine. Just... fine.
April 8, 2018
This book was amazing! The author Carolyn Meyer described a dancer's live extremely accurate. It inspired me because I am a dancer. In the book Marie sacrifices her dreams for others' dreams. She quits dance to provide for her selfish older sister. She refuses to marry her one true love to allow her younger sister Charlotte dance. She has to earn money because of the reoccurring absences of her mother. She must take care of her older sister's child after she dies. This book makes me thankful for the way my life is and inspires me to use my talent in dancing to its full extent. I learned a lot about art in Paris in the time period around the 1800s. There were often exhibitions for the wealthy to enjoy. Many wealthy people weren't afraid to share their opinion on Degas' art. The story is concluded by telling how Marie has finally become une etoile that she always wished to be.
May 9, 2021
A lovely semi-fictional biography of the dancer who modelled for Dega's famous 'Little Dancer Aged 14' sculpture. I love ballet stories and this did not disappointment. My only issue with it is the slightly unsatisfying ending but this is due to historical accuracy and I cannot fault the author for that!
The novel follows Marie as she struggles to balance her blossoming ballet career with her family's poverty, her first love and her chance to model for Degas.
The novel follows Marie as she struggles to balance her blossoming ballet career with her family's poverty, her first love and her chance to model for Degas.
February 25, 2020
Wonderful novel about a fourteen year old ballet dancer who models for Edgar Degas. Rich in detail, Meyer gives us a vivid impression of life in poverty at the end of the 19th century and the hardships of the (female) ballet dancers in Paris.
June 15, 2017
3.5 stars
June 30, 2017
This frustrated the shit out of me
January 4, 2018
Historical fiction about the ballerina who acted as Degas' model for his statuette "Little Dancer, Aged 14"
April 30, 2019
I liked this book, but it was a bit depressing.
July 23, 2019
Meh....definitely on the lower end of YA.
May 13, 2020
Actually 2&1/2
Read April 2020
Read April 2020
February 8, 2021
Pretty good, not overly YA. Some of the themes were quite mature (main character poses nude, older sister has an affair, nothing graphic) and the poverty depiction was unflinching.
September 9, 2021
A fictionalized account of the young girl who posed for Edgar Degas' statuette, "Little Dancer, Aged 14." Probably romanticized but still quite interesting.
September 13, 2022
Surprised I even finished this book
January 24, 2024
There’s truly nothing I love more than Paris and ballet.
July 16, 2014
Marie van Goethem, a fourteen-year-old ballet dancer in the famed Paris Opéra, has led a life of hardship and poverty. For her, dancing is the only joy to counter the pain inflicted by hunger, her mother's drinking, and her selfish older sister. But when famed artist Edgar Degas demands Marie's presence in his studio, it appears that her life will be transformed: He will pay her to pose for a new sculpture, and he promises to make her a star.
As Marie patiently stands before Mr. Degas each week, she dreams about supporting her family without being corrupted like most young dancers. She dreams about a life as a ballerina on the stage of the Opéra. And she dreams about being with her true love.
In this deeply moving, historically based account, Carolyn Meyer examines the life of the model for Edgar Degas's most famous sculpture, Little Dancer Aged Fourteen.
You know how this book says it's deeply moving?
It is.
I cried several times during this book, and was on the verge of crying at other times. This novel is so sad that I couldn't stop crying at the end, especially when it ended. Not much is known about Marie, the girl in the sculpture. And I want to learn more. This is now my favorite book by Carolyn Meyer. Her books are (almost) always amazing, and this just... Wow. It was amazing.
Marie constantly faces challenges, throughout the book. Her mother is a drunk, her sister is painfully selfish, and Marie really only lives for two things - her sister and dancing. Near the end, Marie sees the statue for the first time, and even though people are taunting it, other people love it. At the very end, it really just gives a short account of the rest of her life, and for once, I was actually OK with that. I was so immersed in Marie's world that I didn't care how the story was told.
There were quite a few times where I stared at the pages in shock at what had happened.
Marie, Dancing is a book you should really check out, no matter your tastes in books. It has romance, dancing, drama and more. It's really one of the most beautiful novels I've ever read. I can't guarantee you'll love it like I did, I can't guarantee it'll make you cry, but it's so rich and startling that I couldn't put it down.
If you read it and like it, you might like Carolyn Meyer's other books.
As Marie patiently stands before Mr. Degas each week, she dreams about supporting her family without being corrupted like most young dancers. She dreams about a life as a ballerina on the stage of the Opéra. And she dreams about being with her true love.
In this deeply moving, historically based account, Carolyn Meyer examines the life of the model for Edgar Degas's most famous sculpture, Little Dancer Aged Fourteen.
You know how this book says it's deeply moving?
It is.
I cried several times during this book, and was on the verge of crying at other times. This novel is so sad that I couldn't stop crying at the end, especially when it ended. Not much is known about Marie, the girl in the sculpture. And I want to learn more. This is now my favorite book by Carolyn Meyer. Her books are (almost) always amazing, and this just... Wow. It was amazing.
Marie constantly faces challenges, throughout the book. Her mother is a drunk, her sister is painfully selfish, and Marie really only lives for two things - her sister and dancing. Near the end, Marie sees the statue for the first time, and even though people are taunting it, other people love it. At the very end, it really just gives a short account of the rest of her life, and for once, I was actually OK with that. I was so immersed in Marie's world that I didn't care how the story was told.
There were quite a few times where I stared at the pages in shock at what had happened.
Marie, Dancing is a book you should really check out, no matter your tastes in books. It has romance, dancing, drama and more. It's really one of the most beautiful novels I've ever read. I can't guarantee you'll love it like I did, I can't guarantee it'll make you cry, but it's so rich and startling that I couldn't put it down.
If you read it and like it, you might like Carolyn Meyer's other books.
April 12, 2015
In this book, Carolyn Meyer, veteran of young adult historical fiction, takes us to 1870s Paris and a fictionalized version of the life of Marie von Goethem - best known as the model for Degas' sculpture Little Dancer, Aged Fourteen Years. She takes the sparse details known about Marie's life and fleshes them out into a compelling story of dance, family drama, and romance. Just as was most likely the case in the real Marie's life, Degas plays a very small role in the novel - he is her employer and she earns a few extra francs here and there posing for him. Those expecting something akin to Tracy Chevalier's Girl with a Pearl Earring will be disappointed, as the artist is not the central focus.
But the story's a good one, and plausible, too, given the few facts known about von Goethem: namely, that she was briefly in the corps de ballet at the Paris Opera, that she spent some time at taverns in Paris, that her older sister Antoinette was a thief and her younger sister Charlotte an accomplished dancer who had a career spanning over fifty years with the Paris Opera. Meyer gives Marie a conniving, alcoholic mother who conspires with Antoinette to profit off of Marie's modeling jobs and her subsequent perceived beauty and fame. While Marie has fallen for her neighbor Jean-Pierre, Antoinette has other plans: marrying Marie off to wealthy Lucien. Antoinette herself has aspirations of marrying up so she can better support herself and her family; Marie would rather make her money than marry it.
This was a sweet and rather guilty-pleasure read, with Antoinette providing most of the content I didn't care for. She was too cartoonishly villainous, and I wish Meyer had acknowledged the fact that in the 1870s, it was perfectly reasonable to want to marry up for financial reasons. Antoinette's reasons for her liaisons with wealthy men were, historically speaking, sound. But I get that this is targeted at petites danseuses de quatorze ans, and that Marie's starry-eyed romanticism and strong ethics are going to be more attractive than a historically accurate perspective on growing up in a difficult situation and finding the easiest way to escape rather than the most honorable. I'd recommend this to a teen looking for a good historical fiction read, or even to teens who just enjoy "issue books" and want a different perspective on them.
But the story's a good one, and plausible, too, given the few facts known about von Goethem: namely, that she was briefly in the corps de ballet at the Paris Opera, that she spent some time at taverns in Paris, that her older sister Antoinette was a thief and her younger sister Charlotte an accomplished dancer who had a career spanning over fifty years with the Paris Opera. Meyer gives Marie a conniving, alcoholic mother who conspires with Antoinette to profit off of Marie's modeling jobs and her subsequent perceived beauty and fame. While Marie has fallen for her neighbor Jean-Pierre, Antoinette has other plans: marrying Marie off to wealthy Lucien. Antoinette herself has aspirations of marrying up so she can better support herself and her family; Marie would rather make her money than marry it.
This was a sweet and rather guilty-pleasure read, with Antoinette providing most of the content I didn't care for. She was too cartoonishly villainous, and I wish Meyer had acknowledged the fact that in the 1870s, it was perfectly reasonable to want to marry up for financial reasons. Antoinette's reasons for her liaisons with wealthy men were, historically speaking, sound. But I get that this is targeted at petites danseuses de quatorze ans, and that Marie's starry-eyed romanticism and strong ethics are going to be more attractive than a historically accurate perspective on growing up in a difficult situation and finding the easiest way to escape rather than the most honorable. I'd recommend this to a teen looking for a good historical fiction read, or even to teens who just enjoy "issue books" and want a different perspective on them.
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