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The Turning Pointe
A bold and emotionally gripping novel about a teenage Latinx girl finding freedom through dance and breaking expectations in 1980s Minnesota. When sixteen-year-old Rosa Dominguez pirouettes, she is poetry in pointe shoes. And as the daughter of a tyrant ballet Master, Rosa seems destined to become the star principal dancer of her studio. But Rosa would do anything for one hour in the dance studio upstairs where Prince, the Purple One himself, is in the house.After her father announces their upcoming auditions for a concert with Prince, Rosa is more determined than ever to succeed. Then Nikki--the cross-dressing, funky boy who works in the dance shop--leaps into her life. Weighed down by family expectations, Rosa is at a crossroads, desperate to escape so she can show everyone what she can do when freed of her pointe shoes. Now is her chance to break away from a life in tulle, grooving to that unmistakable Minneapolis sound reverberating through every bone in her body.
432 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 22, 2022
13 people are currently reading
3455 people want to read
About the author
Vanessa L. Torres
2 books70 followersVanessa L. Torres is former dancer and an author of books for young readers. She loves to read anything with a vivid setting, but there's a special place in her heart for urban tales. She was born and raised in Minneapolis Minnesota, and now lives in Olympia Washington with her husband and daughter. When she's not writing, she balances her time between anything outdoors, and her other job as a firefighter/paramedic. And when the snow hits, you might catch a glimpse of her ski patrolling on the mountain.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
July 3, 2022
I need more people to read this book! It's devastatingly beautiful and definitely deserves more attention. 4.5 Stars
The Turning Pointe follows Rosa Dominguez, a ballerina, who dreams of nothing more than dancing for Prince (yes, the one and only Prince) who is the dance studio above her. Fortunately, her father who is also her dance instructor gives all the dancers the opportunity to compete to dance with Prince at his concert. Although it is her dream, Rosa finds herself quickly getting distracted by the infamous Nikki who works in the dance shop. What develops is a narrative that focuses on Rosa truly learning who is she and who she wants to be in the city of Minneapolis.
Ya'll!! I had a hell of a time with this book. It was not what I was expecting. The description alone pulled me in especially because it took place in the 80s and centered on a teenagers love for Prince as an artist. However, what I got was a much more complex narrative. Rosa comes from a pretty broken home. Her father is an alcoholic who is no longer welcome in their home. Her sister is disabled and requires around the clock care. And her mother (for reasons discussed later in the book) has a strained relationship with Rosa. All of these things play a huge role in how Rosa sees herself as a person, a dancer, a sister, and a daughter. Additionally, I really enjoyed the relationship that develops between Nikki and Rosa. Nikki is genderqueer and the relationship that he shares with Rosa isn't as straightforward as many relationships that we typically see in YA not because of his identity, but because of how he challenges Rosa's assumptions about a lot of things including dancing. Rosa experiences life in a different way by becoming close to Nikki. Torres also doesn't shy away from tackling tough topics and I was happy to see the way that she introduced the discussion about the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
One critique that I keep seeing about this book is that it may not have a strong appeal for teen readers because they may not recognize Prince as an artist or they may not care enough to gravitate towards this book. In some ways, I think that this assessment may be true; however, this book is a solid historical fiction and actually may have appeal to teen readers outside of the typical WWI/WWII historical fiction that they are generally exposed too. This will give them the opportunity to see the history through the lens of brown characters instead of the usual white cis-het characters that publishing is consistently putting out. There isn't anything wrong with these stories, but it was nice to get a more diverse YA historical fiction.
Overall, I think that this was a great debut for Torres. I enjoyed every single page and I can't wait to see what she will produce in the future.
The Turning Pointe follows Rosa Dominguez, a ballerina, who dreams of nothing more than dancing for Prince (yes, the one and only Prince) who is the dance studio above her. Fortunately, her father who is also her dance instructor gives all the dancers the opportunity to compete to dance with Prince at his concert. Although it is her dream, Rosa finds herself quickly getting distracted by the infamous Nikki who works in the dance shop. What develops is a narrative that focuses on Rosa truly learning who is she and who she wants to be in the city of Minneapolis.
Ya'll!! I had a hell of a time with this book. It was not what I was expecting. The description alone pulled me in especially because it took place in the 80s and centered on a teenagers love for Prince as an artist. However, what I got was a much more complex narrative. Rosa comes from a pretty broken home. Her father is an alcoholic who is no longer welcome in their home. Her sister is disabled and requires around the clock care. And her mother (for reasons discussed later in the book) has a strained relationship with Rosa. All of these things play a huge role in how Rosa sees herself as a person, a dancer, a sister, and a daughter. Additionally, I really enjoyed the relationship that develops between Nikki and Rosa. Nikki is genderqueer and the relationship that he shares with Rosa isn't as straightforward as many relationships that we typically see in YA not because of his identity, but because of how he challenges Rosa's assumptions about a lot of things including dancing. Rosa experiences life in a different way by becoming close to Nikki. Torres also doesn't shy away from tackling tough topics and I was happy to see the way that she introduced the discussion about the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
One critique that I keep seeing about this book is that it may not have a strong appeal for teen readers because they may not recognize Prince as an artist or they may not care enough to gravitate towards this book. In some ways, I think that this assessment may be true; however, this book is a solid historical fiction and actually may have appeal to teen readers outside of the typical WWI/WWII historical fiction that they are generally exposed too. This will give them the opportunity to see the history through the lens of brown characters instead of the usual white cis-het characters that publishing is consistently putting out. There isn't anything wrong with these stories, but it was nice to get a more diverse YA historical fiction.
Overall, I think that this was a great debut for Torres. I enjoyed every single page and I can't wait to see what she will produce in the future.
January 25, 2022
You ever read a book that seemed like it was just absolutely meant to be one of those amazing coming-of-age teen movies that came out of the 80s and 90s and is now a cult classic?
The Turning Pointe is that book for me.
Full rtc but in the meantime, things I loved:
➸ The 80s lingo was so immersive! A little hard to follow for someone like me who grew up in the 00s, admittedly. But really fun to read nonetheless!
➸ The descriptions of dancing tied to the protagonist Rosa's emotions. Ballet for her (and for most dancers, let's be real) is pain, but also connections to a family she desperately needs and wants to be there for her. Meanwhile, funk and jazz fill her soul and lack the trauma she associates with ballet, but she also feels that participating in that form of dance distances her from her family. It's a heart-wrenching, bittersweet dilemma.
➸ Nikki, the queer, cross-dressing boy Rosa finds herself falling for, is so unapologetically himself. In Reagan-era USA, this is a beautiful, powerful, humbling thing to see. And let's be honest, even in today's supposedly more enlightened times, it's still beautiful and powerful and humbling.
➸ The dynamics present in the Dominguez family reflect the dynamics of so many ethnic minority families, especially in families that come from collectivist cultures. The theme of forgiveness - both of self and of others, and especially of the long journey needed in order to deserve it - is a difficult one to portray, and Vanessa L. Torres knocked it out of the park. I think this may be the thing I loved the most about this book. Family is a complicated issue for a lot of people, especially when for those who are taught all their lives that family is all we have. And this book encapsulates everything that is ugly, complex, tangled, and yet ultimately beautiful and heartwarming about it.
CONTENT WARNINGS: fatphobia / diet culture, graphic description of injury, queerphobia, police brutality
🌿 Find more at my blog, Your Tita Kate! 🌿
The Turning Pointe is that book for me.
Full rtc but in the meantime, things I loved:
➸ The 80s lingo was so immersive! A little hard to follow for someone like me who grew up in the 00s, admittedly. But really fun to read nonetheless!
➸ The descriptions of dancing tied to the protagonist Rosa's emotions. Ballet for her (and for most dancers, let's be real) is pain, but also connections to a family she desperately needs and wants to be there for her. Meanwhile, funk and jazz fill her soul and lack the trauma she associates with ballet, but she also feels that participating in that form of dance distances her from her family. It's a heart-wrenching, bittersweet dilemma.
➸ Nikki, the queer, cross-dressing boy Rosa finds herself falling for, is so unapologetically himself. In Reagan-era USA, this is a beautiful, powerful, humbling thing to see. And let's be honest, even in today's supposedly more enlightened times, it's still beautiful and powerful and humbling.
➸ The dynamics present in the Dominguez family reflect the dynamics of so many ethnic minority families, especially in families that come from collectivist cultures. The theme of forgiveness - both of self and of others, and especially of the long journey needed in order to deserve it - is a difficult one to portray, and Vanessa L. Torres knocked it out of the park. I think this may be the thing I loved the most about this book. Family is a complicated issue for a lot of people, especially when for those who are taught all their lives that family is all we have. And this book encapsulates everything that is ugly, complex, tangled, and yet ultimately beautiful and heartwarming about it.
CONTENT WARNINGS: fatphobia / diet culture, graphic description of injury, queerphobia, police brutality
🌿 Find more at my blog, Your Tita Kate! 🌿
August 23, 2021
The Turning Pointe is an absolutely stunning debut novel from Vanessa L. Torres about the often competitive and brutal world of a small ballet company in Minneapolis, Minnesota as told through the vivid, evocative lens of its heroine, Rosa Dominguez, a Prince-obsessed “bunhead” with whom you will instantly fall in love! Supporting characters (including Rosa’s best friend, Kat, love interest, Nikki, and her exacting ballet instructor/father, Geno) have been rendered with equal nuance and complexity; the prose easily rises to the level of literary fiction. The drama is not limited to dance; be prepared for the book to break your heart along the way. Epic in scope yet intimate in detail, The Turning Pointe is bursting with such verisimilitude, *my* feet cramped and my calves ached! Five out of five curtain calls for The Turning Pointe. Highly recommended.
February 23, 2022
I’m a sucker for anything dance-related, so I was super excited for this book. It did not disappoint! Set in the 80s in Minneapolis, Prince-obsessed Rosa is a student at a ballet company run by her father. While she struggles to decide if ballet is the kind of dance she wants to pursue, she can’t resist an opportunity to compete for a spot to perform with Prince, even if it means she could be chaining herself to ballet for good. But as her personal life collides with her dreams, Rosa discovers more about herself, her family and her dreams than she bargained for. The dance scenes explode off the pages, as does the vivid and gritty setting of downtown Minneapolis. But what really made this book for me was the family story and the relationship between Rosa and her sister Glo, and guilt she feels over Glo’s tragic accident. A beautiful and emotional story you won’t want to miss, The Turning Pointe will stay with you long after you read the last page.
Want to read
May 19, 2022I am often asked what inspired me to write THE TURNING POINTE. And I could easily say, my fangirl love for the artist, Prince. Because, yes, this is totally true. But there were many other reasons I needed to share this story.
I wrote it for Latinx ballerinas, truly, any dancer who feels like their body is less worthy of the stage because they don't fit into some kind of a George Balanchine mold.
I wrote it for anyone who has ever been told, boys have no business wearing tutus or pointe shoes.
I wrote it for those who are carrying around relentless guilt, and cannot find a way to forgive themselves.
I wrote it for music lovers, and all the reasons we cling to that one song that gets us through the day.
Most of all, I wrote it for anyone who finds themselves reading the pages.
Thank you for being here. May you see a little bit of yourself in this book. And if not, may it give you a glimpse of understanding for someone who does. Cheers to all, Vanessa
I wrote it for Latinx ballerinas, truly, any dancer who feels like their body is less worthy of the stage because they don't fit into some kind of a George Balanchine mold.
I wrote it for anyone who has ever been told, boys have no business wearing tutus or pointe shoes.
I wrote it for those who are carrying around relentless guilt, and cannot find a way to forgive themselves.
I wrote it for music lovers, and all the reasons we cling to that one song that gets us through the day.
Most of all, I wrote it for anyone who finds themselves reading the pages.
Thank you for being here. May you see a little bit of yourself in this book. And if not, may it give you a glimpse of understanding for someone who does. Cheers to all, Vanessa
April 15, 2022
I grew up in this book. This book is told in the city that raised me. I grew up walking down Hennepin, listening to Prince, dreaming of First Ave, avoiding my home on Hiawatha. There is nothing like this book. It is stunning, breathtaking, heart-wrenching, and beautiful. I will be thinking about it for years.
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December 7, 2021
*set in the 80's
*complicated family dynamics
*genderqueer love interest
*Mexican American protagonist
*Prince. Yes. THE Prince.
*ballet
This book is a must read for anyone with a heart - this book is so much more than a ballet book or a fandom book - it's a book about family and love and what it means to want something so bad it might break you!
*complicated family dynamics
*genderqueer love interest
*Mexican American protagonist
*Prince. Yes. THE Prince.
*ballet
This book is a must read for anyone with a heart - this book is so much more than a ballet book or a fandom book - it's a book about family and love and what it means to want something so bad it might break you!
February 23, 2022
Taking place in Minnesota in the 80's, we follow Rosa as she fights to break free from her tyrannical ballet Master father and finally move to her own beat. Rosa lives in the shadow of her perfect older sister who was supposed to be the next ballet star of their Minneapolis dance studio, but is now paralyzed after an accident that Rosa believes to be her fault. She must dance for her sister, because she no longer can. When it's announced that none other than Prince is not only using their studio as a rehearsal space, but also auditioning students for a benefit concert, Rosa will do anything to get in front of her hero and finally dance with full abandon.
Hell of a debut! Probably one of the strongest I've ever read. Torres does an incredible job with exploring the grittiness of this time period. Rosa and her family don't live in the greatest neighborhood—prostitutes, drunks, and druggies line the streets as Rosa makes her daily walks to and from the studio. The author also doesn't shy away from showing the harsh and grotesque aspects to ballet. There is a lot of pain and guilt all throughout this story—literal and emotional. These authentic characters really shine through and the writing makes you feel fully immersed in the time period.
This is incredibly well diverse with representation from the lgbtq+, disability, Latinx communities. There are also quite a few triggers: alcoholism, queerphobia, police brutality. I definitely wouldn't recommend this to a younger reader, but I do think this is a really important book and I hope it gets into the hands of a lot of readers.
ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Hell of a debut! Probably one of the strongest I've ever read. Torres does an incredible job with exploring the grittiness of this time period. Rosa and her family don't live in the greatest neighborhood—prostitutes, drunks, and druggies line the streets as Rosa makes her daily walks to and from the studio. The author also doesn't shy away from showing the harsh and grotesque aspects to ballet. There is a lot of pain and guilt all throughout this story—literal and emotional. These authentic characters really shine through and the writing makes you feel fully immersed in the time period.
This is incredibly well diverse with representation from the lgbtq+, disability, Latinx communities. There are also quite a few triggers: alcoholism, queerphobia, police brutality. I definitely wouldn't recommend this to a younger reader, but I do think this is a really important book and I hope it gets into the hands of a lot of readers.
ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 26, 2022
An absolutely wonderful debut novel. A mixture of ballet, Prince , and all the challenges that come with being a teenager. Strongly recommended for anyone who loves dance, 80’s music, and having a passion ( either for a person or performance). I liked this book so much that I purchased an extra copy to go to my son’s middle school library.
February 24, 2022
What do you need in a book? The 80s? Ballet? Prince? A beautiful cross dresser? If you answered yes to these questions, then I have the book for you! The Turning Pointe follows ballet dancer Rosa who loves Prince (and well most everything else) more than she loves ballet. She's struggling to find her place in the world, and as much as she says she wants to be a professional ballet dancer, she can't help but look for something else that might make her happier.
This a magnificently written book, and practically every chapter caused a visceral reaction from me. Torres plunges you into every scene with the sounds, scents, and tastes present in everything Rosa experiences. I came to love Rosa so much that my heart broke for her time and again, and I was dying to see her come out on top. Also, as someone who grew up in the 80s, this book dropped me into so much nostalgia that I didn't want to come up for air.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC. I cannot recommend this book enough, and it's safe to say this is easily one on my favorites of 2022!
This a magnificently written book, and practically every chapter caused a visceral reaction from me. Torres plunges you into every scene with the sounds, scents, and tastes present in everything Rosa experiences. I came to love Rosa so much that my heart broke for her time and again, and I was dying to see her come out on top. Also, as someone who grew up in the 80s, this book dropped me into so much nostalgia that I didn't want to come up for air.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC. I cannot recommend this book enough, and it's safe to say this is easily one on my favorites of 2022!
January 7, 2022
I was lucky enough to read an ARC of this gorgeous YA historical debut, and I loved it! Rosa Dominguez comes from a family of talented ballet dancers, but they've also been broken from a traumatic past. Now, she just wants to escape into a world where she can dance funky with Prince. And when she does run into the Purple One, well...it doesn't exactly go how she wanted. But then she meets Nikki, a guy who can tap and ballet--and looks gorgeous in gold eye shadow and a miniskirt. They're both such great characters with AMAZING chemistry! And though this book tackles some heavy subject matter, it's done with heart, humor, and hope.
January 22, 2022
Rich in historical details and realism, THE TURNING POINTE follows a Latinx teen from a family of ballerinas who dreams of being a dancer for the Purple One himself—Prince. Although I didn’t grow up in 1980s Minnesota, THE TURNING POINTE is gripping in its concrete details and pulls you right into Rosa’s struggles. The characters feel authentic and nuanced and you can’t help rooting for Rosa to accomplish her dreams throughout this page-turner. I can see this becoming a classroom staple.
Thank you to the author for an ARC. This is my honest review in return.
Thank you to the author for an ARC. This is my honest review in return.
March 28, 2022
A heartfelt and lovely book!
The Turning Pointe took me by surprise with Rosa, a reluctant ballet dancer weighed down by guilt, but never unable to speak her truth and do the right thing. This story broke my heart and pieced it together more than once, and every character felt so alive! There were so many important themes around dealing with grief and racism, but it also offers an unapologetic look at growing up. I read the entire book in a single Sunday and have no regrets.
Being Vanessa Torres’ first novel, I’m not sure what’s next, but I’m already in after reading this stunning debut!
The Turning Pointe took me by surprise with Rosa, a reluctant ballet dancer weighed down by guilt, but never unable to speak her truth and do the right thing. This story broke my heart and pieced it together more than once, and every character felt so alive! There were so many important themes around dealing with grief and racism, but it also offers an unapologetic look at growing up. I read the entire book in a single Sunday and have no regrets.
Being Vanessa Torres’ first novel, I’m not sure what’s next, but I’m already in after reading this stunning debut!
April 4, 2022
80’s kid here! Wow, this book really took me back to growing up back then and training in ballet. But it’s about so much more than that, which I hadn’t expected. I didn’t expect to become so emotionally invested in the characters and to find myself crying at times while reading. It covers some really tough issues that I think so many can relate to, whether you are a teen in this day and age, or an adult that has already experienced that part of their life. Quite a unique tale, and set in a very special time period and location. And also, Prince! It has everything.
January 23, 2022
Thank you, Knopf Books for Young Readers, for allowing me to read The Turning Pointe early!
Vanessa L. Torres' debut is a magnificent window on the eighties, an irreverent era of transformation. And that is what this story is about. Paired with a beautiful prose and a splendid heroine, The Turning Pointe really surprised me, especially as Torres included a genderqueer love interest. Looking forward to share this story with students.
Vanessa L. Torres' debut is a magnificent window on the eighties, an irreverent era of transformation. And that is what this story is about. Paired with a beautiful prose and a splendid heroine, The Turning Pointe really surprised me, especially as Torres included a genderqueer love interest. Looking forward to share this story with students.
February 28, 2022
The Turning Pointe is one of the best books I have ever read. I felt like I was in Minneapolis, in the Summer of 1983. The story gives insights into ballet, and the struggles of overcoming racism, homophobia, and ableism.
I felt like I was visiting Minneapolis in the 80s. The Prince references are top notch too.
I felt like I was visiting Minneapolis in the 80s. The Prince references are top notch too.
April 4, 2022
This book was amazing. Vanessa‘s words are so descriptive that you feel like you are in the room with the characters. I laughed with them, cried with them, and cheered them on every step of the way. I enjoyed this book from start to finish, I hope someday there is a sequel. I can’t wait to see what Vanessa writes next.
June 22, 2022
I was floored by the specificity of the historical detail and the freshness of this story. I interviewed the author for the Duluth News Tribune.
December 27, 2021
The Turning Pointe is one of the most powerful and evocative YA novels I’ve ever read. Bravo to Torres for a thrilling, heartfelt plot and characters that still have not left me. Gorgeous
November 18, 2021
I love this book and I know many teen library patrons who share similar struggles and aspirations with the characters -they will see themselves in this novel!
I really appreciate books that highlight the awesome strength, persistence, and resilience of teens. Rosa, Kat, Nikki, and Glo face incredible life challenges, some more than others. But the thing they all have in common is their determination to seek out their true self and lift themselves up out of societal and familial expectations. As Prince sang, "If the elevator tries to bring you down, go crazy, punch a higher floor." from Let's Go Crazy, 1984.
I really appreciate books that highlight the awesome strength, persistence, and resilience of teens. Rosa, Kat, Nikki, and Glo face incredible life challenges, some more than others. But the thing they all have in common is their determination to seek out their true self and lift themselves up out of societal and familial expectations. As Prince sang, "If the elevator tries to bring you down, go crazy, punch a higher floor." from Let's Go Crazy, 1984.
June 27, 2022
"Rosa, croisé devant,"...Torres is not here to explain the intricacies of ballet to you and I'm here for it.
Though it's set in 1983 Minneapolis I feel the struggles of all the characters (trying to define themselves without their parent's expectations weighing them down) will still resonate enough with youth and others today.
Personally, I also just love that this book is set someplace other than an East Coast city, and guest stars the Purple One. "Dearly beloved. We are gathered here today...."
Though it's set in 1983 Minneapolis I feel the struggles of all the characters (trying to define themselves without their parent's expectations weighing them down) will still resonate enough with youth and others today.
Personally, I also just love that this book is set someplace other than an East Coast city, and guest stars the Purple One. "Dearly beloved. We are gathered here today...."
January 22, 2022
3 stars
In this debut novel, Torres provides readers with all of the material they anticipate in a dance-related novel, and much of those expectations are wrapped up in the identity and antics of the main character: Rosa.
Rosa - who was born to dance thanks to the legacy her like-minded parents have bestowed upon her body and lifestyle - is experiencing a fair amount of struggle when readers meet her. Her post-puberty body has created some challenges and unkind attention, her parents are struggling with alcoholism and extreme guilt, and her sister was fairly recently in an accident that Rosa immediately reveals she caused. This final note is the most interesting in terms of potential development, and Glo, Rosa's sister, is the most intriguing character of the bunch, especially when it comes to her art. On top of her family members, Rosa is also dealing with typical growing pains as well as a budding romantic relationship.
The components are good here, but I wanted more depth and less reliance on tropes and what felt like gimmicks. When I think of this novel for the long haul, I'll think of the excessive discussions of bodily fluids, Prince, and Rosa's feet. I was on the dance circuit myself for a very long time, so while some of this gore was expected, it was a bit overdone at times. The Prince components had the potential to be charming (who doesn't love him?!), but this was so heavy handed that it became distracting. Nikki, the love interest, is not only conveniently named but also automatically referred to as "darling Nikki," for example. Will someone wake up the next morning and find that "Nikki wasn't there?" Wait and see. The references to LGBTQ+ issues of the time also felt rushed and too surface. These topics are important - both historically and in conjunction with the dance setting and related characters - and they deserve a more thorough treatment here.
Overall, I enjoyed this read and also developed an "if only this..." wish list as I read. There's a lot of promise in these characters and in this book overall, so I'll be looking forward to another - hopefully deeper dive - from Torres in the future.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
In this debut novel, Torres provides readers with all of the material they anticipate in a dance-related novel, and much of those expectations are wrapped up in the identity and antics of the main character: Rosa.
Rosa - who was born to dance thanks to the legacy her like-minded parents have bestowed upon her body and lifestyle - is experiencing a fair amount of struggle when readers meet her. Her post-puberty body has created some challenges and unkind attention, her parents are struggling with alcoholism and extreme guilt, and her sister was fairly recently in an accident that Rosa immediately reveals she caused. This final note is the most interesting in terms of potential development, and Glo, Rosa's sister, is the most intriguing character of the bunch, especially when it comes to her art. On top of her family members, Rosa is also dealing with typical growing pains as well as a budding romantic relationship.
The components are good here, but I wanted more depth and less reliance on tropes and what felt like gimmicks. When I think of this novel for the long haul, I'll think of the excessive discussions of bodily fluids, Prince, and Rosa's feet. I was on the dance circuit myself for a very long time, so while some of this gore was expected, it was a bit overdone at times. The Prince components had the potential to be charming (who doesn't love him?!), but this was so heavy handed that it became distracting. Nikki, the love interest, is not only conveniently named but also automatically referred to as "darling Nikki," for example. Will someone wake up the next morning and find that "Nikki wasn't there?" Wait and see. The references to LGBTQ+ issues of the time also felt rushed and too surface. These topics are important - both historically and in conjunction with the dance setting and related characters - and they deserve a more thorough treatment here.
Overall, I enjoyed this read and also developed an "if only this..." wish list as I read. There's a lot of promise in these characters and in this book overall, so I'll be looking forward to another - hopefully deeper dive - from Torres in the future.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
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November 8, 2021I was excited to read this bc I love Center Stage and am forever chasing YA novels to give me that high. (Tiny Pretty Things so far was the closest.)
This book for me though....was not it.
I think there are aspects to like here--I think the Prince-centric 80s Minnesota setting is cool, I think the queer teen drag scene is cool, I think it's cool to highlight the talents & struggles of dancers of color.
But the plot itself was SO SWEATY, and not just because of all the hard dance practices. (Rim shot) It just felt like I could realllly see the seams where the author wanted X emotional effect and therefore Y had to happen and therefor character had to do Z thing even though Z thing didn't really make sense. Like for example early on we see that Rosa's sister is a paraplegic and it's clear that Rosa is hiding something about that (even though it's her own narration which is already kind of a shaky narrative device in the first place, of like why the narrator is clearly hiding something from....herself?) But the reveal that
Anyway I'm leaving out a star rating because there aren't so many reviews of this up yet and I don't want this responsibility but I did not really like this book and I kept incredulously telling improbable details aloud to my coworker.
If this were a Disney Channel movie I'd definitely watch it but the problem is dance movies can get by on super thin plots/character developments because it's nice to watch dance performances but dance BOOKS have a higher bar to clear and IMO this one did not do that!!
This book for me though....was not it.
I think there are aspects to like here--I think the Prince-centric 80s Minnesota setting is cool, I think the queer teen drag scene is cool, I think it's cool to highlight the talents & struggles of dancers of color.
But the plot itself was SO SWEATY, and not just because of all the hard dance practices. (Rim shot) It just felt like I could realllly see the seams where the author wanted X emotional effect and therefore Y had to happen and therefor character had to do Z thing even though Z thing didn't really make sense. Like for example early on we see that Rosa's sister is a paraplegic and it's clear that Rosa is hiding something about that (even though it's her own narration which is already kind of a shaky narrative device in the first place, of like why the narrator is clearly hiding something from....herself?) But the reveal that
Anyway I'm leaving out a star rating because there aren't so many reviews of this up yet and I don't want this responsibility but I did not really like this book and I kept incredulously telling improbable details aloud to my coworker.
If this were a Disney Channel movie I'd definitely watch it but the problem is dance movies can get by on super thin plots/character developments because it's nice to watch dance performances but dance BOOKS have a higher bar to clear and IMO this one did not do that!!
April 19, 2022
An absolutely stunning and wonderful debut novel for Vanessa L. Torres. This book has the feel of an 80s cult dance classic. Rosa is a ballet dancer in Minnesota but she is obsessed with the purple one: Prince. She wants nothing more than to be part of his show that he dance show will be part of. But troubles at home and an alcoholic dance master father threaten her dreams. A really fun book and one I would recommend to any of my friends that enjoy coming of age stories.
June 9, 2022
An important book! Simultaneous time travel to 80s Minneapolis AND story lines dredged with themes that ring out today. Leaves readers thinking about authenticity of self and in family life as well as the permeating pressures and prejudices that seek to control and oppress. Total immersion into the world of dance with lots to unpack beyond the pleasure (and sore toes) from being whirled about with Rosa & Co. in ballet studios and underground shows.
March 18, 2022
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Gritty, queer, 80s, dance, music, The Turning Pointe was much more than a ballet book. It left me thinking about the story long after I finished the last page. I can't wait to see what's next for this debut author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2022
This book was everything I hoped it would be. The characters are well developed. Each character plays a part in this story to help move the story forward. Once I started reading this story I couldn't stop. I would highly recommend this book.
May 12, 2022
Loved the book.
Great ballet story, great family story...and plenty of nostalgia for 1980s Minneapolis' Henepin Avenue and Prince back in the day.
Great ballet story, great family story...and plenty of nostalgia for 1980s Minneapolis' Henepin Avenue and Prince back in the day.
April 26, 2022
I loved the story. It was filled with so much raw emotion. Of course growing up and following dreams made this story something everyone can relate to. IGreat job Ms. Torres.
May 27, 2022
Yes I cried. You read this and not cry, I dare you.
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