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One Wrong Turn
'If I wanted the lead role, Valentina had to go.'
A contemporary Ballet Shoes set in an elite dance academy, this compelling coming-of-age novel is all about overcoming pressure, standing up for yourself and the joy of ballet! The perfect gift for all young dancers.
Amelia is a ballerina on the rise – she’s talented, dedicated and set to star in the lead role of the annual production. But when Valentina arrives from Italy and joins the ballet academy, the competition gets fierce.
Can Amelia outshine Valentina and keep her place in the spotlight?
A contemporary Ballet Shoes set in an elite dance academy, this compelling coming-of-age novel is all about overcoming pressure, standing up for yourself and the joy of ballet! The perfect gift for all young dancers.
Amelia is a ballerina on the rise – she’s talented, dedicated and set to star in the lead role of the annual production. But when Valentina arrives from Italy and joins the ballet academy, the competition gets fierce.
Can Amelia outshine Valentina and keep her place in the spotlight?
288 pages, Paperback
Published July 4, 2023
12 people want to read
About the author
Chenée Marrapodi
2 books8 followersChenée Marrapodi is an Australian writer and podcaster. She has worked in media for many years, currently for Channel Nine News, and formerly as a reporter for Channel Seven’s Today Tonight, as well as online news and radio. Chenée’s love of words is rivalled only by her love of dance. Combining the two, One Wrong Turn is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 7, 2024
This is my first read of 2024 and I loved it. This was a fast-paced, easy read about family and friends. I never wanted to put it down. I do recommend reading it. Each character had their own unique personalities and backgrounds, which was enjoyable to read about. The book had suspense and emotions that really made the story better. I loved how you got to see the characters development throughout the story.
finished - march 15th
edited - july 15th
finished - march 15th
edited - july 15th
December 25, 2024
Amazing book. Awesome for ballerinas but also great for others. This book is awesome and fast moving. Loved it!!!!!
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January 23, 2024Love the exploration of culture and fitting in. An excellent book that is not just about ballet. So many appealing and relevant themes: fitting in, migration, that feeling of being an outsider, persistence, resilience, having to stand up for yourself, and so much more. Perfect, and definitely a book I'd recommend. Year 5 and up, I would say?
February 1, 2025
incredible book expressing each girls feelings to dance wonderfully. It has great detail and I highly recommend it.
October 22, 2023
Love this so much! A beautiful, funny, heartwarming story about ballet, friendship and family 😊💖
March 5, 2024
A sweet book for middle readers that is set in Perth and about ballet... and I have a signed copy by the author, to boot!
Amelia is the daughter of two ballet dancers and is determined to become a professional dancer herself. Valentina is a recent Italian emigrant who came to Perth with her family; she's the only dancer in her family. Both girls are brilliant in their own right but only one can be the lead in their school's midyear show.
Something I loved about this book is that the production is Cinderella. It's not Swan Lake, it's not the Nutcracker, it's not even Giselle. It's Cinderella. Every time I read a ballet book, I'm frothing because it's not any one of the hundreds of potential ballets out there. Instead, Marrapodi decided on something a little different but still recognisable to a non-balletomane. Thank you, Marrapodi!
Secondly, neither of the girls is jealous or outwardly cruel. Yes, Amelia is a little stuck up her own butt and clearly thinks she should have the role, but she doesn't attack Valentina. And though Amelia is absolutely privileged, she works hard but still struggles in certain areas. She comes to love the role she's given and still makes it her own. The problems the girls face is less about them and more about the people around them.
I know this is a book aimed at middle readers, but I wish more young adult/new adult ballet books had themes like this. The media loves to portray the world of ballet as one of sexy intrigue and vicious competitiveness, but I'd love to a book, TV show or film explore two dancers actually working together to better themselves, like this book shows.
Amelia is the daughter of two ballet dancers and is determined to become a professional dancer herself. Valentina is a recent Italian emigrant who came to Perth with her family; she's the only dancer in her family. Both girls are brilliant in their own right but only one can be the lead in their school's midyear show.
Something I loved about this book is that the production is Cinderella. It's not Swan Lake, it's not the Nutcracker, it's not even Giselle. It's Cinderella. Every time I read a ballet book, I'm frothing because it's not any one of the hundreds of potential ballets out there. Instead, Marrapodi decided on something a little different but still recognisable to a non-balletomane. Thank you, Marrapodi!
Secondly, neither of the girls is jealous or outwardly cruel. Yes, Amelia is a little stuck up her own butt and clearly thinks she should have the role, but she doesn't attack Valentina. And though Amelia is absolutely privileged, she works hard but still struggles in certain areas. She comes to love the role she's given and still makes it her own. The problems the girls face is less about them and more about the people around them.
I know this is a book aimed at middle readers, but I wish more young adult/new adult ballet books had themes like this. The media loves to portray the world of ballet as one of sexy intrigue and vicious competitiveness, but I'd love to a book, TV show or film explore two dancers actually working together to better themselves, like this book shows.
July 3, 2023
An elite read!
Starring two Ballerinas: Amelia who was born to play Cinderella, and Valentina who has arrived from Italy just in time for the Perth Ballet Academy annual production auditions and she’s good, there’s more than choreography for these two teenagers to worry about.
Valentina is learning English while trying to make friends and convince her family that dancing means more to her than salami day, and Amelia might have just told the biggest lie of her life because living up to her mother’s expectations is becoming impossible!
But before the final curtain falls, Amelia and Valentina will both learn what matters most!
This book is beautiful! I loved the elite teen ballerina viewpoint, showing just how much commitment, and blisters it takes to be an elite ballerina. Chenée’s writing is flawless, and it’s obvious in her characterisation and descriptions that she has a great deal of real-life dance experience. The rivalry between the two lead ballerinas and their friends was fantastic, and I enjoyed seeing them ride the difficult days, fight for what matters, and grow as humans on and off the stage.
The lie gave this story an extra layer of page-turning goodness, and I loved Valentina’s family and the Italian culture they brought to the page.
Finishing with a spectacle you won't forget, this is a dazzling read for all to enjoy! Thanks for putting in the hard work, Chenée and providing me with such a gorgeous ARC!
Starring two Ballerinas: Amelia who was born to play Cinderella, and Valentina who has arrived from Italy just in time for the Perth Ballet Academy annual production auditions and she’s good, there’s more than choreography for these two teenagers to worry about.
Valentina is learning English while trying to make friends and convince her family that dancing means more to her than salami day, and Amelia might have just told the biggest lie of her life because living up to her mother’s expectations is becoming impossible!
But before the final curtain falls, Amelia and Valentina will both learn what matters most!
This book is beautiful! I loved the elite teen ballerina viewpoint, showing just how much commitment, and blisters it takes to be an elite ballerina. Chenée’s writing is flawless, and it’s obvious in her characterisation and descriptions that she has a great deal of real-life dance experience. The rivalry between the two lead ballerinas and their friends was fantastic, and I enjoyed seeing them ride the difficult days, fight for what matters, and grow as humans on and off the stage.
The lie gave this story an extra layer of page-turning goodness, and I loved Valentina’s family and the Italian culture they brought to the page.
Finishing with a spectacle you won't forget, this is a dazzling read for all to enjoy! Thanks for putting in the hard work, Chenée and providing me with such a gorgeous ARC!
July 21, 2024
Loved this fast paced story about dance, fitting in and friendship. Chenee’s writing is fast-paced and engaging, with plenty of twists and turns. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making it easy to become invested in their fates. The tension and suspense build steadily throughout the novel. One Wrong Turn is a thrilling read that will keep you hooked from the first page to the last. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating and entertaining read.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews