bunheads by sophie flack

As a dancer with the ultra-prestigious Manhattan Ballet Company, nineteen-year-old Hannah Ward juggles intense rehearsals, dazzling performances and complicated backstage relationships. Up until now, Hannah has happily devoted her entire life to ballet.

But when she meets a handsome musician named Jacob, Hannah’s universe begins to change, and she must decide if she wants to compete against the other “bunheads” in the company for a star soloist spot or strike out on her own in the real world. Does she dare give up the gilded confines of the ballet for the freedoms of everyday life?

It’s no secret that books about anything creative amaze me. I’ve always been incredibly clumsy, so I admire anyone who can dance. Bunheads is about a girl who decided at a very young age that she wanted to be a professional dancer. Everything around their lives centers around their ability, one wrong move and their entire world can come crashing down. I’ll admit I have no idea what it takes to be a dancer, but I feel like Bunheads gave me a nice peek into that crazy world, especially seeing as how the author lived that life.

Hannah is a strong and determined young woman. Like I’ve already said, dance is her life. Then as fate would have it she meets someone who goes to college, while living his dream of performing on a slightly different level. I love Jacob, I feel so bad for him. It can’t be easy to fall for someone who is so absorbed into something else.

Bunheads wasn’t really what I expected. I figured it would deal with other common factors in dance books and movies. Things like eating disorders, jealousy, and the usual stereotypical subject matters. Bunheads did hit on these things, but they weren’t the main subject matter. The main focus was Hannah and her own self-discovery. The book was a bit predictable at times, but it was completely enjoyable.