Lauren in the Limelight by Miriam Landis tells the story of four twelve-year-olds and their journey to their pointe exam.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It wasn’t until that moment that I understood what I’d been trying to do. Going on pointe also meant growing up, taking responsibility, and accepting that my successes and failures had more to do with what was happening inside me than external things I couldn’t control.
Lauren in the Limelight, Miriam Landis, ARC copy – Location 3515
Miriam Landis – currently a faculty member at Pacific Northwest Ballet – was also a student at the School of American Ballet and a professional ballerina with Miami City Ballet.
As a writer, she was a LitCamp fellow and an assistant editor at Simon & Schuster, Hyperion, and the Amazon Books team.
Miriam Landis enjoys her husband’s and four children’s company at Lake Washington when she is not working.
Besides Lauren in the Limelight (published 1 September 2023), she is also the author of Girl in Motion and Girl on Pointe (previously titled Breaking Pointe).
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Lauren in the Limelight – Summary
Lauren, Caroline, and Brian have been friends for many years, attending Ms Evangeline’s ballet school. But the dynamics of their friendship and the ballet class change with the arrival of Serena from Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB.)
The story tells of their struggles – at school, home, and with ballet – and their unique challenges and aspirations. It all barrels toward the climax – with the Alice in Wonderland performance, showcasing the first choreography venture of Patricia Dalarose, principal dancer with PNB.
My take on Lauren in the Limelight
I loved the story and was soon engrossed in the four friends’ lives. Young girls and future ballerinas will easily associate with Lauren – with her natural ability for ballet, but sometimes lacking the drive to do the hard work required of her. Or Caroline, the average one, who is happy to take a supporting role in the performance.
Lauren in the Limelight also deals with challenging topics such as racism, gender-based discrimination, bullying, the loss of a sibling, and the challenges of adapting to a new school and city.
We get insight into the emotions and thoughts of the characters via their self-dialogue. But we also see it through the observations of their friends.
Lauren in the Limelight teaches kiddos about the value of hard work, perseverance, and how sometimes they need to stand up for themselves and what they are passionate about.
Should you get Lauren in the Limelight for your child?
Aspiring ballerinas will love the story with the ballet terminology and routines the four friends practise for their pointe exam. They will quickly get caught up in the excitement of the Alice in Wonderland performance but also learn about the harshness and unfairness professional ballerinas often experience because of the fierce competition in ballet companies.
The realistic ballet pose illustration will contribute to their enjoyment of the story.
In Lauren in the Limelight , Serena is pushed by her mother to be a ballerina, although her passion is for singing. Brian lives to be a ballerina but faces his father’s rejection because of his dream. You can start a conversation with your children about their dreams and passions, highlighting the importance of commitment and hard work to succeed.
Please also read my review of Katy on Broadway. It is a story for younger readers about a cat’s determination to sing on stage in Hollywood.
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Why Read or Rot?
I have started reading at the age of four. I can remember how I often read under the covers with a flashlight when I was supposed to sleep.
During my early school years, we visited the library once a week. I couldn’t pick out my new book fast enough! By the end of the period, I would have finished it already, leaving me with nothing to read for the rest of the week!
Growing up, Fridays was the highlight of my week. Dad would pack the whole family into the car, and off we go! You guessed right – to the library! We were a family of readers.
In my adult years, I’ve developed a variety of interests like technology, photography, gardening and even writing. But reading was and will always be a part of my life!
Reading for me is like breathing. If I cannot read, my soul will quietly rot away…