Tiny Pretty Things - Hardcover

Charaipotra, Sona; Clayton, Dhonielle

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0062342398 ISBN 13: 9780062342393

Publisher: HarperCollins, 2015

Synopsis

Black Swan meets Pretty Little Liars in this soapy, drama-packed novel featuring diverse characters who will do anything to be the prima at their elite ballet school.

Gigi, Bette, and June, three top students at an exclusive Manhattan ballet school, have seen their fair share of drama. Free-spirited new girl Gigi just wants to dance—but the very act might kill her. Privileged New Yorker Bette's desire to escape the shadow of her ballet-star sister brings out a dangerous edge in her. And perfectionist June needs to land a lead role this year or her controlling mother will put an end to her dancing dreams forever.

When every dancer is both friend and foe, the girls will sacrifice, manipulate, and backstab to be the best of the best.

About this title

Review:

“A page–turner with a heart.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“Appealing both to dancers and drama lovers, this engaging, pulpy read skillfullyexplores a variety of issues, from sexual orientation to ethnic identity to single–parent households, in a glamorous, high–stakes setting.” (Booklist)

“Diversity is organically spotlighted [in this] fun and fast read.” (School Library Journal)

“A beautiful example of diversity in characters and settings.” (Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA))

“Charaipotra and Clayton skillfully craft three distinctive, complex characters. This enticing glimpse into the ballet world is rich with detail and drama as the authors highlight its glamour and darkness.” (Publishers Weekly)

It’s impossible not to get sucked in, and the cast of characters is so diverse and fully realized, you root even for the nastiest of them. (Francesca Zappia, author of Made You Up)

From the Back Cover:

How far is too far?

At one of Manhattan's most elite ballet schools, wafer-thin ballerinas pull their hair into sleek buns and lace their pointe shoes high, waiting for their chance to shine. But beneath the pretty, polished surface, these girls are hiding some terrible secrets and telling some twisted lies.

Privileged Bette is tiny and beautiful—like a ballerina in a music box. But living forever in the shadow of her ballet-star sister and under the weight of family expectations brings out a dangerous edge in her.

Perfectionist June can turn a flawless plié and diligently keeps her weight below 100 pounds. But she's never landed a lead role. Tired of always being the understudy, this year she'll settle for nothing but the best—even if she must resort to some less-than-perfect means to get there.

And new girl Gigi isn't your traditional ballerina. A free-spirited California girl, she's not used to the fierce competition. Still, that doesn't stop her from outperforming every dancer in the school. But even she is hiding a ticking time bomb, and the very act of dancing just might expose her secrets to everyone.

Being a prima isn't all satin and lace; sometimes you have to play dirty. With the competition growing fiercer with every performance, and harmless pranks growing ever darker, it's only a matter of time before one small spark ignites . . . and even the best get burned.

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 0062342398
• ISBN 13: 9780062342393
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 448