To Dance

To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel

Memoir by: Siena Cherson Siegel

Artwork by: Mark Sigel

Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers in 2006.

Insightful, Realistic, Simple, Unexpected, Relatable

Summary:
This story is about a girl who follows her dream to become a ballerina. She worked hard and spent many hours practicing. She got into prestigious schools. Meanwhile, her parents marriage was ending. She focused even more on dancing so that she did not have to deal with her parents failing marriage. In the end, she got injured and decided to go to college instead of becoming a ballerina. However, she still danced for fun.

Reading Level:
Lexile Measure: 610L
Grade Equivalent: 3.5
Interest Level: Grades 6-8

Electronic Resources:
School of American Ballet
This link leads to the School of American Ballet website. This school is the main settings in the book. This link will help children to understand where she went and how prestigious the program was that she was in.

Graphic Novels
This link leads to information of on genre of graphic novels. It also gives titles and summaries about other graphic novels that are out there. This link will be helpful for students who are interested in reading more graphic novels.

Teaching Suggestions:
Teachers can use this story to show students a different types of book and a different style of writing.

Suggested Delivery:
Students should read this book independently. This book is a short, and easy read.
 
Key Vocabulary:
Performance, Leotards, Audition, Administrators, Rehearsals, Composition

Reading Strategies:

Before Reading:
Have students look at the front cover and flip through the story and look at the pictures. What do they think the story will be about? What do they think will happen in the story?

During Reading:
Have students look at the pictures as they read. How do the pictures help move the story along? Could the text stand alone, without the pictures there as a guide?

After Reading:
Have students discuss one thing that they could relate to that happened in the main character's life.

Writing Activity:
Have students create their own mini graphic novel about an ambition they have and the steps they have taken to achieve it. Did they achieve what they set out to?