Highly recommended; the best book of the "Shoes" series.

Pauline, Petrova, and Posy are Adopted By absent on older man and Brought up lovingly by his niece and her former nanny in pre-war England. The girls attend a performing arts school, and the story tells about Their successes and failures Both on- and offstage. As They try on ballet shoes, literally and metaphorically, the girls deal with fears, ego, talent, persistence, opportunity, competition, ambition, respect, and being poor among well-off peers. Eventually each girl finds her own right path.

Ballet Shoes was the best-loved book of my book-loving childhood, Because I too what dance-crazy; Because The three sisters were so different and so loyal; Because so many kind adults helped them; Because The "Britishisms" were so fun to read and learn; and Because Noel Streatfeild's writing is good and plain, her characters are clear, and her plots are honest. Through this book, I learned That is performing work and joy; That everyone's different selves and lives deserve respect; and That Independent Women, and girls Whose dreams are for Themselves rather than Prince Charming, have good lives. This book may be Especially good for poor children, for children with stars in Their Eyes, or for children growing up without blood relatives. Ballet Shoes helped me build on unshakable optimism, and I recommend it unreservedly.