For her, dancing is the only joy to counter the pain inflicted by hunger, her mother’s drinking, and her selfish older sister.

Marie van Goethem, a fourteen-year-old ballet dancer in the famed Paris Opéra, has led a life of hardship and poverty.

Genres: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Romance, Balletįormat: Audiobook, narrated by Carine Montbertrand Although this is a very well-written book about a young girl struggling in a very poor life in early 20th century Paris, it was not what I was expecting and I didn’t enjoy it as much as I hoped I would. Heart-wrenching and enlightening, this gritty story celebrates artistic accomplishment even as it reveals the human suffering often required to achieve it.Gwen’s Disappointment in Marie, Dancing by Carolyn MeyerĪlthough this book is titled Marie, Dancing, I found it was very heavy on the Marie side of things and lacking in the dancing half and the implied Edgar Degas theme as well. Heart-wrenching and enlightening, this gritty story celebrates artistic accomplishment even as it reveals the human suffering often required to achieve it.'-Publishers Weekly (starred review), 11/17/05, 'Mesmerizing. This is a touching and beautifully written story that all dancers will treasure.'-'Book Sense' Janet Bibeau, Storybook Cove, Hanover, MA, 'As with her Young Royals series, Meyer's ability to sweep readers to another time and place while bringing historic figures to life once again results in a mesmerizing novel.

The book explores the life of Marie van Goethem and her poor Parisian family. Heart-wrenching and enlightening, this gritty story celebrates artistic accomplishment even as it reveals the human suffering often required to achieve it.'- Publishers Weekly (starred review), 'This is a fictionalized recounting of the life of the 14-year-old girl who was the model for Edgar Degas' sculpture Little Dancer Aged Fourteen. This is a touching and beautifully written story that all dancers will treasure., 'Mesmerizing. Heart-wrenching and enlightening, this gritty story celebrates artistic accomplishment even as it reveals the human suffering often required to achieve it., This is a fictionalized recounting of the life of the 14-year-old girl who was the model for Edgar Degas' sculpture Little Dancer Aged Fourteen. As with her Young Royals series, Meyer's ability to sweep readers to another time and place while bringing historic figures to life once again results in a mesmerizing novel.