Elizabeth BernardReseñas

Pam and Leah are ballet dancers studying at the same academy (S.F.B.A.). Pam is mean and cruel to Leah in every possible way, but Leah tries to give her a chance. She learns Pam isn't worth the effort.

This was the only book that was saved from the Love Stories collection of my sister. The others were burned when our summer house caught fire. This was saved because I moved it with me to write a script for it. To move on the review, this was the first book I realized that I have a thing for bad-boy like fiction boys. Dylan is dark and brooding. Not to mention he rides a bike and seems aloof to almost everyone. I feel for Naomi's character who's shy and serious, who suddenly decided to break out of her shell and audition for a school play.Theatre is the setting for this romantic story of guy meets girl and falls in love with each other. Reading made me feel funny inside and this was one of the first romantic reads I had when I was a young adult.

This is my favorite cover. Leah, mourning over her injured leg, has never looked lovelier (I’d give my eyeteeth for hair like that). I'm not sure who the model leaning over is. Doesn’t look like Kay, it can’t be Linda, the only token black in the series because that girl looks suspiciously African-American to me. Somewhere Diana Chang is crying her eyes out.

This is my favorite book as well because it features a certain Russian dancer named Andrei Levintoff and we get a LOT of Andrei in this story hence my five star rating. It’s also the culmination of Leah’s character arc. We’ve followed her through the ups and downs of her first year at school, watched her fall in love, get all the breaks, dance all the good roles, now we see her overcoming her latest trial. Leah is realizing her goal as a dancer and the series pretty much ends here.

We start off in San Lorenzo, CA. with an elaborate birthday celebration for Leah orchestrated entirely by Chrissy including a special visit to their childhood ballet studio for a class. Naturally, this wouldn’t be a true Satin Slipper book unless Leah runs sobbing from some kind of dance practice. This time it’s Hannah Greene’s ballet class for 8 year-olds. Leah finds she can’t execute seven plies in a row without dropping dead from exhaustion (for those of you just joining us Leah slipped and fell at the end of book #10 tearing the ligaments in her ankle and now she may *gasp* NEVER DANCE AGAIN!). Hannah Greene tells Leah to suck it up. Her injury is but a minor setback and Leah will be a better dancer because of what happened to her.

Kay and Katrina from SFBA are in town to surprise Leah for her birthday. Chrissy and the rest are taking her back to San Francisco Opera House for a ballet performance and sleepover at the boardinghouse where Alex and all her friends are waiting. Chrissy arranged this whole rendezvous with SFBA, getting the tickets to the ballet, the sleepover, everything was all her idea. Chrissy is one awesome BFF.

Leah doesn’t return to San Lorenzo, once M. Preston finds out Leah’s in town she uses her mind control on Leah who agrees to send for her things back home, stay and resume her classes at SFBA immediately starting Monday morning. Leah’s schedule will include daily physical therapy and doing laps in the school swimming pool while Chrissy slinks back to San Lorenzo, alone. Poor Chrissy.

And now…heeere’s Andrei everyone! Leah is surprised to see him at the Opera House attending the ballet not to mention greeting her with a big kiss on the cheek and a squeeze of the hands (Claire who?) while a star struck Chrissy picks her jaw up off the floor so Leah can introduce her to the world famous Russian dancer turned defector.

After seeing Chrissy off on Grayhound the next day, Leah and Andrei have a special outing by themselves. Andrei confides to Leah that he and his fiancée have called off the engagement and he doesn’t understand why. (Hmm, could it be because Andrei’s playboy attitude has pissed off Claire for the last time?). Claire is jealous because he spends more time with Diana Chang than her and Andrei isn’t man enough to tell either woman his true feelings. Leah wishes there was something she could do to help. I could list several suggestions here but I’m trying to keep this G-rated.

Leah arrives at pas de deux class which Andrei is teaching today. Andrei calls on Leah to partner him while demonstrating today’s steps. They dance together and it’s intense, almost magical. Leah leans back with her leg wrapped around Andrei in a sensuous attitude. She hears Andrei sigh and knows he’s thinking about Claire while I beg to differ. The other girls can’t help but notice Andrei’s wandering eye and speculate amongst themselves.

Later that day, Leah is doing her twenty laps. Andrei has joined her briefly in the water and now observes from the side. When he leans out to offer Leah a hand out of the pool, she playfully yanks him in. They splash each other for awhile before Andrei suggests they take this opportunity to practice ballet while in the water. Leah thinks this is a silly idea. What, Leah, you’ve never seen that scene from Dirty Dancing? Bernard’s plugged every dance movie ever made in these books! (Patrick Swayze, RIP, we'll never forget you, 2009)

Leah finds executing pas de daux steps really IS easier in the water. Leah has her arms around Andrei’s neck when stupid Diana Chang interrupts them. Seems her and Andrei are late for a rehearsal. Andrei sheepishly makes a hasty exit to change while Diana takes this opportunity to tell Leah, “Back off, B--- he’s mine!” while Leah’s all, “Wha-?”

We next find Leah and Andrei at a community dance class at the Y where Leah can be the star of class because for someone who’s been dancing on pointe for barely two years, these are ridiculously easy combinations. Andrei is so happy seeing Leah back, confident and dancing stronger than ever, he wraps her in a big hug and plants an equally big kiss on her cheek. Wow, are all Russian men are that affectionate?

Back at the boardinghouse, Andrei gives Leah a sensual foot message (Whoo!). Leah melts under his strong yet tender hands; the pain in her ankle slowly fades as she meets the soulful gaze of those big blue eyes. Then, what does Leah do? She brings up Claire’s name and shatters the moment. Leah holds Andrei’s hand and is just working Andrei up to go talk to his ex-fiancée about his true feelings for her when Pam Hunter crashes their cozy scene, adding it to her own personal arsenal to ruin Leah’s life.

Dance class is taught by Claire the next day who does her best to give Leah a hard time before outright accusing her of “burning the candle at both ends” while Leah’s all “Wha-?”.
Later that day, Diana is leading the rehearsal for Romeo and Juliet (Andrei is Romeo, Finola is Juliet) and even though Leah is just a member of the corps, Diana takes this opportunity to rib Leah about her injury suggesting she’s too tired to participate fully and dropping hints that maybe Leah should just give up and go back to San Lorenzo. Madame walks in and advises Leah to begin learning the role of Juliet as she’ll be dancing it herself someday. Leah catches Diana giving her the evil eye and again Leah’s all “Wha-?”

Another rehearsal with Andrei. He’s uptight and edgy today, he always gets this way just before a performance. Leah and Michael are following the two principals, marking the steps, but instead of focusing on his own dancing; Andrei is frustrated by the lack of passion between the two students and insists they switch partners so he can show them the correct way dancers on stage emote “true love”. Together, they dance the entire pas de daux balcony scene of Romeo and Juliet (she’s danced this before back in book #2 with James). The power of Andrei is enough to make Leah forget her injured foot entirely. The dance ends in a stage kiss, full blown on the lips and Leah, completely caught up in the moment, fully returns Andrei’s kiss (Whoo! Go Leah!) I get the feeling Benard is unable to come up with better plot devices because (once again) the intimacy of Leah and Andrei is observed and interrupted by someone who doesn’t like Leah. If you guessed Diana Chang, go to the head of the class. Oh, and Sophie was peeking too but I suspect this sweet, innocent little girl throws darts at Leah’s picture every night before bed.

Word about the love affair must’ve gotten out because Madame summons Leah to her office for some major chastisement. Dating between students is strictly forbidden. Leah’s all “Huh?” It finally dawns on Leah as she’s leaving that after seeing her with Andrei 24/7, everyone at SFBA, Madame included, think they’re an item, “But they’re WRONG!” and realizes she needs to straighten everyone’s assumptions out, fast!

Leah is hurrying to find Claire when she runs into SFBA’s physical therapist who’s suddenly arranged everything for Leah to travel out of town to attend a special workshop and she needs to leave, like, right now. And who has she found to escort Leah to this event? I’ll give you a hint. He’s Russian and he drives a red Trans-Am! Assuming this has all been cleared by Madame, Leah has no choice but to get in the car.

While at the workshop, Leah finally gets Andrei to spill his guts and speak the words out loud, he loves Claire, Claire is Andrei’s OTP. Claire overhears this confession, having kept her powers of omnipotence quiet all this time, suddenly materializes out of the shrubbery and they fall into each other’s arms.

Heading home with the happy couple, they hit bad weather, a real pea souper, wreck the car and are forced to sleep in it overnight, with Leah stuck in the backseat (I doubt there was much sleeping going on that night!) The next morning a trucker gives Andrei and Leah a ride back to the city. They’re already late for the matinee performance of Romeo and Juliet and Leah knows Madame isn't going to be happy with their tardiness. Claire stays behind to wait for the tow truck.

At the Opera House, Leah’s in her costume ready to take her place with the rest of the corps when Madame and all the SFBA girls swoop down, almost demon-like surrounding Leah, pointing fingers, “Date! Date!” chants the girls, while Madame screams, “You! Whore! OUT!” Leah looks stupidly around for someone, anyone, to come to her defense. They had car trouble; she and Andrei are just friends! Please, you've got to believe me!

Using her power of omnipotence again, Claire suddenly arrives, the misunderstanding is cleared up, and Andrei apologizes to Leah for getting her in trouble with all the extra kissing and hand holding. It's all culture where he comes from.

Madame, seeing Andrei an engaged man again and having been reassured Leah’s chastity belt is still firmly in place, un-clutches her pearls and graciously allows Leah back into the corps de ballet. Leah hurries to take her place in line with the other dancers. Andrei winks at her. Leah is happy to have overcome her injury, is dancing on stage again and on her way to becoming a professional dancer.

There’s Leah staring dreamily off into space (Probably fantasizing her and Andrei gettin’ it on!) while Kay’s wearing the sparkly retro purple. Alex has left SFBA at this point in the series to attend Berkeley so I don’t know who that other model is supposed to be.

Sophie Potter is twelve years old, she’s the new boarder arrived to take Alex’s place, she’s SFBA’s latest prodigy and Leah’s #1 fan. Leah refuses to let all of these changes bother her and does her best to make Sophie feel welcome.

The very next day Leah gets a big break (what, another one?) in her dance career. She’s been hand-picked, specially selected by Madame Preston HERSELF, to dance with the Bay Area Ballet in a big production, no audition required. There’s also a special birthday gala for M Preston coming up and Leah’s friends talk her into participating where she’ll dance in two different pieces which will require more time out of her already busy schedule.

The next few days are a busy whirlwind of classes, study and rehearsals for Leah while everyone at SFBA raves over Sophie’s brilliant dancing. They tease Leah about her new competition but this only makes Leah want to work harder and consequently makes her appear even more stuck up to her friends. For example, Kay is choreographing a modern dance piece for the gala. Leah, more accustomed to the discipline of classical ballet, is griping and complaining throughout. This is a scene I remember well. I suppose pity is all that stops Kay’s hand from slapping Leah because Kay is the only best friend Leah has left at SFBA now that Alex is gone.

Madame Preston summons Leah to the Opera house to watch the company’s benefit performance of Romeo and Juliet in the company box. Andre Levintoff is there and I find it strange that he doesn’t sit next to his own fiancé, Claire DuParc (I keep wanting to type Claire de Lune from Debussy) while Leah does. Claire tells Leah about the latest rumor going around. Since Alex forfeited her dance career for college life, Leah is now next in line to dance the role of Juliet with the company’s upcoming spring tour. Leah can’t believe her luck, not yet sixteen and Madame wants to cast her as a professional ballerina with the company! Leah resolves to work harder than ever on her dancing.

Alex surprises Leah at the company party by tapping her shoulder. She’s cut her hair and is wearing new clothes looking very grown-up and different. They are delighted to see each other after almost three weeks and begin playing catch up. Alex chastises Leah for taking on so much and turning into a workaholic and drops the name James Cummings. Leah bristles and is angry to be compared to her former dance partner. Alex is only concerned Leah might hurt herself (foreshadowing!) like James did. (see book #2, Center Stage)

It’s very late when Leah arrives back at the boardinghouse and hears Sophie crying in her room. Sophie’s upset over the SFBA atmosphere. She fears she’ll never make any friends. The competition and jealousy is just more than the poor twelve year old can take. Sophie tells her all the girls were talking about Leah tonight while she was at the ballet, saying mean things about her and it makes her cry. Leah brushes Sophie’s hair, reassuring her it’s just talk and no one really meant it. Leah has her own private cry on the stairs because her friends think she’s turning into a snob, which is true.

While rehearsing by herself in an empty studio, Leah overhears Kay talking with Katrina and Finola in the office on the other side of the wall where Kay is criticizing Leah's dancing and attitude a painful reminder to Leah of her conversation with Sophie from the night before. Upset, she storms off to her next rehearsal. Leah decides she’ll sacrifice friendship for her dancing and if everyone wants to think of her as a stuck up snob, let them, they’ll all be sorry when she’s famous!

Later, at Dance Indigo rehearsals, Leah hears her name coupled with Sophie Potter’s during a discussion between the director and M Preston. Twelve is the new fifteen. The director wants Leah out and Sophie in. Hearing this, Miss Drama Queen totally loses it and screams quits! Leah’s a serious dancer, not a piece of meat and she’s not gonna take it anymore! Exit stage left, sobbing.

Leah, aren’t you overreacting maybe just the tiniest bit? Come to think of it, has Leah ever acted ANY OTHER WAY whenever someone looks at her cross eyed and dares to criticize her dancing?

Madame finds Leah amidst a pile of tissues in the dressing room, tells her she’s perfect for this role in Dance Indigo and she’ll not let the director of the company talk her out of replacing Leah with Sophie just to satisfy the media. Madame also clears up the rumor over Leah dancing Juliet with the company. It’s not true, but maybe in another year or so. This cheers Leah up considerably and she decides maybe she won’t quit dancing just yet.

Leah attends a modern dance workshop with her friends. She’s encouraged to use her classical training not fight it. Leah feels she now understands what Kay was trying to show her about modern dance. The workshop is a success. Kay and Leah stay up almost all night so Kay can choreograph a whole new dance for the gala. Both are exhausted but their friendship has been rekindled. Leah is feeling better about everything now.

It’s the night of Madame’s birthday gala. Despite the warning of a slick floor Leah begins marking the steps for her first dance, then throws herself into it. In the middle of a triple attitude turn, her leg goes out from under her and Leah lands hard on the floor. She tries to stand up but blacks out instead.

Leah comes to in the hospital. Alex is there. So is Madame who informs Leah that Sophie and Diana will be filling in for her. Leah has torn some ligaments in her ankle, it’s uncertain whether she’ll ever be able to dance again.

And that’s the cliffhanger ending which is the only reason to read this book. Leah does have her prima-donna moments but she's a fun character to read about. The helpful ballet glossary at the end is also included in this book.

If that's supposed to be Alex its a bad choice by the editors. The photo has nothing to do with the overall story which is more about Leah, naturally, than Alex who is just a secondary character in the series.

This is the book where Leah briefly dates a boy named Peter who does NOT attend SFBA, he's a basketball player at Manzanita High looking for a date to take to the next school dance and watch him play at the games. But Leah's not the cheerleader Peter wants her to be, she's already dedicated herself to a career in dance. Yet she likes Peter, he's handsome and fun to be with and she's never had a boyfriend before who kisses her and takes her out on dates. Leah knows this is what her life would be like if she was a normal high school student and she longs to follow Alex-toss dance aside for love.

Leah exhausts herself by staying out late with Peter, worries about getting in trouble with Madame and her friends due to the lies she tells to cover up her secret meetings with him, she even skips classes to be with Peter until both admit their lack of common interests prevents them from ever having a real relationship together and they share one last farewell kiss before breaking up.

Meanwhile, Alex struggles with the decision to break away from the confines of SFBA. She has a boyfriend now, the college social scene is calling, she's lost her passion for dance, Madame's rules are too demanding and this is what finally pushes her to leave the school and embrace her freedom. The gang throws a farewell party for her at the end and that's the entire plot of the book.

Andrei makes a few brief appearances. Leah is slated to dance Circles and the pas de trois from Swan Lake (see book #6 Curtain Call) for a hospital benefit performance. Due to a basketball game, Peter can't make it. He has zero interest in ballet anyway which leads to their eventual break-up.

The book is boring and predictable. I only bought it to complete my collection. Besides, I'm a huge fan of ballet and enjoyed reading this series to learn more about a dancer's life and the glossary of dance terms included at the end is always helpful.

Caramellunacy's review is also very good.

I'm adding my own (longer) summary/review for the benefit of those who don't remember this particuar "episode" in the series and would enjoy an entertaining recap.

Cover: First, I'm a big fan of ballet, even took some beginner's classes for a PE credit in college and LOVED it so I'm ashamed to say I don't recognize that lead-in pose Leah is attempting as being part of any basic dance step. A glissade is my best guess. That's Alex in the pink next to her.

I always liked this book because we meet the charismatic Andrei Levintoff for the first time and I admit I totally crushed on him while reading this series. He's one of E. Bernard's strongest characters. I was all for Andrei and Leah getting together in the end. FAIL Bernard!

According to Alex, Andrei is about 19 or 20. We learn he's tall with sandy hair and blue eyes. He's a true Russian defector: soulful, emotional and passionate not to mention a kick-ass dancer. And did I mention he drives a red Trans Am? Yeah, Leah's not the only one eyeing Andrei, the man is SFBA's first honest-to-God chick magnet!

And Alex has made it very clear Andrei is HERS. Hey, they're both from the old country, Leah thinks, so it's only fair that Alex gets him. Except Leah can't help the chemistry she feels going on between her and Andrei whenever they happen to be in the same room together. Like their very first night when Leah interrupted Andrei, bathed in the soft glow of candlelight, reading Alex's tea leaves in the boarding house kitchen. Andrei claims to see someone in the boardinghouse falling in love with a mysterious stranger who will change her life. Leah, already under the spell of those blue eyes, wonders if Andrei is talking about her.

Leah next sees Andrei at a party and even though he's already taken Alex out on two seperate dates, he leads her away outside for a very personal and private tete-a-tete. He's a total ladies man: chivalrously draping his jacket over Leah's shoulders when she gets cold, taking her hand when Leah tells him she lost her dad at a young age. They share their childhood backgrounds and admire the stars before the subject turns to dance. Leah tells Andrei about wishing on a star every night that she might grow up to be a real ballerina. Andrei tries it too then surprises Leah by kissing her on the cheek, just as Pam arrives to spoil the moment.

Madame Preston makes a special announcement. One of the SFBA girls will have a chance to perform with Andrei, in a pas de deux to be choreographed...by Andrei, as his partner, who will be specially chosen (you guessed it)...BY ANDREI!!!, for an upcoming performance to be presented by the school, in which Andrei will make his first American debut. Leah is sure Alex will be picked and is happy for her best friend.

Leah receives a note from Andrei the next day that basically says how nice it was to meet her, how much he enjoyed their talk and to meet him in a practice room at four today. The meeting turns out to be a dance-off between Leah, Pam and Alex. All received notes from Andrei but only one will be chosen to partner him. Pam hurts her knee, Alex is forbidden to dance with Andrei because this is 1987 and the fall of communisim is still a few years off, so, by simple process of elimination, Leah gets the part (oh, stop your groaning, you KNEW it would be Leah!).

Leah endures Alex's pouting and giving her the evil eye every time Andrei just happens to be hanging out with both of them while gushing over what a special person Leah is right in front of Alex. Leah merely focuses her attention on her rehersals with Andrei and tries not ot think about Alex's hurt feelings over the whole awkward situation.

Finally one day, after a rehersal, Alex can't take it anymore and chews Leah-the-bitch out for stealing her man AND her role. Leah tells her if it's such a problem maybe Alex should just ASK Andrei his reasons for picking her and not Alex.

Alex does just that. They must've known about an eavesdropping Leah hovering just outside the door because they quickly switch to Russian! Leah chances a quick peek just in time to see Alex getting a shoulder massage by Andrei before she turns and throws her arms around his neck. Embarrassed to have witnessed such an intimate moment, Leah slinks away realizing she wants Andrei to see her not just as a dancer but also as a GIRL!
Fortunately for Leah, Andrei is a heterosexual!

One week later, Leah is still having qualms over their pas de daux. Andrei reassures her she's perfect. They do the dance again. Leah can feel it working for her. Andrei must've felt it too because he kisses her RIGHT ON THE LIPS! Luckily Kay (and not Pam) happens to catch them this time . Kay is there because Leah and Kay made plans to see a movie together. Andrei invites himself along and sits between the girls. In the darkened theater, he breifly lays his head on Leah's shoulder and the sparks fly every time their hands touch in the popcorn bowl. Cute!

Alex bursts into tears when she hears about this "date". Leah isn't sure what to say other than "I'm sorry but he's just not that into you, (he's into me!!!squeeeee!)"

Finally its opening night of the student production. Leah looses herself in Andrei's dance (titled Circles) the chemistry is there and its a total success with the audience going apeshit raining flowers and applause and standing ovations over them. Andrei presents Leah with a bouquet and, like you, I'm screaming "Leah's NOT a principal artist with a professional dance company, she's just a fifteen-year old STUDENT!"

During the after-party everyone is gushing all over Leah's performance before Pam spoils it all by breaking the news that Andrei is ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED! Completely crushed by this news, Leah goes off by herself to pound the wall and cry over her unrequited love. She discovers an emo-ing Alex has also taken refuge in the stairwell to have her own cry. Andrei finds them both sulking together. Leah promptly chews Andrei out for acting the tool: holding hands with her, spouting poetry, telling her how wonderful she is, KISSING HER!!! then what does he do? He plays the enagement card on them! What a jerk. Leah collapses sobbing into Alex's arms while Andrei gently explains to the girls that he never meant anything but friendship towards them both, he was just lonely and homesick. I don't believe that for a minute, we all knew Andrei had a wandering eye and is destined to become a bigamist.

But all is forgiven and Andrei invites them to go bar-hopping as three friends enjoying an innocent night on the town. Leah remembers the tea leaves, decides maybe she can get over her feelings for Andrei and get lucky tonight!

They look like the same two models from books #3 and #4 so I’ll assume that’s Kay and Alex on the front cover.

The book opens in the midst of Nutcracker rehearsals for Bay Area Ballet’s upcoming performance starring Kay Larkin, Leah’s friend and fellow first year student, as Clara (first year students get WAY too many breaks in this series). Leah is concerned about Alex who has been acting depressed and out of sorts lately. She confides her worries to Kay and they decide Alex is just missing her family at Christmastime.

The SFBA boys arrive to kidnap the girls for a come-as-you-are party at Ben Lydgate’s house whose parents are big SFBA patrons. Even in her green clay mask and oiled hair, Alex manages to catch the heart of Ben Lydgate. Andrei Levintoff (Bernard’s nod to Baryshnikov) is also at the party and Leah talks to him. Later Alex is seen leaving the party with Ben much to Pamela Hunter’s dismay.

At Madame Preston’s Sunday morning class they learn the Kirov Ballet, with whom Alex has many connections, is coming to town to perform for the public. For precaution’s sake Madame announces all SFBA dancers from Russia, like Alex and Andrei, are FORBIDDEN to attend any parties and performances involving the Kirov for fear of international trouble. When class is dismissed, Leah and Kay discover Alex has disappeared. This is hot news in the dressing room. Pamela tells L and K to mind their own business; Alex can take care of herself. Naturally, the girls pay no attention to this sage advice. Pam is not to be trusted.

While taking the bus to attend a lecture on oriental dances, Leah and Kay think they are being followed by communist spies (Beware of anyone wearing trench coats, low brimmed felt hats and sunglasses!) who turn out to be ordinary Japanese-Americans also on their way to the museum to attend the same lecture. Leah and Kay laugh at themselves and their wild 15 year-old imaginations.

Alex keeps getting secret phone calls and is mysteriously blasé about it. Then Leah has another of her silly dreams. In this one she dances like a wind up toy, unable to stop, while Alex is carried away, against her will, by men wearing trench coats and wide brimmed felt hats. Leah wakes up convinced her best friend is in terrible danger.

Following Nutcracker rehearsals the next day, Leah, Alex and the girls hit Cocoa-Nuts. Alex is uncommonly loud and boisterous. Unable to ignore this, Kay is nudging Leah when they suddenly see the cute guy from across the room who can’t take his eyes off their table. To L and K’s horror he WINKS at Alex but the chapter ends and sadly no one gets carried off by terrorists in trench coats.

The next night Leah is returning to the boardinghouse in damp, foggy weather where she sees a sinister figure lurking outside the house under a streetlight. It’s a man! He’s wearing a cap, a tan jacket AND he’s standing right under Alex’s bedroom window! Leah is about to call the police to report the imminent KGB attack when the man sees Leah and bolts and the call is never made.

Leah is still shaking as she enters the house to find everyone has gone to bed. The phone rings. It’s a Russian man who addresses Leah by name and gives her a message that Alex is to meet him tomorrow at three, Alex knows where. Leah demands an explanation but the man hangs up. Completely creeped out, Leah does NOT go straight to Alex’s room to tell her what she just experienced but to Kay!

The next morning Leah finds Alex giggling and whispering in yet another mysterious phone call (those KGB boys are such flirts!). Alex waves off L and K so they leave for morning class without her. Leah suspects Alex is now planning to run away with her friends from the Kirov and return to the USSR where Leah can’t follow and steal all the good dance roles. Great sleuthing skills there, Leah.

At the Kirov performance, Andrei is wearing his own disguise dressed as an old man in a black felt hat and cape. Not wanting to blow his cover Leah and Kay take their seats without talking to him and search the crowd for Alex. She’s not there. Distracted from the performance onstage, Leah suddenly realizes the same man she saw lurking outside the boardinghouse the other night is sitting right across the isle from them AND he’s the same man who had been eyeing their table in Coca-Nuts! He catches Leah’s eye and winks. Oh no, that’s the KGB’s secret signal! Leah panics and the girls get out of there fast.

Alex is not at the boardinghouse and when the girls check her bedroom they find most of her things are missing! This confirms Leah’s worst suspicions. Alex, brainwashed by the KGB, discouraged by her stalling dance career, has run away!

Because all Russian defectors keep tabs on each other, L and K go to Andrei’s apartment to see if he knows anything. They find Andrei has company. He’s entertaining all the members from the Kirov who are understandably pissed off at the Americans for crashing their party. Andre isn’t sure why the girls would come to him for help in finding Alex but he suggests they call M Preston and tell her everything. Andrei even makes the call, explains the situation to Madame who tells them to come right over.

At Madame’s house, a bunch of official looking American men come parading in. The girls shriek when they see the same man, who’s been spying on Alex, enter the room. He’s revealed to be none other than Mr. Munroe from the FBI, not the KGB. He was enlisted by the San Fran Police Department for Alex’s own protection. L and K tell the policemen everything they know, which isn’t much, and once it’s determined that Alex is indeed missing, the girls are quickly dismissed and Andrei takes them home. Nice going girls, despite your good intentions, you just ratted on your best friend!

At Nutcracker rehearsals next day Leah is so tired from lack of sleep worrying over Alex, she can hardly dance (should’ve listened to Pam). As they exit rehearsals they see Alex in the hallway with Mrs. Hanson and Mrs. Lydgate. She’s quickly ushered inside the office (so Madame can give Alex the third degree) before L and K can get any answers. Back in Alex’s room, L and K patiently await her return. When Alex finally arrives, she doubles over with laughter and reveals the whole plot.

Alex spent the entire weekend with Ben Lydgate, NOT her Russian friends or even the KGB. Ben snuck her off to some college where she drank everyone under the tables and was crowned Queen of the Frat People, proving that Alex’s life is about 137 times more awesome than Leah and Kay’s. Even though she’s in big trouble with Madame by jeopardizing her career and breaking the rules, Alex declares she is in love! Leah is just a tiny bit jealous that Alex now has to balance being in love with her dancing career.
Don’t worry Leah; you’ll get your turn in the next book!

Leah Stephenson's ballet career is really taking off. After the exposure she got from an arresting full-page picture in a ballet magazine, she's been tapped as a model for a dance-wear campaign, AND (even more exciting by far) her former partner James Cummings and Russian ballet star Andrei Levintoff are filming a ballet movie right at the academy. And the producer wants Leah to star!

With such a huge jumpstart to her career, it's inevitable that Leah be inundated with advice - both to stay in school and continue her traditional dance education, and to take up the immortality and chance of a lifetime that comes with a starring movie role. And Leah only has a short week to decide.

I approached this with some trepidation. After all, Leah's 'all about me' attitude tends to get on my nerves, and what better showcase for that kind of behavior than a modeling studio or a movie set? But I was pleasantly surprised. Leah has to cope with the less glamorous aspects of the media industry - samples, demanding photographers, envy of her peers, pressure from her would-be partners. Leah vacillates convincingly between the two options, and for me at least the outcome was sometimes doubtful (I didn't peek ahead).

The not-so-good aspects include the by now inevitable storming-off-in-a-self-righteous-huff rivalry with Alex and the complete disappearance of Pam as a character (what happened to her?). But I really liked the way things were resolved. I liked that Leah didn't end up being the golden child in the audition she didn't prepare for (although the director's insistence that he really wanted *her* was a bit over the top, I felt), and I loved the resolution of the Alex-tension at the very end. Hurray for the entrance of boys!

I have to say, I liked this one best out of all the books I've read in this series. Maybe I'm growing more tolerant of the characters or maybe the writing has just moved closer in line with my tastes. Either way, I'm looking forward to the next one. And I'm really glad to finally say that.

Leah Stephenson has been the star of her local ballet class since she put on her first pair of ballet slippers at age six. Now, she has one big chance to make it in the ballet world - her teacher is sending her to an audition against hundreds of girls for one of fifteen coveted spots at the prestigious San Francisco Ballet Academy.

This is the introductory novel - and it suffers from many of the problems of these. Most of the novel is spent with Leah dealing with competitiveness, losing her friends and trying to make new ones. Upon reread, I don't find Leah particularly endearing in this novel. She makes snap judgments of James, Alex, and others. She spends all of her time focusing on sizing up other dancers, angsting about her own future, and condemning her best friend from home for daring to be upset that Leah doesn't even consider the hole she might leave in others' lives and plans.

Leah is very fifteen - she's self-absorbed and insecure about everything. Including her obvious talent for dancing that everyone's done nothing but praise to high heaven since she arrived. I think this is one of my least favorite of the series - most likely because there is so little actual dancing in this one. But every series has to start somewhere. Not bad for young girls, but it doesn't hold up terribly well as anything but an introduction.

Ever since Leah Stephenson auditioned for the San Francisco Ballet Academy, Pamela Hunter has seen her as an archrival. In fact, Pam tried to sabotage that audition for Leah - and their relationship has gone downhill from there. So now when Pamela starts making friendly overtures, Leah isn't sure whether she can trust the other girl. And now that Pam is being nice, who is responsible for the nasty tricks threatening Leah's career?

It's really not surprising that Pam is jealous of Leah - she's the darling of every teacher, every choreographer, the other students, and now even the press. But Leah just can't understand why everyone doesn't adore her. Leah comes across as more naive than usual in this episode, and it becomes obvious that these are intended for children - not for teenagers. Her approach to confrontation is straight out of a didactic tale.

I found myself disappointed with the wrap-up of this. I really enjoyed that the 'villainess' Pam was behaving decently for a change. And I couldn't help but hope that someone else was behind the tricks on Leah. The tricks, though, seemed pretty juvenile, and Leah falling apart over such things instead of focusing on her budding dance career just makes her look like a weak character. And the justification for the culprit's behavior is just pretty silly. Another typical 'ballet' problem checked off the list.

Here, I found myself significantly more interested in the set-up for the next story than in the plot of this one (after all - there are no mean people, just unhappy ones...).

In Second Best, Leah Stephenson must grapple with new and unpleasant emotions. First, she is jealous. Finola Darling, an extraordinarily talented new exchange student from the Royal Ballet School in England has come to study at SFBA, and all of a sudden, Leah is not the brightest and most talented student around. And even though Finola is helpful and kind, Leah has a hard time learning to share the spotlight.

To make matters worse, one of Leah's good friends may have to leave the Academy and give up on her career if she does not win the competition for a scholarship. Although Leah feels for Katrina, her competitiveness will not allow her to drop out of the competition, and Leah finds herself ostracized by the other girls after misunderstandings paint her in a bad light.

Leah's struggles with her own ego, with misunderstandings, and with her dance are interesting to read about. Although this focus means we spend a lot of time with Leah feeling misunderstood and sorry for herself, she is actually less irritating as a morose teenager than she is as her usual cardboard self. The ending was just a bit too pat, as I've become accustomed to in this series, but the descriptions of Finola's dancing in particular are lovely. I wish so much that I could have watched her - and that is the feeling a good ballet book should evoke.

Bottom line: Obviously read it for the dancing or out of nostalgia (in my case both), not for the after-school special 'girl book' story line. While there's not as much dancing in this installment as I would have liked, what is there is beautifully described.

The San Francisco Ballet Academy is in uproar! The Ballet Canada company is coming to town on the farewell tour of the famous dancer Lynne Vreeland. And every one of the students in the Academy is going to get the chance to share the stage with her. And she seems to be taking a special interest in Leah. Everyone is wonderfully excited - except for Vreeland's biggest fan, Kay. Kay suddenly gets ill and injured, and now it's up to Leah and her friend Alex to discover why Kay is trying so hard to avoid her idol.

The meeting of a great idol is always a tough plot device to pull off, and I found it refreshing that this idol - while becoming tarnished a little as the author shows her as a real person who sometimes makes bad or selfish decisions - doesn't end up being terrible to the girls. She's very personable and helpful to Leah in particular, and shows that even in show business there are people willing to help you share and learn.

Charming, though a bit melodramatic secret surrounding Kay takes away from it a little. There's also not nearly enough dancing in this one - and will Leah ever just mind her own business for a change? She suffers from typical - author shows how a fifteen year old ought to behave in perfect girl world, and as usual she seems terribly self-righteous in comparison to her fairly normal friends with emotions.

I sound harsh on these, and I suppose to a degree I am. They are decent children's books, and great for those with dreams of ballet and the stage, but they don't really keep up as you age.

Leah Stephenson's life at the San Francisco Ballet Academy has been a dream. Finally she gets to spend part of every day working on her dancing! Not only that, but she is chosen to work with James - the school's rising star male dancer. The two of them work beautifully together, provoking jealousy from some of the Company members, and putting them in the lead spot for the coveted places dancing a pas de deux in school demonstrations. But when James pushes too hard and injures himself, both of the dancers' careers could be on the line.

I found this whole book fairly odd. First it seems a bit contrived that if the entire school is trying out for these few spots, most of the places go to Leah and her friends - first year students. And while I understood James' desire and determination to become the best dancer he possibly could even if it meant pushing himself and those around him to the brink of collapse, his personality was a puzzle to me. Was everything he did terribly manipulative to better the dancing? Why was he so scary and threatening? Not to mention, why was Leah so scared of him? It was a very strange dynamic and not as fun as most of the other books in this series.

The scenes describing the pas de deux are lovely - as always the dancing scenes are the best part of the book. But there are far too few of them in my opinion. And too much time devoted to everyone being terribly jealous of Leah.

I loved this series as a child! I wish I hadn't gotten rid of them.

After a brief trip home Leah returns to her boarding house to discover her best friend Alexandra Sorokin in a tete-a-tete with her childhood friend (and famous Russian emigre) Andrei. Jealousies complicate Leah's already difficult life as Alex is convinced Leah is trying to steal her boyfriend while Leah firmly believes Alex is reading too much into Andrei's friendly behavior. Besides, she is beginning to feel drawn to him herself. Soon the school splits into 'sides', and matters are made even worse when both Alex and Leah are rivals for a coveted dance spot opposite Andrei.

A bit of a facile portrayal of how fifteen-year-olds react when a new handsome young man captures their fancy - and their friends'. The scenes between Alex and Leah are strained at best, and the ending wraps up a little too picture-perfect and forgiving, but the parts describing the dancing (classes and performances) truly captured my imagination despite some awkward or stilted writing, and I only read these books for the ballet anyway.

Added 2008-02: I really enjoyed the imagery Andrei used when he was choreographing. It made the feel of the steps easier to see in the mind's eye than when the author just talks about steps. I did miss most of the regular classes, though. And I know Leah is the heroine and Pam is the 'evil' girl, but it seems really rough that she never can catch a break. Clearly I have gotten too old for this series if I'm starting to think that...
They were fun, nostalgic reads, but I find Leah irritates me more than I remember.