As the resident dancer here at The Velveteen Rabbit, I was so excited to have The Legend of L'Esprit fall into my lap this summer. It was the perfect summer read for someone who spent 14 years of her life in a dance studio, but I think the plot line will appeal to those who have never stepped foot in a dance class as well.Libby Nobleton and her family have recently moved to Chicago and she is looking for a new dance studio to call home. When she auditions for the premier studio, L'Esprit, she knows she's found her place. But there's more to this dance studio than ballet barres and full-length mirrors; rumor has it that L'Esprit is haunted by the spirit of the prima ballerina who originally founded the school. Now Libby and her new friends have to uncover the truth about what happened on the most tragic night of L'Esprit's history to help more than one soul find its peace.
What I found so refreshing about this first novel in the Dance Legacy series was its spot-on blend of the day-to-day life of a young dancer along with the mystery and intrigue of the paranormal phenomena at the dance studio. I also appreciated the fact that Libby was not involved in a torrid love triangle; she's got a straight head on her shoulders and is an excellent role model both for young dancers, as well as young women in general. That's not to say that this book is not without its romance! There's just enough of it to keep the reader satisfied and it's handled in a way that makes it seem realistic, rather than totally unattainable.
One of the unique features of this book was the dance glossary located in the back. After having been taught dance by hearing the terms rather than reading them, it was fun to see them actually spelled out and say, "So that's how that's written!" Each chapter features a different dance term as well, so you don't have to keep paging to the back of the book to look them up. This is a must-read for those reading dancers out there, as well as those readers just looking for a good book.
Grace gives it 5 out of 5 carrots!
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