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Terez Mertes Rose
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Ballet Orphans: A Prequel (Ballet Theatre Chronicles Book 3) Kindle Edition

by Terez Mertes Rose (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 199 ratings
#1 Best Seller in Ballet
See all formats and editions
It's 1990, and New York soloist April Manning is trying to rebalance her world in the aftermath of her parents’ deaths. An offer to join the struggling West Coast Ballet Theatre as a principal dancer seems like the perfect opportunity for a fresh start—a new life in San Francisco, an exciting step up in her career, and the hope of a redefined sense of family. But the other dancers are wary, clannish and tight-lipped, particularly about an incident that hastened the departure of their beloved artistic director, leading to the arrival of his replacement, the young, inexperienced Anders Gunst. And no one wants to talk about Jana, a former company member who defiantly walked out rather than work under Anders. It is Jana herself who offers April hints, and even friendship, where she reveals a loneliness and hunger to belong that newly orphaned April well understands. But there is something troubling about Jana, and what April doesn’t know could prove deadly.

A prequel to the Ballet Theatre Chronicles, BALLET ORPHANS explores the work and sacrifices required to arrive at the highest tiers of the professional ballet world, coupled with the primal, universal desire to belong, to love and be loved, and the lengths we’ll go to protect those we call family.
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  1. Book 3 of 4
    Ballet Theatre Chronicles
  2. Print length
    374 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    January 2, 2021
  6. File size
    3464 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
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  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A stimulating and entertaining tale in which passion and art intermingle."
--Kirkus Reviews

"Terez Mertes Rose makes dancers of us all. She ushers us behind the scenes of the gritty and glamorous world of ballet and captivates us with a story that is ultimately about universal themes of loss, hope, belonging, and what makes a family. I took up residence in the pages of this book and didn't want to leave."
-- Kelly Mustian, author of The Girls in the Stilt House

"In this prequel to her Ballet Theatre Chronicles series, Rose once again immerses us in the fascinating inner workings of a professional ballet company. Concurrently, the issues of loss and the search for family are beautifully and tenderly addressed. The unique personalities among the characters are depicted so clearly, they seemed like real people to me. I missed them when the story ended. A powerful, engaging read you won't soon forget."
-- Grace Harstad, author of Invisible Woman: a Birth Mother's Memoir

"Terez Mertes Rose's descriptive writing leaps off of the page and takes you on a journey through protagonist April Manning's eyes. I could identify with her struggles and achievements and I rooted for her along the way. A recommended read for all, dancer and non-dancer alike.
-- Lauren Jonas, Artistic Director, Diablo Ballet

"Whether your remove comes from the vantage point of two-to-six degrees of separation or you are the dancer who has lived this 'What I Did For Love' experience, you'll find that Rose's every chapter could be a lusty, gusty, entry in and into your very own diary."
-- Toba Singer, author of Fernando Alonso, the Father of Cuban Ballet and First Position: a Century of Ballet Artists

"What I love about Terez Mertes Rose's novels are her achingly relatable characters and their complex fully-realized relationships. No matter the setting in the ballet world, Africa, or even the early 90s of Ballet Orphans, I quickly fall into the rhythm of her narrative and enjoy the ride."
-- Leigh Purtill, author (as Cat Jordan) of Eight Days on Planet Earth

About the Author

Terez Mertes Rose is the author of the Ballet Theatre Chronicles and A Dancer's Guide to Africa. A former Peace Corps volunteer and ballet dancer, her writing has appeared in numerous publications, including the Crab Orchard Review, Women Who Eat (Seal Press), A Woman's Europe (Travelers' Tales), Literary Mama and the Philadelphia Inquirer. She reviews dance performances for Bachtrack.com and blogs about ballet and classical music at The Classical Girl. She makes her home in the Santa Cruz Mountains with her husband and son.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08KSL1JZZ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Classical Girl Press (January 2, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 2, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3464 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 374 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 199 ratings

About the author

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Terez Mertes Rose

Terez Mertes Rose

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Terez Mertes Rose is the author of the Ballet Theatre Chronicles (OFF BALANCE, OUTSIDE THE LIMELIGHT, BALLET ORPHANS, OTHER STAGES) and A DANCER'S GUIDE TO AFRICA. Writing nonfiction as Terez Rose, her work has appeared in numerous journals, anthologies and online publications. She makes her home with family in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Visit her at The Classical Girl where she blogs about ballet, classical music and life, with twin dollops of humor and philosophy thrown in.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
199 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful
Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2024
Verified Purchase
I read this out of sequence but it doesn’t matter. A joyful read with well developed characters and a unique look behind stage. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
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chai_caramba
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read/total page turner! Loved it. :)
Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2021
Verified Purchase
I thoroughly enjoyed this book (especially considering we’re still in the dark days of COVID!). It was a true page turner and a great escape; I quickly found myself pulled back into the Bay Area dance scene that I miss so much! So much of the book was completely relatable and therefore, entertaining AND nostalgic. The writing was masterful, too. I was amazed at the author’s ability to transport me into the studio with the dancers, as well as her ability to perfectly describe the feelings that accompany the loss of a parent and many other situations. Highly recommend!
2 people found this helpful
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DesertReal
4.0 out of 5 stars I'll be honest with you...
Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2023
Verified Purchase
I didn't read the preceding books. I started one, but it didn't work for me, and I tried the next before discarding it as well.
But this works well as a standalone story!
The characters are headstrong, interesting, and well crafted.
The book itself is well written and moves at a steady pace, even through the times when it seems like the lead is lost. What kept me from giving it another star- is the main character's tendency to ignore red flags, other people's warnings, and her reluctance to speak up, or take credit for her hard work.
Very B-flick move right here.
But those are personal hang-ups of mine- and they shouldn't stop you from checking this out.
If you enjoy the genre, and are in the mood for a little tense, angsty, dramatic thriller, with ballet as the backdrop- then this is the book for you.
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Anonymous
5.0 out of 5 stars Redefining balance!
Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2021
Verified Purchase
I've been a huge fan of Ms. Rose's books since "Off Balance" and I was equally enthralled by "Ballet Orphans" from the moment I started reading. One of the most notable things about all of the Ballet Theater Chronicles books is that a balance is struck between going deep into the mystery and (sometimes) drama that surrounds ballet while also anchoring characters in relatable, real-world situations. While ballet books full of backstage intrigue and mystery have their place in our hearts and bookshelves, what I love most about Ms. Rose's books is that they show the world (dancers and non-dancers) that there is life beyond the stage and the studio. She paints a realistic portrait of the life of a dancer, showing how they manage to balance family, relationships, and higher education with their demanding careers. I would recommend this book for the reader who enjoys relationship-driven stories and who is constantly looking for new ways to redefine the word "balance"!
5 people found this helpful
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JH_VA
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this book!
Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2021
Verified Purchase
Rose paints us a fascinating world to get lost in, with beauty, music, discipline and drama, that transported me to the memory of live ballet. I found the characters well rounded and interesting, and was appreciative of the family dynamics, which made for me a compelling read. It left me wanting to know what comes next for April.
One person found this helpful
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Dean braun
5.0 out of 5 stars Too technical for my non ballet rain
Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2021
Verified Purchase
But still an interesting story about that world of dance and the personalities. Also a pleasure to read since it was well edited. Just enough romance to show its about people
One person found this helpful
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Tanya E
3.0 out of 5 stars Ballet Romance
Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2021
First off, I’d just like to say how BEAUTIFUL this cover is! As a little girl, I don’t ever remember wanting to be a ballerina, but I’ve always thought of that world and the dancers as glittery and beautiful! This cover evokes all those feelings and is a home run for me!

This is book 3 in the Ballet Theatre Chronicles series but as it is a pre-quel to the other books, it can be read as a stand-alone.

I really enjoyed seeing ‘behind the curtain’ as they say. Ballet Orphans had just enough ballet terms and descriptions of the dances to make me feel like I was in their world without leaving me confused or dis-interested. The author also included a handy glossary of ballet terms in the back of the book (smart!).

The story follows April as the principal dancer as she journeys from one ballet company in NY to one in SF. I thought there were great characters within this story however April’s character stayed very distant from most of them so I really missed out on the different connections with other dancers that I had hoped would be there. But those other characters all have unique traits and if they are in Books 1 and 2, then I’m sure those books are also worth the read.

A lot of time in this book was spent on the romance between Russell and April, so ultimately, I would call this a romance novel, probably geared towards the YA crowd (clean romance scenes). I had hoped for more of the ballet world or maybe deeper dives into that world is a more apt description of what I was looking for. But overall, it was an enjoyable story and if you like romances or the dance world, this is worth picking up (along with books 1 and 2 for further character development).
2 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting!
Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2022
Verified Purchase
I never get to watch ballet. As a child I wanted to be a ballerina as all little girls. I never realized all the work it required. This story was an eye opener!
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Top reviews from other countries

Krupa Chirravoori
3.0 out of 5 stars A new world to explore
Reviewed in India on September 26, 2022
Verified Purchase
You will probably need another device handy while you read this book on the first one; there are ballet terms thrown left, right and centre (obviously!) and you'll enjoy the book more having checked out the different dance positions and steps on YouTube videos.

And this brings me to my first grudge. I am one of those who don't check out the contents section lest we stumble upon plot spoilers in the chapter names. And that's why I didn't know there was a whole glossary section at the back. I would have appreciated a little note to the reader, before they turned the page to chapter 1, letting them know about the section.

I am giving this book 3 stars because it wasn't bad at all, but I did find that the book's title led me to expect something else. Like a pair of dancers abandoned by a ballet theatre company. Also, being an orphan wasn't really interacting with the ballerina part of the main character's identity. So, I feel the title could have been something else.

On a related note, I wasn't enjoying the way the storylines existed. The focus was split into four to five directions and I felt I would have enjoyed the book.more if there had been one main theme, with other subthemes or independent themes existing at an understated level.

Otherwise, the writing was good. It engaged me, though not in a way that I would feel compelled to drop everything else and read this book in long sittings. There are quite a few places where articles are missing, spaces and punctuation seems off and there are some other minor errors as well.

So, yeah, it's a 3-star, honest review from me. The blurbs of the other books by this author look interesting, especially Fiona's story in Gabon. If and when I subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, I might give that book a shot.
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The Cooks
5.0 out of 5 stars A definite hit
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 14, 2021
Verified Purchase
Having devoured the other two books in the Ballet Theatre Chronicles, I couldn’t wait to read this new instalment and it didn’t disappoint.

This prequel expertly sets the scene for the later books, introducing characters that are familiar from book 1 and 2. The author sets a great pace with lots of twists and turns to keep the reader on the edge of their seat. Would definitely recommend.
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MRS T BRADFORD
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good knowledge of ballet moves
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 9, 2021
Verified Purchase
Great book storyline is great and being an ex dancer the ballet references and knowledge is excellent
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