Ballet Breakdown

By Erin Edison and Claire Almon

Jada isn't thrilled to leave her old life in Philadelphia behind. Not only is she saying goodbye to her school and her friends, she also has to leave her dance team. Jada lives for ballet, and thankfully, she finds a way to keep dancing at Ms. Marianne's Academy of Dance. But when an injury threatens to sideline Jada before the big competition, she has to find a way to overcome her anxiety and her injury or risk letting down her new team.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
• Release date: Apr 28, 2020
• ISBN: 9781515887089

Erin Edison

Erin Edison has written dozens of nonfiction books for children. She holds a BA degree in English from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. She lives in Minneapolis.

Book preview

Table of Contents

Cover

Title Page

Chapter 1: Bored in the Burbs

Chapter 2: A New Studio

Chapter 3: Audition Time

Chapter 4: A New Team

Chapter 5: First Practice

Chapter 6: Dancer Down

Chapter 7: Out of Commission

Chapter 8: Ankle Angst

Chapter 9: Facing the Music

Chapter 10: Back at the Barre

Chapter 11: The Competition

About the Author

About the Illustrator

Glossary

Talk About It!

Write About It!

Ballet Glossary

Ballet Positions

Explore More

Copyright

Back Cover

CHAPTER 1

Bored in the Burbs

On Sunday morning, I put on my slippers and shuffle into the kitchen. A note on the table reads: Breakfast outside!

I roll my eyes. Since moving from Philadelphia to New Jersey a month ago for my dad’s job, my parents have eaten outside almost daily. They say they want to be closer to nature.

Personally, I don’t see what’s so great about nature. Philadelphia has more noise than nature. I like it better that way.

Still, I know they’ll be upset if I don’t join them. Reluctantly, I head to the back deck.

Morning, sleepyhead! Mom chirps from the picnic table.

Dad draws an exaggerated breath. Can’t you just taste the fresh air?

I take a seat and pour some cereal and milk into my bowl. All I taste is Cheerios, I say between bites. I could have had that in Philly.

Dad sighs. Is hating everything part of your twelve-year-old rule book?

I scowl. It’s not about my age. I just haven’t found anything to like yet.

There is nothing to like, I think privately. Everything good stayed in Philly—my home, my friends, and my dance school.

At that moment, a familiar ringtone chimes. It belongs to Maya, my best friend from Philly. Dad shoots me his no-phones-at-the-table look.

Sorry, I mumble, quickly silencing my cell phone.

My parents exchange glances. The last time I caught them doing that, they’d announced we were moving. Not