Arthi Anand on Michaela DePrince's Memoir Taking Flight

Taking Flight by Knopf Books was first published in 2014.  Since then has been published under different titles in several countries like Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Brazil, Japan, Korea, and Poland.  Michaela also worked with her mother on  Ballerina Dreams, a Random House Children’s Step-into-Reading book.

Taking Flight

Author- Michaela DePrince with Elaine DePrince

Reading Age- 10 plus

Theme- Breaking norms, Fighting the odds, Family Matters

Ballerina Shoes is a version of Taking Flight for younger children, illustrated by Ella Okstad.  This is a lovely, inspiring, poignant biography of a ballerina. It is a hopeful look at how adoption can make a positive difference in the lives of  children, especially orphans of war. It is a story about following your seemingly unachievable dream.

A tale of a family making tough choices to support their child's dream. It is about the triumph that awaits, despite the roadblocks in the form of misconceptions, unintended and purposely callous remarks. It is a good read as you try to raise a sensitive young tween- teen at home.

Ballerina Dreams and Taking Flight Book Covers

Michaela DePrince, at age three found a photo of a ballerina that changed her life. From an orphanage in Sierra Leone, she was adopted by a white family and moved to the USA. Her dream turns into reality through tears and setbacks and valiant effort, help and family support. 

About Michaela De Prince 

Michaela story was featured in the ballet documentary, First Position. At the age of seventeen Michaela performed with the Dance Theatre of Harlem professional company. A year later she joined the Dutch National Junior Company as a second-year member and apprentice to the main company. Now at  21, Michaela has completed her second year with the main company, and has been promoted to the rank of Grand Sujet for the Dutch National Ballet’s main company for the 2016-2017 ballet season.

Also Read: Devdutt Pattnaik’s The Girl Who Chose, An Excerpt

Arthi Anand Navaneeth is a mother of two, wife to one, working the corporate life and living it up with travel, home decor, books and stories. She has conducted various events in bookstores, NGOs, schools, libraries and other events. She is a regular contributor to Saffron Tree. She blogs at artstales.blogspot.in. 

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