Dance, Kayla [Hardcover]

Darwin McBeth Walton (Author), Kathy Tucker (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1998 | Age Level: 9 and up

Brown-skinned, green-eyed Kayla uses her dancing to help deal with her plight when her grandmother's death and the continued absence of her dancer father cause her to leave her farm and live in Chicago with relatives.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-Kayla, still reeling from Gran's sudden death, is further bewildered and frightened when she is sent to Chicago to live with her aunt and her family. These virtually unknown relatives willingly make a place for her, but it's hard for Kayla to leave Grandpa and the African-American farming community in South Carolina where she grew up. Although Gran and Grandpa are the only parents Kayla has ever really known, she clings to her wish that her long-absent dancer father will return. As she adjusts to her new life, she makes friends, begins sixth grade in a new school, and continues to dream about becoming a ballerina. While the family relationships and personalities are believable, some of the extraneous characters are less than credible: the stereotypical racist store owner, snobbish classmates who demean Kayla's language style, a gang member who steals and then uncharacteristically returns her prized locket. Still, this contemporary novel is well written and well plotted. Kayla is a likable character who elicits empathy from readers; it will matter to them that she discovers the true meaning of family and that her dreams of ballet come to fruition.
Lynda Short, formerly at the Lexington School, KY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 4^-6. The most important things in the world to brown-skinned, green-eyed Kayla are Gran, dancing, and the hope that her dad will return. But all of them seem out of reach after the sudden death of Gran, the only mother Kayla has ever known. After Gran's death, Kayla's grandfather thinks it's best to send Kayla away from the small farming community to live with her aunt and uncle's family in Chicago. The tribulations of adjusting to a new family and an urban environment are deftly handled in Walton's readable middle-grade story. Kayla makes new friends, handles new challenges, and pursues her dream of becoming a dancer. In the process, she also realizes that whether or not her errant dancer father returns, she is still very rich in family and self. Denia Hester

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company (April 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807514535
• ISBN-13: 978-0807514535
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,210,215 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of neat stuff in this book., December 26, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Dance, Kayla (Hardcover)

I read this book while visiting my aunt. She gave it to my sister for Christmas. I give the book five stars because there are many good lessons kids can get from Kayla besides just enjoying the book. Kayla was brave and funny. I liked the other people in the book a lot. I am a boy and don't usually read girs's books but Kayla had a lot for boys to read about.She had a lot of courage and worked for what she wanted. Lots of girls and boys don't have daddys and could see how Kayla did okay even if her daddy didn't come home yet.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Family Prevails, March 31, 2000

By 

G. Davenport "children's book collector" (Chicago IL suburbs--United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dance, Kayla (Hardcover)

Dance, Kayla! starts out as Kayla does--full of promise. Kayla's life on her grandparents' farm is interesting as are the people in her life, but the story slows down when she reaches the big city. While the characters were sometimes flat, the story fills an important function in that it shows the strength of an extended African American family. It also serves to inspire young girls of color to follow their dreams, no matter how many roadblocks stand in their way.

5.0 out of 5 stars For blended families, July 3, 2010

By 

Ethel (GOODYEAR, ARIZONA, US) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dance, Kayla! (Paperback)

This is an excellent book for blended families. The author did a great job showing how the family accepted a niece, cousin and how
she adjusted with the new family life. The book also portrayed
how the young lady was persistant in pursuing her dancing career.