Customer Reviews

Dancing Shoes (The Shoe Books)

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Do you remember when the Meg Ryan character walked into TomHanks' FOX BOOKS store and the customer asked about the"Shoes" books, and a monologue about the wonders of Noel Streatfeild's "Shoes" books ensued, touching on Dancing Shoes, Ballet Shoes, and Skating Shoes, which is absolutely wonderful? That scene made me break down crying, because I had never heard anyone other than myself talk about these terrific books, and the fact that it is tragic that they are mostly out of print and hard to find. This book is a wonderful story of working hard for a goal, and accomplishing it, or at least getting on the road to achieving a reasonable, yet magical, goal. If you want a great book for your favorite elementary school girl, buy this one - then buy the other "Shoes" books (and get a copy of Tennis Shoes for your favorite boy too!)

Ever felt misunderstood? Or that you did't fit in? Ever had great plans for another's future...that they didn't share? Dancing Shoes is a well-crafted classic, about three girls we can all relate to. Rachel hates dancing, and struggles to find herself in a dancing school. Her sister Hillary is all mirth, and no work. Dulce is their insufferable, spoiled cousin, who meets her deserved fate. An exasperated teacher, a homey nurse, and evil aunt, and a oblivious but gentle hearted uncle round out the cast. Superb all around, sensitively told. Buy it now!

Dancing Shoes is one of Noel Streatfield's most enchanting books. Rachel and Hilary, Pursey, Uncle Tom, Aunt Cora, Dulcie, Mrs. Storm, and the Little Wonders combine to create a delightful world. Loveable characters and a vivid plot, never saccharine; I read it over many times each year. Splendid for children and adults.

I've always adored books set in England ... and it started with the Noel Streatfeild books that I devoured as a child. Of all of the Shoes books -- and believe me, twenty years ago I read every single one I could get my hands on -- this is still the best.

The two heroines are so likable and yet so different from each other; Rachel is introspective and quiet, Hilary is vivacious and fun-loving. What this means is that every little girl reading it can identify with one or the other. Streatfeild is at her best when it comes the book's character development. Rachel's reaction to her mother's death, and her changing relationship with her sister, are very well-drawn and utterly convincing.

Best of all, this book has Dulcie -- the character you love to hate. And every single person gets her comeuppance in the end; the reader's desire for poetic justice is fufilled in a most suprising but totally convincing way. It's a wonderfully satisfying read, and the kind of book that you can read again and again ... even as an adult.

How can it be that a book about a dancing school in 1950s London would make such an impression on a klutzy American 12-year old in the late '70s and early '80s? A compelling story and appealing, cleancut prose have made "Dancing Shoes" a staple -- albeit dog-eared -- book in my library for more than 15 years.

"Dancing Shoes" started my long "pas de deux" with Noel Streatfeild's "Shoes" series. Streatfeild describes the day-to-day lives of Rachel and Hilary -- two orphans who find unexpectedly themselves living in a stage-training school with their brusque, stage-mama Aunt Cora -- in such a way that the reader can feel the warmth of the footlights and the pinch of their tap shoes. The plight of untalented Rachel among the dancing troupe of Mrs. Wintle's Little Wonders was very true to life, and her triumph over her spoiled cousin at the end of the book gives hope to all little girls who aren't so light on their feet. This and other "Shoes" books will be passed on to my own daughters.

I'm glad to see this book, which I loved as a child, still in print. Spoiled Dulcie, comedienne Hilary and sensitive Rachel are entertaining characters. Children will root for Rachel and cheer when Dulcie and Aunt Cora finally get their comeuppance. I picked this book up at a bookstore on a whim and reread it. I do have a few quibbles now that I didn't as a child. Children may be bothered by Uncle Tom's indifference. Uncle Tom is kind, but he is not a good parent. He ignores Dulcie's bad behavior and doesn't stand up for Rachel even though she is miserable. I wondered why he stays with Aunt Cora. Is the money that good? I wanted the adults' back story. It also bothered me that Hilary's adoption by Rachel's parents wasn't treated seriously. The characters talk about how she isn't Rachel's "real sister" and how Tom and Cora didn't have to take her in because she is adopted. Adopted children reading this book might be very bothered by that.

Perhaps I have a bit of sentimental bias towards this book. I received it at age 5 to read-- my first-ever "chapter" book. It took me about six months the first time around, if I recall correctly. I'd just begun dance classes myself, and so the book gave me a sense of a connection to something that I enjoyed doing. Because it was about two young girls that were taken in by their aunt, I also connected it to adoption--something that also was extremely close to home for me, as I am an adopted child.

Since that time (in 1980) I've nearly worn my copy out from reading it so many times-- even now, as an adult, I find it to be a fantastic read. I think that it might sound a bit dated at times, but no more so than any of the Beverly Cleary books that are also great for young readers, particularly little girls.

I received this book when I was about 8 years old. I took one look at it and thought, "I am NOT going to read this. It's a BABY book!" I never touched the book again until 3 years later, when I was 11 years old, and decided just to try out the book. OMG! Was I wrong! This was not a baby book! The story of Rachel and Hilary Lennox and their lovable (in a villainy way)conceited cousin, Dulcie Wintle, is a charming book that every one (and I mean EVERYONE) will love.

Rachel and Hilary come to live with their Aunt Cora, who runs a dancing (ballet, acrobatics, musical comedy, etc.) school, when their mother dies. Aunt Cora is set on making them both "little wonders" but Rachel finds that she disdains it, having no talent for those types of things. Hilary, however, finds that she loves it, and has a real talent for it, too! But Rachel doesn't want Hilary to be a "little wonder," let alone love it! Hilary was going to go to the Royal Ballet School of Dancing before their mother died, and Rachel is set on making her go after her mother's last words for her were to make sure Hilary went on with her dancing.
Misunderstandings will get in the way, as Hilary grows more and more with the "bad" type of dancing, becomes competition with Dulcie, and Rachel comes to find that dancing may not be her thing, but that doesn't mean that stage is not...

I can't remember when I first read 'Dancing Shoes' - judging by the writing in the front cover, I must have been pretty young - but I have never stopped loving it. Though my copy is now dog eared and I practically know it off by heart, I read it about once ever four months.

It is the involved and moving tale of Rachel and Hilary, both ten years old when the book begins. Hilary was adopted by Rachel's parents when they were both four, and has always felt part of the family. She is a promsing ballet dancer (her real mother being one) but is lazy, and doesn't take the work seriously. Rachel, who is serious in everything she does, watches all of Hilary's lessons and keeps her working hard. Their father, a famous film star, died when they were seven. When the book opens, their mother has just died too, leaving them orphans.

They are taken to live with Rachel's aunt and uncle, Cora Wintle and Tom Lennox. Aunt Cora, or Mrs. Wintle as she is commonly referred to, runs a stage school for children called Wintle's Wonders. Throughout the book she is mean, oppressive, selfish and cold hearted torwards first Rachel, and then Hilary. Uncle Tom is an artist, and the opposite of Cora. He nurtures Rachel, who feels misunderstood and out of place in a dancing school, and tries his hardest to make things better. Their spoilt cousin Dulcie is a brilliant dancer, and thoroughly conceited. Pursey is the kindly and fat house keeper who becomes their mother figure.

'Dancing Shoes' focuses on Rachel's trials and tribulations, mainly trials though, and how she reacts to the situations and characters around her. Everything about it will pull you in and make you feel like you're really living her life. Although at times it is heart breaking, it is suitable for children and adults of all ages. The ending is very fitting, even though it is somewhat bitter sweet. Please, do yourself a favour and buy this for yourself, your daughter, grand daughter, neice, cousin, sister... whatever. It is fantastic!

This changed my life! It got me interested in dancing. The story is about Rachel and Hillary Lennox who after their mother died went to live with their Aunt Cora who owns a dancing shcool. Poor Rachel who has no dancing talent finds a stage oriented life very difficult. To make matters worse they have a bratty cousin named Dulcie who everyone knows is very talented including Dulcie herself. A terrific book for all people of all ages especially those interested in life in World War Two or dance. You simply must read this book! If you enjoy it I suggest reading the other "Shoes" book (Ballet Shoes, Movie Shoes, Circus Shoes, Traveling Shoes, Family Shoes, New Shoes, Tennis Shoes, Skating Shoes (or White Boots), and Party Shoes).