This is a heartfelt story that will appeal to middle school and younger high school kids. As written earlier: a deaf girl is bullied out of her dance class and finds an unlikely partner in a rejected dog and together they win a big dance competition. But more than that - this is the story of a young dancer who must prove to herself and to those who would put her down, that she is capable of rising to any occasion and coping with any circumstance. The conflict is not just the external one with Ruby's girls, it's - obviously - the internal one with herself. In creating a dance with Angel, she's given a gift which, in the end helps all the members of the cast: Angel, the dog, Lisa - who learns the value of friendship, Ruby and her father, Amy's own family who learn coping with failure, Lance and Sandy and Marta and Jimmy.
American kids (and adults) like stories about underdogs. We rejoice when someone we identify with wins. It gives us hope and encouragement. This is such a story. But it's not just an underdog story, it's also a coming of age story that helps young people understand that growing up is a process of facing challenges of all kinds. It's how we learn and grow. And, as uncomfortable - even painful - as it can be, the great feeling of knowing that somehow we found the way through - like each of these characters, makes us all feel stronger.
I give this 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18. Reviewed by Juror #10.
This is a heartfelt story that will appeal to middle school and younger high school kids. As written earlier: a deaf girl is bullied out of her dance class and finds an unlikely partner in a rejected dog and together they win a big dance competition. But more than that - this is the story of a young dancer who must prove to herself and to those who would put her down, that she is capable of rising to any occasion and coping with any circumstance. The conflict is not just the external one with Ruby's girls, it's - obviously - the internal one with herself. In creating a dance with Angel, she's given a gift which, in the end helps all the members of the cast: Angel, the dog, Lisa - who learns the value of friendship, Ruby and her father, Amy's own family who learn coping with failure, Lance and Sandy and Marta and Jimmy.
American kids (and adults) like stories about underdogs. We rejoice when someone we identify with wins. It gives us hope and encouragement. This is such a story. But it's not just an underdog story, it's also a coming of age story that helps young people understand that growing up is a process of facing challenges of all kinds. It's how we learn and grow. And, as uncomfortable - even painful - as it can be, the great feeling of knowing that somehow we found the way through - like each of these characters, makes us all feel stronger.
I give this 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18. Reviewed by Juror #10.
Shy 16-year old Amy just wants to dance, but her deafness causes her dreams to be shattered when she is bullied out of dance class. Finding the most unbelievable new dance partner, her neighbors neglected dog, they perform a spectacular routine that lands them on a national TV talent show where they compete against her former dance crew.
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