Brandy Colbert's debut novel, Pointe, is about so much more than ballet (though if you're a fan of dance, you will appreciate the references)! Honestly, I think she should have chosen a better title, because the current one may defer some readers. However, the book was fantastic, and I hope some of you give it a chance, even if you're not quite into ballet.
The novel is about Theo, a teenage girl who has lived quite a tough life already. She was previously sent away to deal with her eating disorder, sparked by her quest for thinness that she thought would better her dancing. She was involved with an older boy at age 13, who had suddenly ditched her without warning and she never heard from him again. Oh, and her best friend, Donovan, also disappeared four years ago without a trace, kidnapped, leaving his parents, Theo, and the community stunned and scared.
Fast forward to the present: Theo is now 17, a junior in high school, with all of those problems in her past...sort of. She's trying to navigate high school life, including a potential romance, as well as training hard in the hopes of attending a prestigious ballet academy for her senior year. Then, just as suddenly as he was taken, Donovan is found, and returned home. Theo is shocked and relived, and excited to have her best friend back, but Donovan isn't talking, not even to her. As a trial is set to try Donovan's alleged kidnapper, Theo is forced to face much of her ugly past, and decide if she can let go of some of the secrets she's been holding for years.
Oooo isn't that intriguing? I should write book jacket summaries! :-p Anyway, the book really was intriguing, and I just loved it. I saw it as three major plot lines twisting together: Theo's journey with ballet and struggle to be thin, her high school drama and heartbreak, and the mystery surrounding Donovan's kidnapping. With all of this action and emotions running high, what's not to love?
The book kept me interested through the very last page, and the surprising, yet satisfying, ending. Pointe is a great summer read, because you can sit outside with it for hours, as you tan or hang out poolside, and never want to put it down. I found it to be a quick read, that artfully intertwined the different plots and subplots, and kept me guessing the whole way through.
If you happen to try the book, love it or hate it, let me know! I love to hear reviews from my fellow readers. :) Happy reading!
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