Amy Shomshak – författare

Grand Jeté, Arabesque & Pirouette in One Volume!Grand Jeté"e;Is it simply stage fright? Or will I never dance again?"e;In grief over her mother's death, twelve-year-old Gina vows never to dance ballet again.Gina leaves her childhood home to live with the only family left to care for her, Uncle Gene. Months before the breakup of Russia, he accepts a job at the American Consulate in Leningrad, home of the famous Kirov Ballet Academy. As tensions rise in the city and Russia nearly breaks apart, Gina desperately tries to overcome stage fright.On the day that President Gorbachev is arrested, the city erupts in panic and Gina becomes lost in crowds of people. Will her uncle find her? Will she ever see her Russian friends again? Will she finally face her fears and dance again?ArabesqueTravel to Paris with Gina, where she and Tina create their own ballets in the City of Lights.After her adventures in "e;Grand Jeté,"e; Gina continues working to become a ballerina at the School of American Ballet in New York City. Feeling inadequate and untalented, she longs for acceptance at the academy. In spite of new boyfriend Charlie, she misses her best friend, Tina, with whom she studied ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia.After a serious incident, Gina's guardian Uncle Gene sends her to Paris, where Tina is in the corps of the Paris Opera Ballet. Together the girls explore Paris and create their own ballets in the beautiful city. While a series of terrorist attacks rock the city, Gina and Tina search for a place to perform so people can remember how beautiful the world can be.PirouetteA young dancer's journey through family secrets, self-discovery, and the magic of ballet in 1989 Minneapolis.Eleven-year-old Gina loves ballet and her eccentric mother, Lily, a professional dancer. In the whirlwind of rehearsals, recitals, and new pointe shoes, Gina navigates the challenges of Catholic school, an absent father, and a changing neighborhood. As Gina prepares for her first performance in The Nutcracker, family secrets emerge, forcing her to confront difficult truths and embrace her own strength.Guided by the wisdom of her unconventional family and the captivating world of ballet, Gina discovers the power of resilience, friendship, and the enduring magic of art.This heartwarming coming-of-age story, set against the backdrop of 1989 Minneapolis, explores themes of family, identity, and the transformative power of art. Perfect for fans of "e;Ballet Shoes"e; and "e;A Tree Grows in Brooklyn"e;, "e;Pirouette"e; is a captivating read for all ages.