(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Mark Siegel. This special edition of the graphic memoir about Cherson Siegel's youth as a School of American Ballet student effectively embodies ballet's paradox: every moment of seeming effortlessness on stage is the product of years of grueling work. Softened outlines and delicately hued watercolor washes depict young Siena's long-cherished dream and the ethereal-looking dancers; extended, well-paced panel sequences convey training's tedium and immense physical toll. A spacious redesigned layout heightens the emotional effect. Six new pages of photos and ephemera are appended.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2006; November, 2019

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Mark Siegel. This memoir follows one girl's journey into dance in the 1970s. As Siena matures into a driven high school student, she progresses from taking classes to attending New York's School of American Ballet. Both narrative and images in this nimble graphic memoir are filled with enthusiasm and humor, chronicling Siena's strongest memories with palpable energy and enjoyment.

Reviewer: Robin Brenner | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2006