Phantom's Dance by Lesa Howard
I have always loved Phantom of the Opera - the story, the music, everything about it. Lesa Howard has done a fantastic modern re-telling of this classic tale. Christine is a great ballerina that has earned a spot in a prestigious Academy. She's on the verge of making into their company, but she's missing just that little extra something that could help her make it all the way. When a mysterious tutor offers to help, but refuses to show himself, she takes him up on his offer to help her dance better. And so starts our Phantom.
Christine is not your typical teenager. She attends high school online and her dance career is her life. But she does have some of the typical teenager concerns. She wants a social life and a boyfriend. She wants to experience everything life has to offer without having to give up her dream of dancing. It's a delicate balancing act that she struggles to maintain. Throw into that some family issues and she has a lot on her plate.
Eric, our phantom, is a mystery. And knowing that it is a re-telling, I sat in anticipation for him to make his move. When he does, it's a big move and I was really shocked. Parts of this story aren't for the faint of heart. There are some adult topics that are very important, and while I'm not sure I approve of the way Christine handled all of them, she handled them in a very real way.
There are a few unexpected twists as their story unfolds and Lesa Howard's writing was beautiful. I fell into the story and the characters completely. Christine's life was fascinating. It's amazing how grueling her training and life was and how intense her training was. This is a great read for lovers of Phantom or contemporary young adult.
*This book was received in exchange for an honest reveiw*
