Saturday, October 21, 2017

Nutcracked by Susan Adrian - OPTIONAL

Adrian, Susan Nutcracked, 231 pages.  Random House, 2017.  $17.  Content: G

Georgie has been yearning after the role of Clara in the Nutcracker ever since she saw it performed as her first ballet.  Now she has won the coveted role, but her best friend, Kaitlyn, has not.  Not only is Georgie worried about Kaitlyn, who isn’t speaking to her, anxious and excited about her starring role in the ballet, but something strange happened when she danced with Mrs. Cavanaugh’s nutcracker – a family heirloom:  Georgie was transported to another place, which seems oddly like she is inside the ballet itself.  She realizes that there is something special about this nutcracker – that she is a part of a decades long battle between the soldier sand the mice and she only has until the first performance to save everyone.  She will need some help, but who can she turn to if Kaitlyn refuses to talk to her?

Adrain weaves an interesting story of the Nutcracker ballet. I found it a little odd that Georgie can only see and hear the Nutcracker when she is supposed to be dancing, and I wasn’t quite convinced of the parameters of the magic.  But Georgie’s final solution to help is brilliant and well-worth reading to the end for that.

EL – OPTIONAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher

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