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Table of Contents
About The Book
In this raw, searingly honest debut young adult novel, a former aspiring ballerina must confront her past in order to move forward from a devastating fall that leaves her without the use of her legs.
Genie used to fouetté across the stage. Now the only thing she’s turning are the wheels to her wheelchair. Genie was the star pupil at her exclusive New York dance school, with a bright future and endless possibilities before her. Now that the future she’s spent years building toward has been snatched away, she can’t stand to be reminded of it—even if it means isolating herself from her best friends and her mother. The only wish this Genie has is to be left alone.
But then she meets Kyle, who also has a “used to be.” Kyle used to tumble and flip on a gymnastics mat, but a traumatic brain injury has sent him to the same physical therapist that Genie sees. With Kyle’s support, along with her best friend’s insistence that Genie’s time at the barre isn’t over yet, Genie starts to see a new path—one where she doesn’t have to be alone and she finally has the strength to heal from the past.
But healing also means confronting. Confronting the booze her mother, a recovering alcoholic, has been hiding under the kitchen sink; the ex-boyfriend who was there the night of the fall and won’t leave her alone; and Genie’s biggest, most terrifying secret: the fact that the accident may not have been so accidental after all.
Genie used to fouetté across the stage. Now the only thing she’s turning are the wheels to her wheelchair. Genie was the star pupil at her exclusive New York dance school, with a bright future and endless possibilities before her. Now that the future she’s spent years building toward has been snatched away, she can’t stand to be reminded of it—even if it means isolating herself from her best friends and her mother. The only wish this Genie has is to be left alone.
But then she meets Kyle, who also has a “used to be.” Kyle used to tumble and flip on a gymnastics mat, but a traumatic brain injury has sent him to the same physical therapist that Genie sees. With Kyle’s support, along with her best friend’s insistence that Genie’s time at the barre isn’t over yet, Genie starts to see a new path—one where she doesn’t have to be alone and she finally has the strength to heal from the past.
But healing also means confronting. Confronting the booze her mother, a recovering alcoholic, has been hiding under the kitchen sink; the ex-boyfriend who was there the night of the fall and won’t leave her alone; and Genie’s biggest, most terrifying secret: the fact that the accident may not have been so accidental after all.
Product Details
- Publisher: Denene Millner Books/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (March 1, 2022)
- Length: 352 pages
- ISBN13: 9781534495845
- Ages: 12 - 99
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Raves and Reviews
"A nuanced portrayal of disability, dance, and starting over."
– -Kirkus Reviews, 1/1/2022
"Genie's first-person narrative rings true as she works through her frustration and disappointment, gradually finding a new direction when she's ready to more forward."
– -Booklist, 3/15/2022
"Smith deftly handles complex topics such as accessibility, race, abortion, domestic violence, and sobriety/recovery through Genie’s perspective and slowly reveals more of Genie’s secrets, including what really happened the night of the accident. VERDICT Fans of realistic fiction will find this a compelling and emotional story."
– -School Library Journal, 5/1/2022
Awards and Honors
- OWL Award Shortlist
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): Turning eBook 9781534495845