Monday, 3 September 2012
Silhouette by Thalia Kalkipsakis
Published July 1, 2012 by Hardie Grant Egmont
Source: received from the publisher
Rating: 4 paws
From the blurb: Scarlett Stirling is hardworking and fiercely ambitious. She loves the blisters and the strict regime of her dance classes at the National Academy of Performing Arts. Her life is measured and balanced. Perfect.But when Scarlett scores an illicit role in a music video and meets charismatic Moss, she enters another world – a world without restrictions. Torn between her commitments and her desire to be with Moss, Scarlett pushes herself to the limit, unaware she’s playing a dark game.In the cut-throat world of dance, talent and ambition are paramount. But one misstep can cost you everything.
Silhouette is Thalia Kalkipsakis’ first stand-alone novel. Scarlett Stirling is seventeen and has been a dancer for most of her life, her late father was a very talented dancer and Scarlett has been working hard so that she can audition for the National Ballet Company (the NBC) and follow in his footsteps. But once she meets Moss Young her carefully planned life gets a shake up.
Scarlett is confident, passionate and a naturally talented dancer and she knows she’s the best at her performing arts school and isn’t afraid to speak up when she thinks a dance move could be better, much to the annoyance of her teachers. She has a good group of friends, who acknowledge that she’s a great dancer, while trying not to be too jealous. Her dad died when she was younger, cutting short his career and her mum has reasons for not wanting Scarlett to attend the NBC, one of them being that she thinks Scarlett needs to have something to fall back on if her dance career doesn’t go to plan and the other involves the secret that she's kept since her husband's death.
Moss Young comes into Scarlett’s life at what seems like the worst time. She’s about to audition for the lead role in the final show of the year, a chance to impress the directors of dance companies, as well as studying for the upcoming exams. But I can understand her need to let loose and rebel. It’s difficult when you have such a strict schedule and a lot of rules to follow and Scarlett found Moss hard to resist.
Spending time with Moss introduces Scarlett to drinking and drugs and means she starts staying out late and lying to her mum as well as her friends. Paige is her best friend yet she chooses not to tell her about having sex for the first time and she tries to cover up Moss’ drug habit. I found the drinking and drug taking to be realistic, Thalia didn’t sensationalise it nor did it sound like a warning that drugs are bad, mmkay? Naturally Scarlett’s friends are worried about her when her dancing and school work begins to suffer but their concerns are ignored by her. It reminded me of a book I reviewed recently, No Such Thing As Forever by Ali Cronin – both main characters needed to be left to figure it out themselves.
There were moments when Scarlett drove me mad, or her friend Paige disappointed me. It must be difficult to be friends while also competing against each other; Scarlett could show her happiness when she was praised or received a leading role, because she felt like she was rubbing it in her friends' faces. Towards the end I really felt for Scarlett, her mum and her friends and wanted to see them all succeed.
I know a lot of bloggers are fans of the Australian tv show, Dance Academy, as well as movies like Centre Stage. As I read Silhouette I could definitely see the resemblance to both, so if you’re a DA fan you will definitely enjoy this, it felt so similar but a bit more grown up.
I like the simplicity of the cover and the way it ties in with the ending of the novel.
Silhouette is a realistic contemporary story set to a backdrop of dancing. It’s essentially about growing up, figuring out who you are and making the best of whatever situation you find yourself in.
Purchase a copy: Booktopia / Fishpond
Thank you to the wonderful people at Hardie Grant Egmont for my review copy.
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27 comments:
i like the ballet aspect. great review!!
Great review! It sounds good, I'll have to keep an eye out for it ^_^
I like the comparison to Dance Academy & Center Stage. Sounds like it's got a bit of Step Up in it too. This sounds like one I may or may not like plotwise and it would all come down to the writing for me. Thanks for putting it on my radar. :)
You should've just posted that one paragraph about Dance Academy and Center Stage. That's all you needed to snag me:)
I enjoyed this one as well, and could really relate to the troubled friendship between Scarlett and Paige. I think despite our best intentions, it's easy to be jealous of a friend, particularly if our aspirations are very similar.
Ooo! Silhouette! I've read some mixed reviews on this book but I adore books about dancing too so I might need to check it out! AND I AM A HUGE FAN OF DANCE ACADEMY so now I must read this book ;)
Awesome review, Mandee! ♥ So glad you enjoyed it!
I can't believe that I haven't heard of this book before... It sounds wonderful and I'm pleased you gave it four paws, Mandee. :) I love realistic YA, and especially when they are centered on dancing themes. I'll definitely look out for Silhouette, so thank you very much for the req! Stunning review, Mandee. :)
Awesome review, I love the sound of this one and am surprised I've never seen it before now. I'm glad you enjoyed it, Mandee! :) xxx
This sounds great. I've heard lots of good things about it and I'm pleased you think it's a pretty realistic story. Brilliant review! :)
O_o This is exactly the kind of realistic YA I tend to avoid, not because I doubt your words or its quality, but because I'm essentially a wuss. There is such a thing as too realistic YA.
I know Flann adores Dance Academy and I'm very curious about it, so perhaps I'd read this just because of that comparison.
Great review!
This sounds like a very, very nice story. I love when stories deal w/real issues for teens, w/out glossing them over. Thank you for bringing Silhouette to my attn. great review!
I love coming to this blog! You girls are always helping me discover new, fabulous books that I've yet to come across. This one sounds great, very emotional and very real. I've never watched DA but I've always been a fan of dancing (that is watching it because I'm highly uncoordinated haha). Between that aspect, and the plot details you mentioned, Silhouette definitely sounds like a book I'd be interested in reading. Awesome review!
Wonderful review, Mandee! I'm not too keen on dance or dance-related novels, but this one actually sounds so interesting! I think I'll wind up giving it a try after all! :D
~Keertana
Ivy Book Bindings
I am just curious what is the point of the drugs then? She doesn't say they are good or bad...so are they there just because? I haven't read any dance books before so I would be interested to check one out!
Sounds like something I'd enjoy. I like books that show reality without being preachy one way or the other.
It MUST be really hard to have friends that are all, essentially, competition. It makes you wonder how genuine the friendship can be.
-lauren
This sounds pretty interesting. And I love that it's a dance book!
I am so happy your enjoyed this, Mandee! It was definitely a realistic take on this situation, yet not preachy at the same time, which is an excellent balance to achieve. I'm eager to read whatever stories Thalia has in store next. And I seriously think I need to give Dance Academy a try. It's not my usual style of show, but so many of you LOVE it! Fab review!
You know! I just discovered Dress Academy andI do love Center Stage, and this does give me the same vibe.
It sounds really good, also! I hope I can read it soon :D
Thanks for the review.
Oohh fans of DA will like this? Maybeeee I should read my copy already! (Although I really hope the main character isn't as annoying as Tara- I hatedher). Great review Mandee! I'm looking forward to reading this :)
Ooh, this sounds interesting, I haven't read anything like this before. I have been leaning more towards more realistic contemporary reads lately so I think I will have to check this out! Thanks for another wonderful review! :)
I really like the sound of this one. I'm always on the look out for more stand alone books - lately it seems that all I read are books in a series and once I start I feel compelled to complete the series.
I'm a huge Dance Academy fan - even if I claim just to watch it for the gorgeous views of Sydney Harbour. This books is definitely one for the to-read list.
Immediately when I read the beginning of your review I thought DANCE ACADEMY!!! WOW! I'm adding this to my TBR list and will let it tempt me until I give in an decide to order it. Ha! Thanks for sharing such a great book & review! xo
This sounds really good. I did like the movie Centre Stage and I have always loved ballet (though not a dancer myself). This sounds like a great contemporary read. I'll have to check it out.
All the "issues" presented in this book could easily go so wrong, but it's good to see the author handled them well. 4 paws! That's pretty darned good.
I also have to say this is one of my favorite cat photos yet, hah.
Wendy @ The Midnight Garden
I'm not sure this is a book I would enjoy. I don't like seeing people on a downward spiral, I find it so depressing. I did like the movie Center Stage, though, so who knows if this would be for me or not. Wonderful review Mandee. :)
I like Dance Academy, watch it with Willow , I like that you think if we like DA then we would like this book.
Wonderful Review, glad you enjoyed the book:D
Michelle
When I hear the name Moss, I immediately think of Richard Ayoade in The IT Crowd! I do like dance movies/books. I'll try to check this one out.
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