Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 12/01/2024 Michaela Mabinty DePrince, a professional ballerina who dances with the Boston Ballet, was born in Sierra Leone during a violent civil war that took the lives of her parents when she was three. While living at an orphanage, she became aware of ballet, which inspired her to dance, despite the lack of opportunities for Black dancers and despite vitiligo, a disorder that leaves lighter patches on the skin, making her self-conscious. An American couple adopted Michaela and raised her in the U.S. Although she encountered prejudice from both her peers and instructors within the world of traditional ballet, her adoptive parents’ encouragement and her love of dance enabled her to achieve her goal. The narrative doesn’t dwell on the child’s early misfortunes. In the upbeat illustrations, even the children in the orphanage look quite happy. The challenges Michaela faced in the world of ballet are noted here, but so is the determination that carried the dancer through many successful performances. This picture book offers a tale of inspiration, perseverance, and triumph for a dedicated Black ballerina. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.