BALLET BESTIES

Dante doesn’t need to choose between cleats and choreography; he loves splitting time between soccer and ballet.

Dante knows how each activity strengthens the other with balance, discipline, and teamwork, so he’s caught off guard when his soccer teammates tease him for taking ballet. Fortunately, his quick wit and easy humor help him navigate both worlds. When his dance company enters a national dance competition that no ballet group has ever won, Dante has the idea to infuse their routine with hip-hop. Their teacher is hesitant, but Dante messages his favorite hip-hop artist, Nitty Smitty, for guidance. A few days later, the celebrity unexpectedly shows up at the studio doors. Together, they choreograph a hip-hop–infused Beauty and the Beast, with Dante starring as the Beast. With support from his ballet friends and his new mentor, Dante embraces every part of himself: soccer, hip-hop, and ballet. This installment in the series comes to a tidy, feel-good ending that asks readers to suspend disbelief; the swift turnaround also smooths over the team’s earlier bullying without requiring much reflection or accountability. Still, Dante’s creativity and moxie will endear him to readers, especially fans of dance. Franco’s friendly grayscale line illustrations are peppered throughout the story. Dante is Black, the supporting characters are racially diverse, and one of the competitive dance teams uses wheelchairs.

A welcome, rosy-hued reminder to dance to your own beat.