I loved this series when I was younger, and when I had the chance to get some of these books through bookcrossing, I couldn't resist.

I have the UK version, which is called "Drina Dances in Italy." Only the second half of the book actually takes place in Italy. Drina travels there to meet her Italian family and has the chance to dance with the Dominick Ballet when a few members of the corps de ballet are ill.

It's a nice little book. I love the style of writing, but it is unbelievable that Drina, after learning Italian for about a month, is almost fluent after a week in Italy.

Don't be fooled! Other versions of the book are titled Drina Dances in Italy and the synopsis on the back of the U.S. Scholastic edition says "Drina saves the day" by filling in when some members of the Dominick Company become ill while in Italy. In reality, though, that doesn't happen until the final 20 pages of the book, and it only lasts about 2 pages. False advertising... but I'm sure the intended audience wouldn't feel as duped as I did :P

As someone who is WAY older than the target audience, I feel like the Drina books get weaker as they go. Maybe the young kids like book #4 as much as book #1, but I'm at the point where I don't feel like the later books live up to the promise of the first book.