I first read these books when I was a child. At the time, I thought they were written by a man, one with a very glamorous name. When I reread this story now, I fell in love again. Streatfield writes wonderfully about creative life, the hard work and discipline involved, the sense of a calling. I plan to read all of these books again.

So my local library does not have all of the Shoes series books so I went straight from Ballet Shoes to Theater Shoes. I wonder if I would have enjoyed it more if I'd read the two that come between because Theater Shoes just seemed to be so much like Ballet Shoes, just with different kids. So while it is still a good Tween read, I didn't enjoy it as much as Ballet Shoes even though I liked some of the characters better in Theater. (I enjoyed Miriam's dancing character more than Posy for example). Still I'm glad to have read it. On to Skating Shoes now....

A charming period piece. The three Forbes siblings are sent to live with their grandmother, who is an actress in London in 1943. She sends them to the Academy for schooling, where they discover their talents and ambition.

It's hard to think of more clever or heartwarming books than the Shoes series. Streatfeild is so funny and observant and tender towards her characters, and her descriptions of the London theater scene in the 1940s are fascinating. I think this series is perfect for everybody, both children and adults.

Somewhat of a follow-up to Ballet Shoes as it features Pauline, Petrova, and Posy as grown up recurring characters. Follows the proven formula-orphans and money trouble!

I really love these stories!

Het voorwoord is wat mij wel geraakt heeft. De auteur had namelijk brieven gekregen van verontruste jonge lezers over de hoofdpersonen van 'Ballet Shoes'. Omdat het oorlog was, ook in de landen waar zij verbleven.

Zij heeft ze dus in dit boek terug laten komen en verteld hoe het nu gaat met deze 3 zusjes.

Maar dit boek gaat over 2 zusjes en een broertje. Die bij het begin van de 2e wereld oorlog naar hun grootvader worden gestuurd en na diens overlijden naar hun grootmoeder van de andere kant van de familie.

Daar gaan ze naar toneelschool en lezen we hoe ze zich staande houden in een totale nieuwe omgeving en met een opleiding die compleet anders is dan dat ze hiervoor gewend waren.

My Dell Yearling edition is in tatters. As a child, I was barely aware that the Forbes children were living through a war. Now, of course, it's fascinating to think about Streatfeild writing and publishing this during WWII.

With this read, I was finally struck by the fact that the children had been living on the Channel Islands. That's a story right there. And their mother's side shunning them for so long? Another saga. Even when the children do finally end up in London, it's almost unbelievable that their aunts don't see them until Christmas.

But Streatfeild is brisk about all that delicious backstory, because what could be more enticing than a return to Madame Fidolia's? With a Fossil sister catch-up no less?

Mark is probably my favorite Streatfeild boy. And this matter-of-fact line hints at the darker writing Streatfeild put in her adult books:
"Mark...would, as long as he lived in the house, and quite likely always, be angry with Grandmother about his room."

Another sweet book by this author. Definitely aimed for a YA audience.

Noel kinda dialled it in in this one — taking the three Fossil sisters and using them to provide cover for another three siblings who are (temporarily) orphaned and exiled from their home in Guernsey by WWII, and wind up living with their imperious actress grandmother in London and being sent off to Madame Fidolia to surface their theatrical talents and prep them to get their licences when they hit 12.

There are a couple of lovely passages about adult emotion, which is the new thing I notice in Streatfeild’s writing, reading it at this age I am now. But the magic, the tension, the intimacy of Ballet Shoes isn’t reached and it feels like a sequel rather grudgingly churned out.

A classic favorite from childhood. It’s glamorous and sweet and historical and Noel Streatfield is always a genuine pleasure to dive into.

Another great audio book we thoroughly enjoyed with the girls. The book is beautiful and the narrator has a lovely voice.