I have long heard about the book Ballet Shoes. Apparently they're a childhood classic, and Dancing Shoes is in the same series as them. What I didn't know was that one of my childhood favourites - The Painted Garden, was also by this author! Thankfully, I liked Dancing Shoes, so I wasn't disappointed :D

Dancing Shoes follows Rachel and Hilary. Hilary is Rachel's adopted sister, and because of something that Rachel's mother said, Rachel is convinced that Hilary is cut out to be a dancer. However, when their mother dies, Rachel's aunt, who owns a dancing troupe takes them in. Not only is Mrs Winters a mean person who cares only for her selfish daugher Dulcie, they're doing the wrong sort of dancing! Although Hilary enjoys the dances, Rachel does her best to keep Hilary from making what she thinks is a mistake.

This book was a really fun read! Rachel and Hilary have a very adorable relationship - Rachel is goal-minded while Hilary is carefree, so their personalities were adorable together (made for some clashes though). Mrs Winters was a good villain, and had an interesting backstory. Dulcie was the type of girl that you'd hope to see fail, and when [SPOILER] both her cousins upstage her, you can't help but cheer a little. There's also a good supporting cast of characters, each with their own distinctive trait.

Most of the conflict in this book comes from the fact that everyone doesn't understand why Rachel is so opposed to Hilary dancing. As a result, most of the adults around her think that Rachel's a selfish and jealous sister. But since I, as the reader, know what's going on, it just made me like her more. I really admire how much she cares for Hilary, so much that she's willing to be misunderstood.

Hilary, on the other hand, I didn't like so much. She's a bit lazy, and I found her to be rather selfish, But I think that out of the two, Rachel is the real protagonist, and so I enjoyed the book for most part.

I'm way older than the target audience, but I would love to read the rest of the books in this series! And I really want to re-read The Painted Garden now. It seems like it's time for my second childhood!

This review was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile

This is the third "shoes" book I've read. They are all delightful and charming. The families in these books come from various circumstances and are hodge podged delightfully together. It's not all roses as they learn to get along. But, through the mentors in their lives, dancing, and their good characters, they learn to be close friends- sisters, siblings. I love at the end of this book, that Julie wanted more than anything in the world to get married young and have "lots and lots of children". Such lovely role models.

I was given this for Christmas by Hailey Husdon, and it was such a sweet little book. Definitely not my normal read, but I enjoyed seeing the girl's story unfold. Their characters were vivid, and I loved seeing them grow. I really appreciated how Rachel and Hilary's relationship grew and changed.

Beth re-read it so I had to. (Also, wow, has it really been five years since I last read this? That seems wrong.)

Looooove this one. Maybe my favorite Streatfeild. RACHEL. Much more like I was than most child characters.

And SUCH a satisfying ending.

This is my favorite so far of the "Shoes" series. Elizabeth Sastre is a delight as the narrator and I never grew tired of hearing "Wintle's Little Wonders." Three girls are highlighted in this installment: Dulcie, Hilary and Rachel. Dulcie is incorrigible. Will nothing take her down off her high horse (a favorite phrase of my mother's)? Hilary is destined for the Royal Ballet School. Or is she? She is happy to dance as part of a troupe. Finally, Rachel is devastated by the loss of both her parents in such a short time. Will she ever find her niche? This one takes a satisfying plot twist before its satisfying ending. Simply lovely.

I do enjoy Streatfeild's Shoe books quite a bit - the formula is appealing in that there is usually a snooty character who learns a lesson and another who discovers an unknown talent and surprises everyone. In Dancing Shoes two sisters, having lost both of their parents, must go live with a previously unknown uncle. This uncle is married to a dancing teacher - who is quite difficult to live with -- and they have a spoiled & conceited dancing daughter. The girls must learn to dance. Hilary has talent but no drive and Rachel has no talent at all, or at least not for dancing. Rachel is devoted to her sister's dancing, and the fact that their mother had high hopes for Hilary. From there the story begins. It's the usual lovely Shoe story, but the only fly in the ointment is major for me. The old-fashioned and wrongheaded attitudes about adoption slam into the reader's face almost immediately. I had to keep reminding myself when it was written before I could continue. One could expect it from Mrs Wintle, the hardhearted dancing teacher, but to hear it from members of the very family in which the child was adopted is tough. And this book was written in the 50s.

This Shoe book is about Rachel an Hilary who go to live with their aunt and uncle when their mother dies. Aunt Cora runs an acting/dancing school that puts out groups of children called Wintle's Wonders. Rachel is obsessed with Hilary learning ballet - she has had some training, and Rachel's mother asked her to see that it is kept up. But when they are put in with the 'Wonder's, Hilary decides that acrobatics and tap are much more fun than ballet, and resists. Their cousin Dulcie is the spoiled daughter of the house, adored by her mother, and unhappy about having to share with her cousins. Rachel doesn't want to be a Wonder at all, but is more or less forced into it, still trying to get Hilary to pay more attention to her ballet. She gets off to a bad start because the adults think she is jealous of Hilary and she can never explain about her dead mother's wishes. Uncle Tom is the only one who sort of understands her, and at least listens and tries to help in small ways. I am really enjoying all the Shoe books so far!

Dancing Shoes is a very enjoyable children's book, just like all the other Shoe books I've read so far and one I can easily recommend for readers of all ages.

Hilary and Rachel make for a lovely main pair of characters to follow, they're very different people but their bond is strong and they keep an eye out for eachother at all times.
Aunt Cora was absolutely awful in an entertaining way but I really do have to wonder at how Rachel's uncle puts up with her, all that time spent far away from her, painting must be carrying that relationship.
Dulcie was also pretty terrible, but I'll forgive it in her more than her mother, what with her being a child and all.

I also enjoyed the various "wonders" and found their takes on whatever the current situation was pretty amusing.

I really enjoyed this classic book. It is definitely meant for a young reader, but is written beautifully. I've been wanting to read this book since watching "You've Got Mail".

I absolutely loved this book as a young girl (elementary age 3-5). If you love dance you'll love this book. It was one of my most favorite books when I was young.

Not my cup of tea. I thought it was rather boring.

This is a good book about the different kinds of girls there are.
Aunt Cora thinks there's only one way to be a girl, but it turns out that while cute, mean Dulcies and cute, frivolous Hilaries in little-girl frocks may get most of the attention, sometimes a mature, serious, and beautiful Rachel is just what's needed.