One of Streatfeild's less believable novels - the children's family are wiped out in an earthquake then they are rescued by a famous but absent minded British aristocrat (quite similar to GUM in Ballet Shoes actually) and reunited with their English relatives who are as awful to them as it is possible to be! Yet at the end of the story all is well with an completely mad set up proposed for the rest of their lives... The ballet element is very responsibly portrayed however with Anna insisting on not working on her pointes and only doing exercises rather than learning dances for public shows. She also emphasises the importance of a good teacher and the need for regular practise. Like Posy (and Lydia in the Gemma series) she is dedicated to her art and will do anything if it means she can dance and be taught by the best teachers. ( )

Three Turkish/Polish/English children lose everything and everyone they own in an Earthquake. They are sent to England to live with their unfriendly Uncle, where they are determined that the youngest child - Anna - will be able to continue her ballet lessons. Noel Streatfeild is one of the best writers to ever write about dancing, and this story, while not as good as Ballet Shoes is a well written book full of interesting characters. ( )