Bright Burning Stars is a young adult novel by A.K. Small that was published last week, and it’s an in-depth look at the world of ballet school and all the things that it brings with it.

I grew up in the world of dance, but more on the outskirts than right in the thick of it. So while I was never too deeply embroiled by the competition and jealousy and expectations of the dance world, I’ve seen it and I know it’s there and oh-so-real. That’s why Bright Burning Stars was such a fascinating read to me, as it really delved into the dark world of ballet, and what it takes to be “the best”. It deals with numerous sensitive topics such as sex, manipulative friendships, suicide, abortion, eating disorders, and more. It felt very real. Some of the issues did seem glossed over though, and weren’t fully explored and resolved, which weakened the book a little in my view.

It’s hard to say whether I would recommend it or not. While I enjoyed reading, I think it might be in mostly a nostalgic way, as it completely took me back to my dance days. As I mentioned above, some of the darker themes weren’t resolved well, which would make me hesitant to recommend it to actual young adults (teens). For adults that enjoy young adult novels (and dance — if you don’t like ballet I would bet that you wouldn’t like this book), I think it’s an interesting read, and I enjoyed it overall.

Thanks, Algonguin Books for sending me an ARC via NetGalley in order to facilitate this review!