In Lurlene McDaniel’s, "The Last Dance", dancing is not only a hobby but more of a dream for thirteen year old Rachel Deering. Rachel had been dancing since she was five under the instruction of Madame Pershoff. Ballet started as an activity that little girls participate in but as she grew older, Rachel knew she wanted to be a professional ballerina. In order to achieve her goal, practice was needed almost everyday. Rachel grew weak and tired due to her weekly routine of school and dancing. Both Madame Pershoff and her parents became very concerned about Rachel.
One day during practice, Rachel noticed the floor tilting and the barre wrinkling. The next thing she knew she was in the Hospital awakened by Dr. Malar. Rachel had Ketoacidosis, the last stage of the disease diabetes mellitus. Immediately, Rachel knew her future was ruined and dancing would no longer be a career but a broken dream. Through disbelief, anger, frustration, and rejection, Rachel had her friend Shawn, who also had diabetes, to help her overcome. Madame Pershoff encouraged her to not give up dancing for she had a scholarship opportunity at the School of American Ballet in New York City. Rachel believed that she still had a chance to prove she was a normal ballerina despite of her sickness.
This book was full of hope and encouragement for the young dancer to be able to become a ballerina no matter what distractions were thrown her way. The author really connects the reader with characters by putting them into their shoes. From disbelief to hope, the author shows the normal stages one would go through if they had a sickness or disease. The book teaches a very valuable lesson to never give up on your dreams and to do whatever it takes, no matter what the consequences, to achieve them.
-Laura Kathryn Murphy
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