TAKING FLIGHT From War Orphan to Star Ballerina

Allyson Johnson narrates Michaela DePrince's autobiographical story with a sophisticated intensity. From the terror of DePrince's war-torn childhood, to the confusion of life in America, and the challenges in becoming a well-respected black ballerina, Johnson invokes the strength and determination of Michaela's dream. The story begins in Africa, with young Mabinty-turned-Michaela the least favored child in the orphanage after her parents die as a result of the civil war in Sierra Leone. When her American mother adopts her and her best friend, life begins anew for Michaela. Never wavering from her desire to become a ballerina, Michaela struggles to fit into the cutthroat ballet world. Listeners will be struck not just by Johnson's performance but also by Michaela's perseverance in the face of adversity. E.A.B. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2016]