DePrince, Michaela.
TAKING FLIGHT : FROM WAR ORPHAN TO STAR BALLERINA
New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2014
IL YA
ISBN 0385755112

Imagine that you’re a four year old child named Mabinty, with a father and mother who love you more than anything, despite your discolored skin which makes others call you “devil’s child.” Now imagine that war has come to your peaceful village and your mother and father are suddenly taken from you. Your uncle doesn’t want you because he already has 13 daughters to find husbands for and your spotted skin makes you of little value to him so he takes you an orphanage where then even your name is taken from you and you become Number 27. All you want to do is to be loved and happy again and to dance. Read this book to find out how Number 27, the “devil’s child,” got her wish and become an internationally successful ballerina named Michaela. (Prepared by: Marti Brown, Westwood High School, martbrown@richland2.org  South Carolina Young Adult Book nominee 2017)