Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina Young Readers Edition [Hardcover]

Determination meets dance in this middle grade adaptation of theNew York Timesbestselling memoir by the first African-American principal dancer in American Ballet Theatre history, Misty Copeland.

As the first African-American principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, Misty Copeland has been breaking down all kinds of barriers in the world of dance. But when she first started dancing—at the late age of thirteen—no one would have guessed the shy, underprivileged girl would one day make history in her field.

Her road to excellence was not easy—a chaotic home life, with several siblings and a single mother, was a stark contrast to the control and comfort she found on stage. And when her home life and incredible dance promise begin to clash, Misty had to learn to stand up for herself and navigate a complex relationship with her mother, while pursuing her ballet dreams.

Life in Motionis a story for all the kids who dare to be different, dream bigger, and want to break stereotypes in whatever they do.Life in Motion

chapter 1

FOR AS LONG AS I can remember, I’ve led a life in motion.

When I was two years old, I rode a bus from Kansas City, Missouri, to our new home in Southern California. I was the youngest back then, with two older brothers, Doug and Chris, and an older sister named Erica. Mommy moved us away from our father to a sunny suburb of Los Angeles called Bellflower, where we would live with her new husband, Harold.

I don’t remember the bus ride, but when I think back to those years, I always remember my time with Harold. He liked jokes and he had a great laugh, one that would make everyone around him laugh too. My baby sister,Lindsey, was born after we’d lived with Harold for three years, so I wasn’t the youngest anymore. But even with five of uslãd