The Other Side of Perfect

by Mariko Turk

Overview

For fans of Sarah Dessen and Mary H.K. Choi, this lyrical and emotionally driven novel follows Alina, a young aspiring dancer who suffers a devastating injury and must face a world without ballet—as well as the darker side of her former dream.

Alina Keeler was destined to dance, but then a terrifying fall shatters her leg—and her dreams of a professional ballet career along with it.

After a summer healing (translation: eating vast amounts of Cool Ranch Doritos and binging ballet videos on YouTube), she is forced to trade her pre-professional dance classes for normal high school, where she reluctantly joins the school musical. However, rehearsals offer more than she expected—namely Jude, her annoyingly attractive castmate she just might be falling for.

But to move forward, Alina must make peace with her past and face the racism she experienced in the dance industry. She wonders what it means to yearn for ballet—something so beautiful, yet so broken. And as broken as she feels, can she ever open her heart to someone else?

Touching, romantic, and peppered with humor, this debut novel explores the tenuousness of perfectionism, the possibilities of change, and the importance of raising your voice.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316703406
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	05/11/2021
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	125,736
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Mariko Turk teaches writing and rhetoric classes and works as a writing tutor at the University of Colorado Boulder. She received her PhD in English from the University of Florida, with a concentration in children's literature. The Other Side of Perfect is her debut novel.

Editorial Reviews

03/29/2021

Debut author Turk draws readers into the contrasting worlds of classical ballet and musical theater in this insightful story about a half-white, half-Japanese high school junior whose dreams of becoming a professional ballerina are shattered. After a bad break results in “sixteen screws and two plates” in her leg and a life without dancing en pointe, Alina faces what feels like a dismal future. Previously devoted entirely to perfecting her dance technique, she now feels distanced from her schoolmates; her former dance friend, Colleen; as well as her younger sister, who traded in ballet for modern dance a long time ago. Now, Alina’s only friend is classmate Margot, who prods Alina to audition for the upcoming musical. Becoming a lead dancer in Singin’ in the Rain doesn’t erase all of Alina’s pain, but it does open the door to new possibilities as it causes her to reflect on ballet’s limitations, and introduces her to dance partner Jude, who literally and figuratively sweeps her off her feet. In addition to critiquing ballet’s narrow traditions and bringing to life the energy of performing on stage, Turk details a teen’s adjustments through a persuasive and winning first-person narrative. Ages 12–up. Agent: Alexandra Levick, Writers House. (May)

Publishers Weekly

Debut novelist Turk writes with a great deal of nuance....A well-choreographed story of hope, resilience, and personal growth.—Booklist

The writing is compelling, sentimental moments with please romance lovers, and the hopeful, yet realistic, ending is satisfying. A love story with a refreshing focus on confronting systemic racism.—Kirkus

A strong portrayal of musical theater, ballet, the arts, and culture all merged into a coming-of-age story that will resonate. —SLJ

Beautifully written, funny, and heartfelt, The Other Side of Perfect is a must-read debut. Alina is a character to cheer for and cherish.—Emma Mills, author of First & Then and Lucky Caller

A nuanced exploration of shattered dreams and new beginnings. Full of pain and beauty, like the best ballet.—Jenna Guillaume, author of What I Like About Me and You Were Made for Me

A captivating story of love, loss, identity and rediscovering your truth. Perfectly en pointe!—The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling

From the Publisher

02/01/2021

Gr 9 Up—Alina Keeler, who is half white and half Japanese, was born to be a professional ballerina and that is the only life she has ever known, until a devastating accident forces her out of the ballet world and back into normal high school. Dealing with her anger is only half the battle as she decides to branch out and make new friends and audition for the school musical Singin' in the Rain. Alina's new best friend Margot, who is half Mexican, is outspoken and just the right amount of pushy and it's enough to help Alina consider leaving the past behind. Central to the story is Alina and her sister, Josie's, relationship and the cultural discrimination in the ballet industry. Josie helps Alina see that Asian and Black dancers are represented falsely in traditional ballet narratives, and Josie's dance school challenges this destructive history by providing a new look at characters in The Nutcracker. During this shift in worlds for Alina, she discovers love and heartbreak, how to reach out to her former ballet best friend, and how to tackle resentment with other emotions instead of anger. VERDICT A strong portrayal of musical theater, ballet, the arts, and culture all merged into a coming-of-age story that will resonate with teens.—Stephanie Wilkes, Good Hope M.S., West Monroe, LA

School Library Journal

2021-03-13
An injured teenage ballerina falls in love while reexamining the cultural and racial context of her beloved art.

The decade Alina spent honing her ballet artistry is demolished in a split second when her leg is shattered in an accident. Struggling with depression, anxiety, and jealousy, she hides away from the world. When Alina is cast in the high school production of Singin’ in the Rain, she finds herself on a roller coaster of emotions as she navigates new friendships; a potential boyfriend in the charmingly tanned, black-haired star; and the prospect of dancing again. Can Alina find the internal strength and external support to confront the systemic racism of ballet and look to the future? Rom-com elements create a familiar framework for a fresh story exploring the tension between racist traditions and culturally authentic representation in the arts. Half Japanese and half White, Alina works through her complex feelings about being gaslit into dancing the problematic Chinese Tea solo in The Nutcracker for so many years while her best friend, Colleen, who is Black, was repeatedly given the Arabian Coffee role—and less talented White dancers got better parts. Alina’s compelling, realistic journey focuses on strategies to manage trauma and mental health with the goal of moving forward even when there are setbacks. The writing is engaging, sentimental moments will please romance lovers, and the hopeful, yet realistic, ending is satisfying.

A love story with a refreshing focus on confronting systemic racism. (Fiction. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews