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Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina Young Readers Edition Hardcover – December 6, 2016

by Misty Copeland (Author)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 820 ratings
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A bestselling and prize-winning memoir by African American ballerina Misty Copeland, Life in Motion is the vividly told story of her journey to the world-class American Ballet Theatre—and delves into the harrowing family conflicts that nearly drove her away from ballet as a thirteen-year-old prodigy.

Determination meets dance in this New York Times bestselling memoir by the history-making ballerina Misty Copeland, recounting the story of her journey to become the first African-American principal ballerina at the prestigious American Ballet Theatre. When she first placed her hands on the barre at an after-school community center, no one expected the undersized, underprivileged, and anxious thirteen-year-old to become one of America’s most groundbreaking dancers . A true prodigy, she was attempting in months roles that take most dancers years to master. But when Misty became caught between the control and comfort she found in the world of ballet and the harsh realities of her own life, she had to choose to embrace both her identity and her dreams, and find the courage to be one of a kind.

With an insider’s passion, Misty opens a window into the life of an artist who lives life center stage, from behind the scenes at her first classes to her triumphant roles in some of the world’s most iconic ballets. A sensational memoir as “sensitive” and “clear-eyed” (The Washington Post) as her dancing, Life in Motion is a story of passion, identity and grace for anyone who has dared to dream of a different life.
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Previous page
  1. Reading age
    9 - 12 years, from customers
  2. Print length
    192 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    3 - 7
  5. Lexile measure
    890L
  6. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.7 x 8.25 inches
  7. Publisher
    Aladdin
  8. Publication date
    December 6, 2016
  9. ISBN-10
    1481479792
  10. ISBN-13
    978-1481479790
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 4–7—Although Copeland didn't begin her ballet training until the age of 13, she transcended the competition in just five years' time and became a professional dancer at the American Ballet Theatre. Despite Copeland's extraordinary natural talent, her dance career has not been an easy one. In this young readers edition of her 2014 autobiography, she relates her experiences growing up in a low-income, single-parent family and recounts the custody battle between her mother and her dance teacher. Copeland goes on to describe the challenges of her life as a professional ballerina, most notably her isolation as a black artist in a predominantly white field. She writes that "some people still notice [her] skin color before they notice [her] talent" and that others "simply don't believe brown girls have a place in classical ballet." While Copeland's overall tone is conversational, her frank discussion of race is serious and relevant to tween readers. She expresses gratitude for her numerous friends and supporters and recalls her delight at certain opportunities and roles, such as her collaboration with Prince and her landmark performance as the Firebird in 2012. Copeland closes her book by saying that she wants young dancers to "look at what I've accomplished and realize they can achieve this dream, too." VERDICT Copeland's story will interest, inform, and inspire budding ballerinas and deserves a place in every library that serves middle grade readers.—Magdalena Teske, Naperville Public Library, IL

About the Author

Misty Copeland made history by becoming the third African-American ballerina for the American Ballet Theatre, the first in decades. A recipient of the Leonore Annenberg Fellowship in the Arts and an inductee into the Boys and Girls Club Alumni Hall of Fame, she currently lives in New York City. Visit her online at MistyCopeland.com.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Aladdin; Young Readers ed. edition (December 6, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1481479792
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1481479790
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 9 - 12 years, from customers
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 890L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.7 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 820 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Brandy Colbert

    Brandy Colbert

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Brandy Colbert was born and raised in Springfield, Missouri, and has worked as an editor for several national magazines. She lives and writes in Los Angeles.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Misty Copeland

    Misty Copeland

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Misty Danielle Copeland (born September 10, 1982) is an American ballet dancer for American Ballet Theatre (ABT), one of the three leading classical ballet companies in the United States. On June 30, 2015, Copeland became the first African American woman to be promoted to principal dancer in ABT's 75-year history.

    Copeland was considered a prodigy who rose to stardom despite not starting ballet until the age of 13. By age 15, her mother and ballet teachers, who were serving as her custodial guardians, fought a custody battle over her. Meanwhile, Copeland, who was already an award-winning dancer, was fielding professional offers. The 1998 legal issues involved filings for emancipation by Copeland and restraining orders by her mother. Both sides dropped legal proceedings, and Copeland moved home to begin studying under a new teacher who was a former ABT member.

    In 1997, Copeland won the Los Angeles Music Center Spotlight Award as the best dancer in Southern California. After two summer workshops with ABT, she became a member of ABT's Studio Company in 2000 and its corps de ballet in 2001, and became an ABT soloist in 2007. As a soloist from 2007 to mid-2015, she was described as having matured into a more contemporary and sophisticated dancer.

    In addition to her dance career, Copeland has become a public speaker, celebrity spokesperson and stage performer. She has written two autobiographical books and narrated a documentary about her career challenges, A Ballerina's Tale. In 2015, she was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time, appearing on its cover. She performed on Broadway in On the Town, toured as a featured dancer for Prince and appeared on the reality television shows A Day in the Life and So You Think You Can Dance. She has endorsed products and companies such as T-Mobile, Dr Pepper, Seiko and Under Armour.

    Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Photo by Gilda N. Squire Gildasquire (Extracted from File:From the ballet Coppelia.jpg) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
820 global ratings
This was an amazing book. My 9 year old daughter couldn't put ...
5 Stars
This was an amazing book. My 9 year old daughter couldn't put ...
This was an amazing book. My 9 year old daughter couldn't put it down. My daughter loves ballet and she is also mixed. So she was very interested in Misty Copelands story. She told me about each chapter and I just had to read it for myself. I would recommend it to anyone. It was a fantastic story.
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Top reviews from the United States

Bonnie Graham
5.0 out of 5 stars INSPIRING!!! Her courage is exalting!
Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2017
Verified Purchase
Brought this book for my two young great nieces. One lives in Florida and the other one lives in Kansas. They are both avid readers and even though they are both still in elementary school, they read at a 7th grade level. Both young ladies love the performing arts, also. I felt that their book collections would not be complete without this book by Misty Copeland on a shelf. Both nieces have called to thank me. So have their parents. One has already started reading it and keep texting me whenever she get to an amazing part in Misty life. She wishes every girl in her class had the book. She say it is inspiring and young girls of all races should read it.
9 people found this helpful
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Angela
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful and inspiring book
Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2023
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My little ballerina loved this book
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Sandra B.
5.0 out of 5 stars What I liked about this memoir is Misty Copeland's honesty about her ...
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2018
Verified Purchase
What I liked about this memoir is Misty Copeland's honesty about her journey as a ballerina. Even though it was not an easy trip, it took hard work and determination, she still could find the fortitude to encourage other young girls and boys to take this sometimes grueling and disappointing trip. In this world of so much negativism, we need others, who have exceeded in their life's quest, to step forward with words of wisdom and encouragement to remind our youth to keep pushing and moving forward. The outcome is worth the trip. Life in Motion is published in this adult version and in a youth version. I have both and have enjoyed the reading.
7 people found this helpful
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frederick c. hernden
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book!
Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2021
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I love this book, when I was young I danced ballet and I loved it.
I now dance flamenco, but I love any kind of dancing. I’m a teenager, so this good for all ages. Misty is a wonderful women. What a great book! I definetely recommend.
2 people found this helpful
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HHmom
4.0 out of 5 stars I loved reading a bit of this with my daughter
Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2018
Verified Purchase
I loved reading a bit of this with my daughter. And loved even more that my daughter read most of this on her own. The book kept her attention right up to the end. This book is very easy to read and tells an incredible story of Misty Copeland’s life as a young dancer. The story is amazing, just not masterfully told in this book. The reading level is very obviously aimed at 8-10 year old readers.
12 people found this helpful
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jwrr
5.0 out of 5 stars timeliness
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2022
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Book arrived in stated condition and in a timely manner - thank you!
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maria maucci
5.0 out of 5 stars A true story to admire and a very pleasent book to read. I deeply recommend it specially if you want to glimpse the ballet world
Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2019
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A real Life story to admire and a very pleasent book to read,_
I deeply recommend it because I enjoyed reading it very much
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Life in Motion Book
Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2021
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Awesome book a cover is brilliant she’s my hero great product
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Jackeline
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfeito
Reviewed in Brazil on October 15, 2023
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Incrível saber mais sobre bailarinas neste mundo. Misty é uma lenda.
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Antonio
5.0 out of 5 stars Buenbservicio
Reviewed in Mexico on February 8, 2023
Verified Purchase
Llego antes de lo señalado, y el libro responde a lo deseado
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Read for Young Dancers
Reviewed in Canada on November 1, 2018
Verified Purchase
May daughter was given this as a Christmas gift last year, she liked it so much, she bought one to give a cast mate in the Nutcracker.
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Hola Dancer
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent service
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 14, 2019
Verified Purchase
This was a Christmas present for a girl that I teach. I had read the book myself on a recent cruise and felt it would be just right for her. It arrived in the stated time and was in excellent condition. Very satisfied. Thank you
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Frankie
5.0 out of 5 stars perfect for a 10 year old ballerina
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 20, 2020
Verified Purchase
My 10 year old loved this, perfectly appropriate for her age it is the first autobiography she has read and she would love to read more like it, hard to find though for her age group sadly.
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