I am a fan of narrative nonfiction, and this stands up well with some of my favorites. The stories are dramatic, personal and emotional, keeping the reader invested in the history. I'm always curious about adaptations for youth, and what is left in or left out. The only flaw I can see in this case is a few instances when it is difficult to keep the different characters straight. Mostly people are referred to by their last names, which is clear and easy, but occasionally, usually when quoting, first names are used, and I was forced to stop reading and look up who this person was. However, the book is still readable and the story is an important one. Even for readers less interested in dance specifically, the narrative of a "first" at something outshining and even erasing, however unintentionally, those that came before in the eyes of history is an important one to acknowledge and discard.

I have been excited for this book since I saw it was coming out. I know there’s an adult version, but I read this Young Readers Addition because we were considering it for ToB. And honestly, at this point it doesn’t matter. I enjoyed this and I enjoyed learning about these ladies. I don’t think I would have ever heard about them otherwise.

Since there’s been some discourse online, I will say this. Yes this book is written by a white woman. And yes I know we don’t want to learn about our history from them. I myself have a love/hate relationship with books like these. But in some cases, our history isn’t getting told. I went to look up these ladies AFTER I found out about this book. And a lot of it is just stuff that people put up AFTER the article (by the same author) was written. While I hate that we are learning about them by someone other than us, I do appreciate her wanting to tell their story. In the book she specifies that Misty Copeland didn’t even know about them and that’s just WILD to me. (And I think they’re getting paid for this too since they’re listed as narrators on the audiobook) So Idk. I feel a way, but I also want to know these ladies and what they’ve done and I still want these ladies to be known by other people as well.

Finding all these women and listening to their stories and learning about what they went through was rough. Knowing that people would most likely know the name Arthur Mitchell but not the names of these ladies was gut wrenching. Especially with the way he talked to them and treated them. They were subject to body shaming and so much more. And even now people still think of the school itself, but they don’t think of the women who were there first. And that’s upsetting to me. I loved that they have a space to come and talk about only them. When I looked them up individually, I realized that many of the things they did and talked about was always about someone else, whoever was “controlling” them at the time.

The way the story is told was good as well. It’s more memoir than bio and it’s about each of the women. Each of the prefaces is by the woman it’s about. And in the audio they narrate it. To know that some of these women were in The Wiz, and The Cotton Club, and how they traveled between countries and how people treated them in those other countries. I did read the Young Readers edition for work, so i can only imagine how bad things actually were. I will say tho, if we use this for ToB, it’s more memoir style vs narrative and the teens enjoy narrative non-fiction more, so this is something to think about.

This was really good, but I do feel like there could be more to tell. But I also feel like I wouldn’t know who to search for without this book. I get it if others were to opt out from reading this. However, if they do, I really hope they look up the women and what they went through to know and learn them. Don’t punish these ladies for who they chose to write their memoir.

The Swans of Harlem by Karen Valby is an incredible and powerful tribute to the groundbreaking Black ballerinas of the Dance Theater of Harlem, whose talents and achievements were often overlooked. This book is not just a history of these remarkable women, but a celebration of their perseverance and artistry in the face of racism and discrimination within the ballet world.

Having worked in the ballet world as BIPOC company manager and school admin/educator, I found this book deeply personal and moving. The stories of Lydia Abarca, Sheila Rohan, Gayle McKinney-Griffith, Karlya Shelton, and Marcia Sells are inspiring and need to be shared with a wider audience. The book's insightful exploration of their triumphs and struggles makes it an ideal subject for a Netflix documentary. Imagine a visually stunning, emotional series that brings these incredible women’s stories to life, showcasing their artistry and resilience against a backdrop of historical significance.

The narrative is compelling, educational, and uplifting, perfect for a documentary that not only highlights the history of Black dancers in the classical world but also addresses the racial barriers they broke down. This is a story that needs to be seen, remembered, and celebrated, and The Swans of Harlem would be a powerful visual experience for viewers everywhere.

This book sheds light on five pioneering Black ballerinas from The Dance Theater of Harlem, revealing their crucial yet often overlooked roles in classical dance during a time of racial exclusion. Featuring Lydia Abarca, Sheila Rohan, Gayle McKinney-Griffith, Karlya Shelton, and Marcia Sells, it highlights their struggles and achievements at the peak of the civil rights movement. Their stories of perseverance and artistry brought them global acclaim and made significant strides in a field dominated by racial barriers. Now, these ballerinas share their experiences, ensuring their legacy is remembered and celebrated.

An incredibly important book that was perfectly adapted for a younger audience. I hope that young girls everywhere can take something from this book and know that even though Misty Copeland has made history, she was supported from below by these women.