This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
The Nutcracker Chronicles by Janine Kovac is a memoir that explores Kovac's journey as a ballerina and her early aspirations, which included becoming a psychologist. Influenced by a music box ballerina, Kovac begins ballet lessons at Fort Bliss, later admiring prima ballerina Renée Segapeli after watching The Nutcracker. Training at the San Francisco Ballet School under Robert Gladstein, she faces strict discipline and body image pressures while balancing her love for dance. Kovac performs as the Sugar Plum Fairy and receives a contract offer from the National Ballet of Iceland. After a successful stint with Michael Smuin's company, her life shifts somewhat, alongside family responsibilities and her own daughter's artistic journey, ultimately leading Kovac to champion the simple joy in dance and self-acceptance in her teaching approach.
As a girl dad, I can state definitively that becoming a ballerina is the dream of many, and The Nutcracker Chronicles by Janine Kovac is a fantastic memoir that shows us what it really is to be one. Kovac's writing style is conversational and there's a comfort to it, like a friend sitting down and recounting her unique experiences. I love the insightful behind-the-scenes look into the lives of ballerinas, revealing the demands and pressures they face. It's good, it's bad, and it is often extremely beautiful. The descriptions of her emotional highs and lows of pursuing a passion—such as the thrill of performance, the sting of competition, and how personal relationships coexist—will resonate with anyone who has ever chased a dream. The beauty of the performances emerges as both an internal and external component for Kovac through the magic and artistry of ballet. Overall, this memoir serves as an inspiring account of dedication and the transformative power of dance, inviting readers to reflect on their own journeys of self-discovery and resilience. Very highly recommended.
