Pointe by Brandy Colbert

Pointe

by Brandy Colbert
Genres: Fiction, Young Adult
Published on April 10th 2014
Pages: 352
Format: Hardcover Source: Library
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Theo is better now. She’s eating again, dating guys who are almost appropriate, and well on her way to becoming an elite ballet dancer. But when her oldest friend, Donovan, returns home after spending four long years with his kidnapper, Theo starts reliving memories about his abduction—and his abductor. Donovan isn’t talking about what happened, and even though Theo knows she didn’t do anything wrong, telling the truth would put everything she’s been living for at risk. But keeping quiet might be worse. Brandy Colbert dazzles in this heartbreaking yet hopeful debut novel about learning how to let go of even our most shameful secrets.

I’ve seen this book featured on a lot of lists about dance. The main character is a dancer but this not a book about dance.

Theo was 13 her first boyfriend broke up with her and then her best friend Donovan disappeared. She buried her feelings in dance and trying to control her life in ways that developed into an eating disorder. When Donovan is found, it is revealed that he was taken by the person who Theo still thinks of as her first love – except he is much older than he told Theo.

No one knows about their relationship except Donovan and he hasn’t spoken since he came home. Theo is going to have to testify but she doesn’t know if she should tell the whole truth.

This is a book that is hard to read as an adult. Of course you testify! The author did a good job getting into the mind of a teenager who has been abused and whose abuser’s voice is still in her head telling her that it is their secret.

three-stars