SKATING SHOES

Rating:
Summary: Maybe the best of the Shoes
Review: After Ballet Shoes, of course, this is my favorite of the Shoes books. And with the recent interest in skating because of Sarah Hughes, I think this one should be reprinted. What I like about this one is that the heroine is a gawky "daddy long-legs" girl who turns out to be a real skating star after being in her friend's shadow. And her friend, Lalla, who is the shining star in the early part of the book suffers from the perils of early success and of a "stage mother" or "skating mom" in a very realistic way. Despite her being a bit of a spoiled girl, we really come to like her. Probably the most balanced and realistic characterizations of the Shoe books. It's formulaic, of course, but we Shoe fans love the formula.

Rating:
Summary: Remember when Meg Ryan walked into Tom Hanks' bookstore?
Review: And the customer asked about the "Shoes" books, and a monologue about the wonders of Noel Streatfeild's "Shoes" books ensued, touching on Dancing Shoes, Ballet Shoes, and Skating Shoes, which is absolutely wonderful? That scene made me break down crying, because I had never heard anyone other than myself talk about these terrific books, and the fact that it is tragic that they are mostly out of print and hard to find. This book is a wonderful story of working hard for a goal, and accomplishing it, or at least getting on the road to achieving a reasonable, yet magical, goal. If you want a great book for your favorite elementary school girl, buy this one - then buy the other "Shoes" books (and get a copy of Tennis Shoes for your favorite boy too!)

Rating:
Summary: Looking for this title???
Review: I have loved the Shoes series since I first discovered them at my library when I was younger. My favorite is probably Dancing Shoes, but any of these books make wonderful reading for young girls, especially if they dream about being an actress, skater, or dancer. And there is good news for those who wish they could buy some of the books that are out of print in the US. Skating Shoes (also known as White Boots in the UK), Circus Shoes, Party Shoes, and Tennis Shoes are all still in print in England, and can be purchased at amazon.co.uk.