2008, Harper Collins Children's, 304 pages, Paperback, Personal Copy
Book summary from Harper Collins for the latest edition
Harriet is told that she must take up ice-skating in order to improve
her health. She isn’t much good at it, until she meets Lalla Moore, a
young skating star. Now Harriet is getting better and better on the ice,
and Lalla doesn’t like it. Does Harriet want to save their friendship
more than she wants to skate?
Nayu's thoughts
I read Ballet Shoes,
also by Noel, over and over when I was younger, and watched the film
(I think it has Emma Watson in) a few times too, so fully expected to
love White Boots. It's so awesome! I love Harriet's eclectic family
who do their best and always work hard, even when life isn't clear to
them. I love watching Harriet grow in confidence while skating, and
the issues she faces by having someone like Lalla as a best friend.
Lalla is a show off and loves attention-to a point which brings out
unpleasant characteristics. Harriet is a good counterbalance for
Lalla, who craves love and to be in an ordinary family.
I equally
loved a frequent character of Lalla's governess, Miss Goldethorpe who
knows how to handle Lalla's temperamental Aunt who dotes on her and
is convinced Lalla will be an incredible skater simply because her
father was. Um no, she doesn't realise that skating ability isn't
genetic or guaranteed, but that made the plot more interesting. The
moment Harriet gets her white boots made me cry, as did several other
touching moments.
Put this to the top of your reading pile! The
introduction by the children's author Cathy Cassidy was interesting as
was the extra bits at the end by Noel's nephew, as it helped me understand Noel's life a bit more.
Suggested read
Only in searching my blog for Ballet Shoes to recommend to you I discovered I've read another book by Noel, Tennis Shoes, which unlike Ballet Shoes has a review: Mini Review #10 Tennis Shoes by Noel Streatfeild (Children's, 9 years +, 10E/10E)
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