Theresa K. (Tesstarosa) -
It's almost time for eleven-year-old Kaylee O'Shay's first Irish dance competition â called a âfeisâ (pronounced âfeshâ.) She loves Irish dancing and practices constantly and works hard to improve her dancing. But, at the same time it has drawn her away from her father, who is now coaching her younger brother's soccer team.
The same group of girls still make fun of her and call her O'Shrimp and the boy that Kaylee is really interested in, of course, just follows the leader of those girls around. She's still friends with Jackie, from soccer, and her relationships with her Irish dance school friends are growing.
She is even growing closer to her Grandma Birdsall who lives with her family. She spends her Sunday afternoons learning to quilt from her. It's not something Kaylee really wants to do, but it makes her Grandma happy and she is getting better at her quilting.
Since her family doesn't have a lot of money, Kaylee has to wait until later in the year to attend her first feis. Late in the soccer season, her old soccer team is short a couple players and Kaylee agrees to join the team so they aren't disqualified. She does this despite the fact that she knows one of her coaches, Miss Helen, really hates soccer because one of her most promising students, years ago, chose soccer over Irish dance.
But at the soccer game, tragedy strikes and Kaylee may not be able to even dance at her first feis.
Again, I really enjoyed reading this book. It has the usual pre-teen angst â what boys like me, why doesn't that girl like me, how to I not disappoint my parents and how do I achieve my dreams.
*This is a young adult fiction book â I read it because I gave it to my nieces for Christmas 2009.
The same group of girls still make fun of her and call her O'Shrimp and the boy that Kaylee is really interested in, of course, just follows the leader of those girls around. She's still friends with Jackie, from soccer, and her relationships with her Irish dance school friends are growing.
She is even growing closer to her Grandma Birdsall who lives with her family. She spends her Sunday afternoons learning to quilt from her. It's not something Kaylee really wants to do, but it makes her Grandma happy and she is getting better at her quilting.
Since her family doesn't have a lot of money, Kaylee has to wait until later in the year to attend her first feis. Late in the soccer season, her old soccer team is short a couple players and Kaylee agrees to join the team so they aren't disqualified. She does this despite the fact that she knows one of her coaches, Miss Helen, really hates soccer because one of her most promising students, years ago, chose soccer over Irish dance.
But at the soccer game, tragedy strikes and Kaylee may not be able to even dance at her first feis.
Again, I really enjoyed reading this book. It has the usual pre-teen angst â what boys like me, why doesn't that girl like me, how to I not disappoint my parents and how do I achieve my dreams.
*This is a young adult fiction book â I read it because I gave it to my nieces for Christmas 2009.
