Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild (1995, Paperback, Reprint)

Pros:
It beautifully shows the very different growing up tales of very different girls

Cons:
Most of the story traces the thoughts and lives of Pauline and Petrova, while keeping Posy a mystery

Ballet Shoes traces the lives of three children-- sisters, but not by blood; orphans, but with a loving family; talented, but struggling to get by. Even though we live in a different era from the Fossils, their story is easy to relate to for any girl, especially those with sisters. This was one of my absolute favourite books growing up, and it certainly still is now, a decade later. Streatfield's writing is simple, descriptive, and very comfortable-- a smooth read and smooth style that leads you easily through the phases of the girls' lives.

Although Streatfeild could have done much more with showing us Posy's perspective on things, not doing so also kept her as a bit of a mystery-- a sort of theme that continues with her throughout the story, as she's generally always a bit distant from the rest of the family and in her own world. (In short, Posy would make an excellent, excellent Pisces.)

This book was written in pre-war England and involves three adopted sisters who must enter theatre school in order to support their family. It's not at all gritty, but not fantastical either as the girls each learns about their talents and settles on a future. I read this book as a child and still enjoy picking it up to reread. If your child likes this "Shoes" book, Noel Streatfeild wrote an entires series of books along this line: "Tennis Shoes," "Dancing Shoes," etc. "Ballet Shoes" is a great book and I hope this generation of girls gets the chance to read it.