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

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.