Breaking Pointe

By Chenée Marrapodi

Reviewed by Helen Gearing

In 2023, Chenée Marrapodi, host of the Writers off the Page podcast, released her debut middle-grade novel One Wrong Turn which explored the complexities of family expectations, migration, and ambition within an elite ballet academy. This was a fast-paced, beautifully told story featuring fourteen-year-old students Amelia (academy star) and Valentina (gifted new student) as they vied for the lead role in their academy’s major production. 

Like its prequel, Breaking Pointe is an excellent choice for confident readers ten years and older who love contemporary, real-world stories – whether they are familiar with dance or have never set foot on a stage. It continues to follow Amelia and Valentina as the girls navigate hours of intense classes at the Academy on top of their regular schoolwork and increasingly complex friendships. 

When a new teacher arrives at the Academy, Amelia is thrown off balance by her class’s shift from classical to contemporary ballet. She also battles increasingly poor health, which she hides from her friends and family, unable to admit the possibility that something serious is happening to her body – something that no amount of willpower, dedication, or experience ‘pushing through’ can overcome.

Meanwhile, Valentina finds the focus on contemporary choreography a natural fit, and excels. However, home life is stressful as her family faces financial difficulties and Valentina risks losing her spot at the Academy unless she can win an extremely competitive scholarship. An unexpected love interest further increases tension as Valentina is pulled between the cultural expectations of her migrant Italian family and the dating norms of mainstream Australia.

With first-person perspectives alternating between Amelia and Valentina, Breaking Pointe is a compelling deep-dive into the lives of two very different characters who are both dedicated to pursuing the athleticism and beauty of dance. It’s also a wonderful exploration of how friendship can thrive, even in a highly competitive environment.

Novels with unashamedly ambitious main characters (particularly girls) are rare in Australian literature, with its cultural appetite for pulling down tall poppies. Breaking Point is a much-needed exemption, and an excellent addition to any school or home library.

Teaching Notes

Fremantle Press 2024