Tiny Pretty Things by Dhonielle Clayton and Sona Charaipotra

 

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I originally started this blog with a mention of Tiny Pretty Things so it's fitting I give a full review now when everyone is talking about it again thanks to the Netflix series. I'll start by saying I did not enjoy the Netflix series like I wanted to. I know characters and plots have to be changed when a series is adapted to a new format but they just didn't do a good job brining the duology to life.  Too many remixes of existing characters into newer characters and trying to make those who should've remained side characters leading characters but without the proper character writing. And then all the sex and nudity was not portrayed in a healthy way, was excessive and really thrown in for shock value to get people talking. And while I wasn't feeling any of the characters I really wasn't feeling Naveah at all. She and her family were serving me tired stereotypes I've seen too many times before. But enough of my rants. Let's get into the first book in the Tiny Pretty Things duology. 

The book follows three young ballerinas as they navigate a prestigious conservatory each vying the the leading role. 

Bette is the picture of ballet perfect at least on the surface. She's blonde, thin, and pretty. Her family practically runs the school with their prominent donations and she has the boyfriend every girl covets. But beyond the the façade lies an insecure girl caught in her older sister's shadow with an overbearing mother. She runs the school and harasses any girls she considers a threat to her chance at the lead role. Everyone knows what she's capable of and most would rather be on her good side.

June is half Korean and white with an unknown father and strict mother. She doesn't get along with the Korean girls and tries to act above them at times using her mixed background as justification while she secretly wishes she were like them. She doesn't fit in with the white girls or the Asian girls and she's not a remarkable dancer so she really doesn't have a place at the conservatory despite years of being there. This allows her to go under the radar when it comes to the "pranks" she plays against those she believes to be a threat. She must deal with her mother's constant threats to pull her out of the program and send her to public school as well as an eating disorder. She's a girl angry at the world who has convinced herself she should be the star.

Gigi is the new girl from San Francisco with the laid back personality and just amazing natural talent despite less prestigious training. Unlike Bette and June she has a loving family consisting of a mother, father and aunt who always support her despite their fears of how she fit at the conservatory. She's not like the other girls and often wonders if it's just her leading position, her personality or the fact that's she's Black that has people judging her in situations. Gigi must also constantly worry if she's working her body to it's breaking point. 

The story follows a two act format with the first act being the fall semester as the students prepare to perform The Nutcracker and the second act being the spring semester performance of Giselle.

Something a ballerina pointed out to me is that this book parallels the ballet Giselle that the teens perform. For those unfamiliar with the tale it's a romantic story of a peasant girl who falls for a nobleman named Albrecht. She ends up dying from a weak heart upon realizing they can never truly be together.  Gigi suffers from a heart condition that is often threatening her ability to dance. She is also in a relationship with Alec, Bette's former flame and must deal with feelings that they aren't truly right for each other.

From the outside looking in the book might seem tame but it's quite darker. Hazing goes overboard when girls go from simple pranks to mind games to placing glass in the slippers of their rivals. Though some situations are over the top it does examine the negative aspects of the ballet world such as the pressure to maintain low body weight, substance abuse, sexualization of ballet, racism, and overall competitiveness. Amidst the dirty tricks and blatant harassment there's also a bit of subtleness when it comes to certain situations that's unexpected. And I thought the side characters were well developed but didn't overpower our leads. And where the series adaptation goes for high drama and edginess it fails to capture some of the emotional beats that have you beginning for part 2.