I spend a lot of time pre-reading books for my kids. I found this book on an 8th grade must read list. Taking Flight falls into reading categories such as Young Adult Ballet, Dance, Orphan, Africa history, War Orphan, Adoption, Dreams, hope, and memoir.
Taking Flight is a fantastic read about dreams, overcoming, and hope. Michaela shares her heart as she tells her story. She was born in
Africa to parents who accepted her as a girl and planned a great future for
her. Her parents died and she ended up living with an abusive uncle who sold
her to an orphanage. She was then adopted by an American couple and grew up in
the United States. From a young age, even before leaving Africa, Michaela
dreamed of being a ballerina. Her family helped her achieve her dream and her
mother encouraged here to share it. “I have been blessed with a hardy dose of
hope,” says Michaela. “It was hope that enabled me to survive in Africa in the
face of abuse, starvation, pain, and terrible danger. It was hope that made me
dare to dream, and it was hope that helped that dream take flight.”
Elizabeth