Review: AUDITION by Stasia Ward Kehoe

Audition by Stasia Ward Kehoe
Hardcover 464 pages
Published October 13, 2011 by Viking Juvenile

When high school junior Sara wins a coveted scholarship to study ballet, she must sacrifice everything for her new life as a professional dancer-in-training. Living in a strange city with a host family, she's deeply lonely-until she falls into the arms of Remington, a choreographer in his early twenties. At first, she loves being Rem's muse, but as she discovers a surprising passion for writing, she begins to question whether she's chosen the right path. Is Rem using her, or is it the other way around? And is dancing still her dream, or does she need something more? This debut novel in verse is as intense and romantic as it is eloquent.

Audition is a perfect example of how novels in verse can sometimes accomplish something that sets them apart from many traditional novels, in more ways than style. There is a rawness to Kehoe’s writing, and this plays a large role in the emotional impact the story had on me. I doubt I would have enjoyed this story as much if it wasn’t written in verse. Every single word matters. Every single word needs to have an impact. Kehoe pulled this off beautifully.

The story follows Sara as she spends a year studying ballet after winning a scholarship. We see Sara struggle as she tries to figure out who she is, and how she fits into this world. I think at some point in life, we can all relate to this. Maybe not in the world of dance, or arts, but at some point, we’re all just trying to figure out who we are and who we want to be. The lines blur for Sara, and we see the toll it is taking on her mentality. We see this in the choices she makes that may or may not be healthy for her in the long run. We see her figure herself out.

Audition is a story about the sacrifices we’re willing to make in order to become who we think we are supposed to be, and ultimately, a story of self-discovery. I loved every minute of it.

5/5 Stars