Product Description

When juvenile rheumatoid arthritis strikes Regan's dream of becoming a professional dancer is in doubt.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1339248 in Books
• Published on: 2000-12-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 176 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 6-9-At first glance, this novel seems to tell the story of an aspiring dancer, but the main topic is one that is not often touched on in adolescent fiction. Regan lives to dance, that is, until she begins having unusual pain and swelling in her joints. She tries to hide her problem from her parents and dance teacher until one night the pain is so intense that she is unable to get out of bed. At first the doctors think the girl has leukemia, but later find that she has rheumatoid arthritis. Regan feels that her life is now over until her best friend shows her what is possible, even with this disability. There is little character development except for Regan. Also, it's unfortunate that there isn't more factual information about this condition and/or sources for further research on the subject as readers will want to know more. Still, since the novel deals with an unusual subject, it may be worth purchasing.
Shilo Halfen, Chicago Public Library
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 4-7. Twelve-year-old Regan Schaffer, who has her heart set on a professional dance career, hopes that being chosen as the host of Homeroom Exercise, a closed-circuit dance and calisthenics program to be broadcast to every classroom in her school, will further her goal. Then, her body begins to betray her--her knee swells, she develops a fever and chills, and several of her joints freeze up, causing great pain. The diagnosis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, is both physically and mentally disabling for Regan, who must come to terms with her prognosis. Several realistic subplots involving Regan's friendships with other classmates lighten the tone of the story and keep the book from becoming maudlin, and Striegel does her best to paint a hopeful (if not entirely rosy) picture of Regan's future. Kay Weisman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author
Jana Striegel has been a dancer, dance teacher, and choreographe. She has danced with many companies, including the New Mexico Ballet Company, Ballet del Monte Sol, and the American Southwest Ballet Company. She was also the owner of Jana's Academy of Music and Dance. Life Regan, she was raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she now lives with her husband and thier son. This is her first book. To find out more about "Homeroom Exercise", visit the author's Web site: www.janastriegel.com.