The Turning Pointe

By: Vanessa L. Torres

Narrated by: Victoria Villarreal

A bold and emotionally gripping novel about a teenage Latinx girl finding freedom through dance and breaking expectations in 1980s Minnesota.

When sixteen-year-old Rosa Dominguez pirouettes, she is poetry in pointe shoes. And as the daughter of a tyrant ballet Master, Rosa seems destined to become the star principal dancer of her studio. But Rosa would do anything for one hour in the dance studio upstairs where Prince, the Purple One himself, is in the house.

After her father announces their upcoming auditions for a concert with Prince, Rosa is more determined than ever to succeed. Then Nikki--the cross-dressing, funky boy who works in the dance shop--leaps into her life. Weighed down by family expectations, Rosa is at a crossroads, desperate to escape so she can show everyone what she can do when freed of her pointe shoes. Now is her chance to break away from a life in tulle, grooving to that unmistakable Minneapolis sound reverberating through every bone in her body.

Critic reviews

"Firmly rooted in era and place, interwoven with Spanish and filled with vivid, frequently gritty, sensory details and suspenseful subplots, the novel powerfully depicts Rosa’s emotional voice, deep love for Gloria, and struggles toward understanding, acceptance, and joy."—Publishers Weekly

"Realistic with a beautifully hopeful ending, Torres’ historical novel will dance its way into readers’ hearts."—Booklist

"A powerful story of overcoming expectations with a hopeful ending."—Kirkus

"With masterfully drawn characters, complex relationships, and gripping prose, Torres has given the world a story that will cling to hearts and minds long after its final words. Hauntingly gorgeous."
—Laura Taylor Namey, New York Times-bestselling author of A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow

"Torres crafts characters so real I can feel their heartbeats as strong as Prince's "Purple Rain" guitar solo. You won't forget this incredibly compelling story that goes beyond a girl just finding out who she is—but how to be the change the world isn't ready for yet. A must read for anyone with a heart."
—Dante Medema, author of The Truth Project and Message Not Found

Wow, this this is a very powerful, gritty book.

Vanessa did a great job with telling the story of Rosa Dominguez and her struggles to navigate life and find herself. All the characters are very likable and believable. She takes you back to 1980s Minneapolis with her descriptive writing. I will recommend this to others.