Trailblazer, a book review blog

Trailblazer: The Story of Ballerina Raven Wilkinson by Leda Schubert and illustrated by Theodore Taylor III

with a foreword by Misty Copeland

for ages: 6 - 9

Who inspires our heroes and lights the way for generations to come? These are trailblazers. And before Firebird, there was Raven. Like most little girls, all Raven Wilkinson wanted to do is dance. There was just one problem: she was black and it was the mid-20th century. The readers follow Raven on her personal and profoundly heroic journey from a young inexperienced dancer to a defiant and talented black dancer fighting racism in 1950’s America. This journey has quirky dance mentors and defiant ballerinas facing off against heartbreaking hatred and fear. The historically based picture book boasts theatrically inspired illustrations with an overall introduction to the world of ballet and American history. Trailblazer burns with a passion for dance that defies the times leaving a triumphant legacy in its wake.