Another novel in verse, "A Time to Dance" follows teenager Veda’s work to become a traditional bharatanatyam dancer in India. She is devastated when a car crash leads to partial amputation and puts her dance career on hold. It’s a struggle to reestablish her skill, but Veda’s passion motivates her to keep working toward her goals.
The book is not perfect. The author in her preface – and then Veda as the narrator – use the term “differently abled” without acknowledging that this is a controversial term among people with disabilities. Despite this, "A Time to Dance" is a mostly honest look at disability that features a strong – but realistic and flawed – female protagonist making a place for herself in the world. This one is best for more advanced readers. (Ages 12 and up)
