Don’t Forget to Smile (Ariane Beeston, Black Inc.)

Don’t Forget to Smile by Ariane Beeston is a rare Australian young adult novel set in the world of dance, a setting not often seen in local teen fiction.

The story follows 3 teenagers training full time at a competitive ballet academy, capturing the physical toll and personal sacrifice the art form demands. It alternates between the perspectives of Clara (who has been dancing since she was 3 years old and is incredibly ambitious) and Elle (a newcomer with natural talent but limited technical knowledge). Both are friends with Ben, who challenges rigid gender norms through his love of wearing a tutu and dancing en pointe.

Social media plays an important role in the narrative, with dancers comparing their bodies and performances on Instagram. Meanwhile, Elle posts on TikTok, calling out the industry’s fixation on thinness and its sexism, while another character begins an Insta chat with an older male dancer. When photographs of her are leaked without her consent, the consequences threaten her burgeoning career.

Beeston (Because I’m Not Myself, You See) brings a clear-eyed understanding of these pressures to the novel. Lovers of ballet will delight in the descriptions of classes and techniques, while the strong characterisation and exploration of body shaming, sexism and non-binary acceptance broaden the book’s appeal. Don’t Forget to Smile offers a much-needed Australian dance narrative for readers aged 12 and up.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Angela Crocombe is a senior buyer and bookseller at Readings Kids. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

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