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    The Queen Bee of Bridgeton (Dancing Dream #1)
    Unavailable
    The Queen Bee of Bridgeton (Dancing Dream #1)
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    The Queen Bee of Bridgeton (Dancing Dream #1)
    Ebook210 pages3 hours

    The Queen Bee of Bridgeton (Dancing Dream #1)

    By Leslie DuBois

    4.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    When shy sixteen-year-old SONYA GARRISON is accepted into the prestigious Bridgeton academy, she hopes to just blend into the background and escape high school without too much emotional trauma. For awhile, her plan works. She is such a social outcast that no one even knows her name. She is usually mistaken for her beautiful, brilliant, and perfect older sister, SASHA GARRISON.
    Sonya and Sasha are two black teenagers raised in one of the worst neighborhoods in New Jersey and possibly the country, Venton Heights. They often go to bed to the sound of gun shots or wondering where their next meal will come from. Sasha protects her younger sister from the dangers of living in the projects and does everything she can to take care of her.
    Through sheer determination, they both get accepted to the elite Bridgeton Academy. Sasha receives an academic scholarship and Sonya receives a dance scholarship.
    Sasha immediately gets acclimated to the predominately white school and becomes one of the most popular students there. Sonya, however, is either ignored or ridiculed. The only time the students at Bridgeton realize she exists is when she is caught in the embarrassing and awkward situations that seem to occur too frequently.
    The only place Sonya makes a name for herself is at her dance studio where she is the prima ballerina. She is so determined to one day be a famous ballerina that she cleans the studio in exchange for lessons. Her dance ability happens to attract the attention of WILL MADDOX, Bridgeton’s white star basketball player, who asks her to his senior prom.
    Sonya’s relationship with Will suddenly casts her into world she is unfamiliar with and unprepared for: Popularity. Sparked by jealousy and racism, the Bitch Brigade, made up of the three most vicious girls in school, seek to put Sonya back in her ‘place’. Can she defeat the reigning high school royalty? Or will they succeed in ruining her lifelong dream of becoming a world class dancer?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLeslie DuBois
    Release dateMar 16, 2011
    ISBN9781458069016
    Unavailable
    The Queen Bee of Bridgeton (Dancing Dream #1)
    Author

    Leslie DuBois

    Leslie DuBois lives in Charleston, SC with her husband and two daughters. She also writes as Sybil Nelson.

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    Reviews for The Queen Bee of Bridgeton (Dancing Dream #1)

    4.5/5

    17 ratings18 reviews

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    • 5/5
      On commencing this book I assumed that it was a lovely story about a young girl chasing her ballet dreams. I was amazed at the complexity not only about this girl chasing her dream but her relationships with friends & family. She learns to allow her strengths to outshine her weaknesses. She also battles prejudice and poverty and all of the normal teens issues and comes out with shinning colors. Awesome book!
    • 5/5
      LESLIE DUBOIS' "THE QUEEN BEE OF BRIDGETON" (A REVIEW)I must say the Leslie DuBois is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. Her ability with writing stories about teens that are riveting, inspiring, and in depth is simply amazing. This story is about an African American teen that has had to overcome so much in her life to gain her true place in the world only to see it almost destroyed by a group of girls with a jealous streak. Unlike any other story of this kind that I have ever read, Leslie once again brings her characters to life and pulls the reader in placing them into the shoes of this young girl and making them realize just how hard it is to be a teenager. I commend her on her writing skills and her seemingly effortless flow. I will be sure to pick up more of her works in the near future. -Kitty Bullard / Great Minds Think Aloud Book Club
    • 4/5
      I went into reading this book with generic expectations, and then was taken by surprise. There is an undertone of depth that keeps you reading, the interpersonal relationships between the characters is well-written and delivered, and there is an intensity that drives the book along. Worth the read if you haven't already.
    • 3/5
      I’m having a better run of realistic YA novels rather than the paranormal/sci-fi/dystopic ones. I haven’t found an utterly fantastic one yet, but I’ve liked the realistic ones a lot more.

      So, obviously, I did enjoy this. The premise did have me worried at first, as I’m really not a fan of books where girls are set up to be bitchy to one another for no good reasons (which is another thing I think is just bad behavior to promote in general), but this was slightly better than I was expecting it to be. I liked the detail that Sonya isn’t willing to stoop down to the Bitch Brigade’s level and throw out catty comments. And when she does, Sonya’s extremely reluctant to do so and feels uncomfortable with it. I really like that she feels like she shouldn’t have to resort to bitchy remarks to take down these girls. We need more of this behavior in YA.

      I also really like how so much of the book is hinged on Sonya’s identity. She doesn’t really quite fit into Venton Heights or Bridgeton Academy, but she doesn’t feel like she needs to stand out in either place. And we get this strong love that Sonya has for dancing in her narration, and how it’s definitely the place where she feels like she belongs. I really liked this aspect of her; it makes Sonya more realistic. And I liked the uncertainity she has in her school, that she knows that she’s not on the automatic path to a good school. Not to mention, again, Sonya’s willing to do the right thing, even if she doesn’t want praise for it. She’s willing to help two girls she doesn’t even know in order to spare them from embarrassment. It’s another layer of realism that adds to her character.

      Also, there’s a good discussion on race that doesn’t verge on preachy. It’s set up very early on that Sonya and her sister Sasha have to get themselves out of the ghetto, as they can see what the alternate is. Sonya is a lot more believable in that she does feel very out of place in Venton Heights, but she’s not actively trying to act white or be better than anyone else. She’s just a girl who’s a bit out of step. And while there’s not a huge treatise on how Sonya and Sasha are treated at school, it is definitely discussed, albeit briefly. I don’t think it’s given the full weight of a race discussion, but it’s given enough credit to add to the story.

      I would have liked to have seen the racial discussion brought up in the relationship between Will and Sonya, as it’s given a brief two-second mention and then dropped. That said though, I do like this relationship. First off, it’s a little funny to see Will try to pull the Edward Cullen method of romance by stalking Sonya…who’s then a little freaked out and mad that Will would try that. It does illustrate will’s rich kid lifestyle, and the idea that he has to deal with someone who won’t respond to his every whim. And outside of the romance, I like the fact that Will and Sonya feel like they could just be friends, with no romantic obligations. I would have liked to have seen more with Will’s darker side, as it gets frequently mentioned but then unceremoniously dropped until it’s needed again.

      While I do like the set-up and the reasons behind Sonya trying to make good, the revenge scheme and the revelation behind the Bitch Brigade are the weakest parts of this, mostly due to Sasha. Early on, it feels like Sonya and Sasha have a very sisterly relationship—bickering, but they care about each other and want the other to succeed. Then, as the Brigade tries to threaten Sonya, Sasha continues to push her sister into becoming one of the mean girls. And then it’s revealed that Sasha is behind the Bitch Brigade, culminating in a fairly out of character villain speech and Sasha leaving the house because she has nothing left to reach for. There’s some hints as to Sasha being more involved than she let on, but the revelation and her sudden change in character comes out of nowhere. It’s explained away as “Well, she was just being manipulative the whole time!” but I don’t really buy it.

      Additionally, the pacing of the book is very rushed. The first half is decent, with Sonya and her growing romance with Will, but once the revenge scheme starts, everything happens so fast with little time to process what’s happening. Not to mention, the last chapter feels like all of the events are just arbitrarily tacked on to set up the next book. I feel like there could have been more of an ending, and drawing out everything that happens to Sonya in the last two chapters, instead of cramming everything in a few paragraphs.

      Even still, I did like this book. It’s not a must-read, but it’s worth checking out if you need a quick read on your ereader of choice.
    • 5/5
      This book was not at all what I expected, it was much better. The main characted, Sonya, was especially relatable, since like her I too tried to keep a low profile in High School. I think this would be a really great book for girls in High School to read, however, the book is fun and entertaining for people out of High School as well.
    • 5/5
      This is an amazingly well written novel in a similar vein as the movie Step-Up and will probably be just as well-loved by young adults. It involves a young girl who loves to dance but doesn't have the means to achieve that dream. Yet she does through extreme hard work. However, as we all know, hard work at a young age is rarely recognized by one's peers, especially when those peers are rich witches. Add on to all this the incredibly nasty, unlikeable sister and a hot yet messed up boyfriend and you have a recipe for a great, short read that teens will love. This is the kind of juicy stuff that actually does happen in teenage years and things don't always turn out for the best and everything becomes flowery and perfect. This novel is raw and gritty. I loved it!
    • 3/5
      Ever since I was a little girl, I've loved ballet and reading books about it, so when I received a copy of Queen Bee of Bridgeton I was extremely excited to read it. When I originally started reading the book, I was disappointed. In many ways it seemed to be another "Save the Last Dance" rags to riches story book tale. When I came back to the book a month later, and read farther than the first few chapters, I found that I really liked the book. Sometimes the "get out of the ghetto" message seemed a bit false, but the interesting plot line and vivid characterization pulled me through. Overall, I enjoyed this book.
    • 5/5
      Sonya is a poor black girl from Venton Heights, a low class and dangerous neighborhood. Yet both she and her sister, Sasha have huge dreams of getting out. Sasha through Princeton and Sonya through dance. Sonya is a Prima Ballerina in the making and she has busted her ass since she was five to become the type of dancer that does it for love rather than fame or money. Both girls were fortunate in being accepted into the prestigious Bridgeton Academy, Sasha on a Academic scholarship and Sonya on an Arts one. Whereas Sasha works so hard to be perfect in grades and fit in with others Sonya remains a loner, on the outskirts and very much invisible. That is until she meets Will, the star basketball player with the sad eyes. They start off as friends and work themselves into a relationship, eventually falling in love. Ah, but the prissy girls of Bridgeton are not fond of this relationship as they believe that Will should remain with their "kind" and not slum it. They go out of their way to break them up and destroy Sonya's life. The author Leslie DuBois, who was kind enough to select me for this story as well as for Guardian of Eden, once again blew me away with her ability to tell a story and keep you hooked until the end. She's an author who selects the genre of interracial romance and does a fabulous job of showing us the struggles while at times forgetting the race differences. I found that theme very strong in this novel. Sonya is black and Will is white, but when you read about her dance or his basketball skills you forget there is a difference. When you read the parts with them together the color of the skin fades so dramatically that you just forget. Then she is also very good at drawing the back into the strength of the story. The racist undertones of the secondary characters is sadly a true statement of today's times. Although race is not suppose to factor into any one's judgement of another it still makes a huge difference to some people. Ms. DuBois does a remarkable job of playing this out without making it seem like a soapbox. I commend her for taking on a genre that many writers are afraid to write about, for fear of the retaliation from either side of the fence. I loved the twists at the end and sweet revenge that is played out. Most assuredly a book for all ages and races.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this book. "The Queen Bee of Bridgeton" takes "mean girls" to a whole new level. I found myself rooting for the main character and applauding her for sticking with her values when faced with the harsh reality of living as a teenager in today's society. I found this one hard to put down!
    • 5/5
      LESLIE DUBOIS' "THE QUEEN BEE OF BRIDGETON" (A REVIEW)I must say the Leslie DuBois is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. Her ability with writing stories about teens that are riveting, inspiring, and in depth is simply amazing. This story is about an African American teen that has had to overcome so much in her life to gain her true place in the world only to see it almost destroyed by a group of girls with a jealous streak. Unlike any other story of this kind that I have ever read, Leslie once again brings her characters to life and pulls the reader in placing them into the shoes of this young girl and making them realize just how hard it is to be a teenager. I commend her on her writing skills and her seemingly effortless flow. I will be sure to pick up more of her works in the near future. -Kitty Bullard / Great Minds Think Aloud Book Club
    • 5/5
      I received this book as part of Member Giveaway. This book follows two sisters from a poor neighborhood who are accepted into a prestigious high school, one for her academics and the other on her dancing skills. The book focuses on Sonya (the dancing sister)'s invisibility at school and how she gains the attention of the mean girls at their school. There is an excellent romance between a poor little rich boy (who fills his pre-Sonya days with meaningless sex) and Sonya who changes him by her honest and refreshing naivete. There is bullying by a secret society and an unbelievable betrayal. I enjoyed the book. I liked Sonya and although her boyfriend's change was a little sudden and the plot was not completely new, it does progress smoothly and quickly. I enjoyed it. It will be a great YA read. Another great book from Miss Dubois. Highly recommended.
    • 5/5
      I absolutely loved this book! It was a refreshing and beautiful read. I previously read Priscilla the Great and loved it, so I had high expectations for The Queen Bee of Bridgeton. I caught myself laughing out loud, crying, and in shock of the twists and turns in the story.Sonya Garrison’s life is on repeat with dance, school, dance, and more dance. Her dream is to be the next big ballerina and she works so hard at that dream and is afraid of any distractions. Especially dangerous distractions in her neighborhood of Venton Heights. Although Sonya loves to dance, she feels as if she’s failing in comparison to her brilliant sister Sasha. To her, things for Sasha seem to always run smoothly.Sonya has heard a rumor around school, that for generations, The Queen Bee title has been passed down behind the scenes at Bridgeton Academy. Never did she think it would be true until she catches the eye of the star, white basketball player, Will Maddox. Will is weird and creepily honest with Sonya and first, but when Sonya gives him a chance she ends up falling in love with Will.To be honest, I expected the novel to be more about Sonya learning to overcome a racial relationship issue. The best part about this story was that Sonya just wanted a place to belong and NOT to Venton Heights’ dangerous schemes and deals around the streets. She knows she doesn’t belong there and just wants to make it out alive.I really enjoyed Sonya’s character and personality. She was funny, kind, beautiful, hard-working, and smart and she just gets better after falling for Will. This story has so many heart-wrenching, good and bad, situations and I was constantly hoping for all to work out and rooting for Sonya. Not to mention I was constantly on edge, because of the insane drama going down with The (psycho) Queen Bees at school!Overall this story was perfect. A fantastic novel about finding a place and how love, no matter who it is with, can change your life. Leslie DuBois’s writing was crisp and clear and hooked me from the beginning. I recommend this novel to anyone and I guarantee you won’t be sorry you picked it up!
    • 3/5
      I'll recommend this YA book to others. This was a very enjoyable read. There were times I laughed out loud, other times I cried or was tense (like Sonya), and still other times I was just downright mad. I look forward to more books from this author--good storyteller.
    • 4/5
      Sonya and Sasha are sisters who live in a rough neighborhood. After many years of persistance Sasha gets admitted to Bridgeton, a well known and highly elite school. Sasha encourages her sister to apply and Sonya ends up attending Bridgeton as well, but never really fits in. Sasha and Sonya hide from their classmates that they are poor and even go so far as to hide where they live from everyone, even their boyfriends. When Sonya crosses the "Bitch Brigade" (an elite and highly secretive group of girls who essentially run the school) they do everything in their power to destroy everything that is important to her, her boyfriend, her dancing, and her future. This book is a great read!
    • 4/5
      Sonya lives in a poor neighborhood with her older sister and her mom. She won 2 tickets to balet in elementry school and wanted to dance. Her mom could not afford to give her lessons but did buy a old pair of dance shoes for her. She found a dance studio that was the close as she could and watched from the windows and tried to copy them. When she got caught she offered to clean in exchange for dance lessons. Has continued now before school which she got into on scholarship and her sister has been thier after trying out 6 times. Sonya tries to be invisible to the students thier she does not fit in only a few black students go their. one day she forgot her dance shoes in her locker and hurried back to get them and a door crashes into her face. will and girl were making out and she realized this was second time she seen him after making out with someone. Sonja looks at him and said you have sad eyes.Will has been watching her for a while and asks her out and shes says no. She has no idea who he is or even his name. her sister cant believe she said no to him. between her dance lessons and when she gives lessons she has an hour and will shows up at studio with flowers and gets her to go to eat. Thier is a bunch of girls running the school and sets kids up that are in thier way or just for fun. No one knows exactly whos doing it. They dont like Sonja dating the basketball star and try to set her up and break them apart.It is a good story and you want to root for sonja and will and see everything work out for the best. I enjoyed reading it. got from librarything exchange for review.
    • 5/5
      Tuesday, May 3, 2011The Queen Bee of Bridgeton: Leslie Dubois I was able to read this great novel thanks to LibraryThing.com and the wonderful author, Leslie Dubois whose powerful writing and ability to endear the characters to her readers never fails to amaze me. Sonya Garrison is accepted into the prestigious Bridgeton Academy, she immediately feels alone as she is not accepted into any cliques upon entering. However, she has potential to be the most popular girl in the Academy. She is soon dating Will, the star of the basketball team; Will becomes the love interest throughout the novel. Slightly arrogant, but loving, will Will be good for Sonya? Sonya continues to do well in school and in her dance lessons, which she pays for by cleaning the studio. The reader quickly learns to love hard-working, caring Sonya. Her sister, Sasha, does not become the reader's favorite; quite the opposite of Sonya, Sasha can be cruel and does not seem to care who her actions affect. Sasha figures largely in the ending of the novel. The ending of the novel was satisfying for me, though I wish Sasha had gotten more karma than she did already. Sonya comes into her own and even elicits an apology from the reigning clique at the Academy. I would recommend this novel to young adult/teen readers. Keep writing Leslie Dubois!
    • 4/5
      This is a book that has nothing new yet it keeps you engrossed till the end. The book focusses on the issue of high school cliques and the story of a girl who tries to fight back. The story line is similar to novels/movies that use this theme. Yet, it is well written and the main character is interesting.
    • 5/5
      I received a copy of The Queen Bee of Bridgeton though a librarything.com giveaway in exchange for a review and was pleasantly surprised. I was interested from the book description but assumed it would be in the same vein of other angsty young adult books set in High School. This was not the case. The characters in this book deal with real and difficult issues. The main character Sonya is mature, loyal and goal oriented 16 yr old. Sonya and her sister long to escape the world they have grown up in and will do any thing to succeed in life. Sonya's way out is though dance at which she excels. Her dream she has worked for since she was eight is put in jeopardy when the ruling girls in her private high school attempt to to bring her down. I couldn't put this book down once i picked it up and cant wait to read more from this author.