The Scarlet Stockings

By Charlotte Kandel

Thirteen years ago , Daphne was abandoned on the doorstep of an all-girls' school in London, where she grew up with two passionate dreams- to discover the truth about her past and to use her lifelong love of dancing to become a prima ballerina. Powerful magic explodes into Daphne's life with the arrival of a book containing a tantalizing riddle, together with a mysterious pair of scarlet stockings. Suddenly, the love, excitement, and glory she longs for are within her grasp! But Daphne soon realizes that in the competitive world of ballet, discipline and physical hardships are not the only challenges she must face. Will the magic be strong enough to help her overcome the scheming of others and her own childhood demons of loneliness and insecurity? Set in London and Paris the fabulous 1920s, in the dance world's atmosphere of fairytale beauty and harsh reality, this irresistible novel is rich in vivid characters, glamour, and classic storytelling.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0525478248
• ISBN13: 9780525478249
• Release Date: January 2008
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.3" x 1.3" x 5.9"
• Age Range: 8 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 3 and higher

Customer Reviews

Delightful Surprize

I thought at first this was another "Annie"(and I loved Annie) but that thought was diminished after the 5 pages. The Character Daphine imediatly takes by the hand. This is a book children will want read again and again.

The Scarlet Stockings

I have read and re-read The Scarlet Stockings by Charlotte Kandel. This is the first book of a trilogy and I can't wait for the second and third volumes. The story is lovely, something to be shared with your children, The main character, Daphne, connects with the reader in the first few sentences. She is an orphaned child who aspires to become a ballerina and follows her dreams, with the assistance of these magical stockings. In become a ballet star, she assumes the haughty demeanor of an aloof, and very self-absorbed individaul. "How stars are supposed to act" until she deeply hurts her three best friends from her small town with her caustic comments'and nasty attitude. Daphne is injured in a suspicious fall and sustains multiple serious injuries that endangered her life and caused by a jealous prima ballerina who risked everything to get rid of her main competition. Daphne returns home to recuperate and realizes the mistakes she made with her friends and how her grand atitude had caused her to lose more than just her friends. She lost sight of her goals and realized the fame and fortune she had experienced had made her into a very shallow and un-caring person. Through the intervention of her friends, including a fabulously famous actress who had befriend her years previously, Daphne pushes herself to retrain and be able to walk

Magical and Captivating!

As an Elementary School Teacher and Librarian I come across many children's books on a daily basis. This one stands out way above the rest!!! It is a page turner...I couldn't put it down. When I read the first chapter to some of my classes, they were so captivated by Daphne and the package that she received, that they begged me to continue reading more! I absolutely loved the characters (the good and the bad), the language, the accents, and the setting (1920's London and Paris). The Scarlet Stockings was filled with magic, suspense, glamour, hope and humor. The riddle throughout the book kept me on my toes. I highly recommend this book to any girl who has a dream!

BRAVA!

What a perfect blend of history and the art of dance! As an "auntie," I look for quality books to give as gifts. After reading "The Scarlet Stockings" myself, I knew it would be ideal for the young readers in my life. The highest compliment came from a fifth grader who left her brother's birthday party to pull her chair around the corner to start reading the book! I knew this combination of fantasy and ballet would entrance the young girls I know...and it has. Brava to Charlotte Kandel...and here's to the sequels.

Fantastic Read!

Charlotte Kandel's The Scarlet Stockings will be a delightful read for any aspiring dancer, ballet or otherwise. She crafted an amazing setting, characters you could love (or hate), and used a riddle throughout the book to keep our attention. I can't wait to read the sequel!