{"title":"Mariko Turk","description":"Mariko Turk teaches writing and rhetoric classes and works as a writing tutor at the University of Colorado Boulder. She received her PhD in English from the University of Florida, with a concentration in children's literature. The Other Side of Perfect is her debut novel.","products":[{"product_id":"the-other-side-of-perfect-paperback","title":"The Other Side of Perfect - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFor fans of Sarah Dessen and Mary H.K. Choi, this lyrical and emotionally driven novel follows Alina, a young aspiring dancer who suffers a devastating injury and must face a world without ballet--as well as the darker side of her former dream.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Alina Keeler was destined to dance, but then a terrifying fall shatters her leg--and her dreams of a professional ballet career along with it. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAfter a summer healing (translation: eating vast amounts of Cool Ranch Doritos and binging ballet videos on YouTube), she is forced to trade her pre-professional dance classes for normal high school, where she reluctantly joins the school musical. However, rehearsals offer more than she expected--namely Jude, her annoyingly attractive castmate she just might be falling for. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBut to move forward, Alina must make peace with her past and face the racism she experienced in the dance industry. She wonders what it means to yearn for ballet--something so beautiful, yet so broken. And as broken as she feels, can she ever open her heart to someone else? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eTouching, romantic, and peppered with humor, this debut novel explores the tenuousness of perfectionism, the possibilities of change, and the importance of raising your voice.","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50515681509599,"sku":"9780316703413","price":10.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0813\/8958\/4607\/files\/CIlGMbBRTA9780316703413.webp?v=1783073209"}],"url":"https:\/\/blackandbarhe.com\/collections\/mariko-turk.oembed","provider":"Black \u0026 Barhe Bookstore","version":"1.0","type":"link"}