This is a great tribute to those who helped pave the way before us! Misty not only tells her story and struggles, but tells her mentor Raven's struggles as well.

I really enjoyed hearing Raven's journey in ballet in a world that was even more challenging than today due to racism. Enough so that she wasn't safe and had to dance overseas. Her relationship with Misty was really a beautiful friendship to see. Raven was such a guiding force in Misty reaching her goals.

This book really embodies perseverance and is an example to little girls out there that they can reach their dream too, no matter the color of their skin! Every little step forward makes a difference for the future!

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

Misty Copeland is a widely known for her trailblazing a path as a black ballerina in the American Ballet Theatre. The first African American woman to be promoted to principal dancer in the entire history of ABT. Other ballerinas of color helped lay the way for Misty to dance ballet professionally and one of these was Raven Wilkinson. Raven became a mentor to Misty when they met and Misty tells both her story as she goes through significant changes in her career where she gets promoted to principal dancer but also Raven's story as she goes through a crucible as a black woman in ballet in order to dance facing threats from the klan when her ballet company went to the southern US on tour, as well as discrimination in other aspects of her work. Misty tells their stories because as she says Raven became the Wind at Her Back.