Title: Leap
Author: Simina Popescu
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Publication date: November 12, 2024
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Summary
Ana and Sara are new roommates at an elite dance school in Bucharest, Romania. Currently, Ana has been all about her girlfriend, Carina, and unsure if her heart lies with dance anymore. She’s been molding her life to Carina, without thinking about how it will affect her own future.
Meanwhile, Sara is rumored to be one of the best dancers at their school in a long time. Under the wing of her mentor, Marlena, she switches from classical to contemporary. But she’s unsure what to do with these new feelings that might be sparking for her mentor.
Review: Leap
Thanks to NetGalley and Roaring Brook Press for an advanced copy of Leap by Simina Popescu to review! 2024 truly has been the year of graphic novels, even coming up to the end of the year. This book can definitely be added to that list, with beautiful art and strong emotional storytelling.
While the dancing does take center stage in this book, Sara and Ana’s journey coming out and coming to terms with their identity is also a huge part of the plot. They’re both struggling with their identity in a profession that doesn’t always look fondly on queer people. Both of them struggle with this as they decide where they want their futures to go.
In addition to identity, Popescu also focuses on the difficulties of being in the dance world, including body image issues and the pressure to always be practicing. These are struggles that teens outside of the dance world can also relate to, and they are done in a way that feels applicable to teens.
I’m not sure if this is going to be in full color when finished or in the color palette shown on the cover, but either way, the art does justice to the story. If you like graphic novels that explore identity, definitely check this one out!