Review Detail

House of Dance is masterfully written. The prose are almost poetic. Rosie has nothing to do during this summer. Her mother is entangled with the married Mr. Paul, both romantically and logistically, since she works for him washing windows. She has no time for Rosie. Rosies grandfather is dying of cancer and her mother suggests Rosie help him organize his house. Shes nervous about what shes going to find the first day she visits.

Quietly Rosie enters his house and discovers him napping on the couch with a travel magazine tented on his chest. This is the beginning of a wonderful relationship. As the days go by, Rosie discovers many things about her grandfather: how much he loved is wife, Aideen, how he would watch her dance, how the music and dancing would transport them both to faraway places..the waltz, the mambo and the rumba&all the places he would read about in his magazines.

Kephart eloquently describes the sights Rosie sees as she walks to her grandfathers house: the multicolored balloons floating outside one store, the message of the day in the bookstore window, commuters disembarking the train, rain pelting down, wonderful aromas of the bakery, the taste of deli pickles. One day she hears music, stops and glances up becoming entranced by the sight, through a second story window, of two people dancing, at first entwined in each other, then separating and returning to each others arms. The concentration. The music. When the House of Dance offers a free lesson, Rosie hesitatingly gives dancing a try.

As Rosies grandfathers health starts its rapid decline, an idea germinates. It is this idea that prods her to continue her dancing lessons. While Rosies story itself is heartwarming, it is enhanced by Kebharts beautiful writing. Readers will feel like they are Rosies shadow, looking over her shoulder, sharing the experience. Readers will be introduced to bald Mr. Paul, Rosies neighbor and crush Nick, friendly store owners along her daily path, dancers. They will become friends, cohorts in Rosies scheme. House of Dance is one of the best written books of 2008. Dance to your local library and read it.