An interesting look at mental illness. I really liked the way it examined bi-polar disorder. The main character suffers from it (as does the author) and the clarity of her descriptions makes this helpful in understanding her. However-- most of the action happens in the last 4 or five chapters. I feel like it could have been better interspersed with the rest of the novel. ( )

I enjoyed parts of this book. I am familiar with the 12 dancing princesses and I have enjoyed many versions of the story, but I wasn't in love with this version. The author has put bipolar disorder into the story making the main character, Phoenix bipolar and the princesses suffering from a magic version of the disorder. When they dance at night they are in their high or mania, in the morning they are tired, worn out and in their depressed stage. Phoenix is the shoemaker suffering from bipolar or the curse of the two kingdoms light and darkness. I did like the ingenious spin she adds to the story, but I got a little tired of reading when Phoenix was lost in the dark kingdom/depression, it was too much for the type of book I like, but I do understand the author wanted to express the hard and rough times that someone with bipolar disorder will suffer through.
I think this would be a good book for kids who are going through rough times, to learn that things are they way they are and you have to make the best out of what you have. ( )

The Phoenix Dance by Dia Calhoun - I've read five of Dia Calhoun's books in the last few monthes and Phoenix Dance contained some of my favorite characters but I found the theme of bipolar disease overworked. Several descriptive phrases were overused until they lost all impact (other than as irritant) and at several places the disease took over the story where it could have been more subtly engaged. That said, this is a great use for the story of the Twelve Dancing Princesses and as always Dia's characters are fully human and feel true.