The Maze Runner

Over the weekend, my friends and I wanted to go see a movie, and the only one that wasn't rated R, a little kid movie, or a sappy love movie was the Maze Runner. So, we went to go see the movie and at first, I wasn't so sure about it, but as it went on, I began to find it more and more interesting. By the end, I loved it, which inspired me to go buy the book. During the movie, I kept thinking about how amazing that story would have been in book form and how much more detail there would be in this book. Although the movie was great, I was a little confused about what was going on during certain parts. I figured that it would probably be much easier to understand in the book because you can go back and reread anything until you do understand it. I can't wait to read the book, even if I already know what happens in the end.

I had been looking for something to read, now that I'm done with Life In Motion, and this was the perfect opportunity to read a great book. Not only did I want to learn more about this story in greater detail than the movie, but I wanted to know what happened next. The movie left you at such a cliff hanger that even I, who is not a big fan of reading, was inspired to read this entire series, which I hope to do. I also really hope it doesn't end up like the Divergent series, where I got halfway through the second book, but got so bored with the same old dystopian story that was in the Hunger Games. Maybe it was just me who thought that, but either way, I was getting pretty tired of all these dystopian books, but The Maze Runner seemed to be different. It was a much more intricate and interesting story line that grabbed my attention. Like I said, even though I sometimes can't stand reading, I am so excited to read this!

Conclusion

I have just recently finished the book, Life in Motion, by Misty Copeland and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is not only interested in ballet, but to anyone who is looking for a very inspirational story. Throughout this entire story, Misty is constantly being told that there is no way that she will ever be a ballerina because of her body and her race. But that, nor the struggles with her family, ever held her back, since she was determined to become something great. As a result of all her hard work and dedication, Misty was able to be where she is today; a soloist at the American Ballet Theater, a dream of thousands of dancers.

Throughout the book, a very important message is conveyed; fight for what you love, and enjoy every part of it. At the end of the book, Misty's last words are, "I have made my mark in history and ballet. I will forever fight, performing as if it's my last show. And I will love every minute of it." These words are the perfect way to end this book since they leave a lasting impression on the reader. They sum up every part of her life that she shared into one meaningful and overall theme. This theme can apply to anyone's life, even if you aren't dreaming of becoming a professional ballerina. Misty hints that, if you forget about what everyone else tells you you can and can't do, you can reach your dreams. Now, Misty is finding plenty of ways to show this message to everyone, through not only her book, but speeches, advertisements, donations, and plenty others. For example, a recent Under Armour advertisement she did shows that even if everyone else tells you otherwise, you can achieve whatever you set your heart and mind to.

Characterization of Misty Copeland

I haven't read very much in my book lately, but I would like to write about the characterization of the main character of the book, Misty Copeland. I've already written a lot about how inspirational Misty is and about her childhood, but I what I haven't written about is what others think of Misty and how they react to her words and actions. So far, she has been a very likable person, who always tries as hard as she can to please everyone around her and to be liked by everyone who surrounds her. For example, one of her mother's boyfriends was always very stern and strict, but, since Misty always did everything she could to try to please everyone, she became his favorite out of the six children. Misty wrote, "I began to spend more time with him than my brothers and sisters did. since I was a people pleaser, I'd volunteer to accompany him when he ran errands, picking up tool or wax to buff his beloved jeep. After a while, Robert would some looking for me." (Copeland, 47). This quote shows that she was constantly trying to please everyone, even her mother's stern boyfriend, Robert, who the other children were afraid of.
Outside of home, nothing was much different. Although Misty really had no interest in ballet at first, her teacher, Miss Cindy, wanted her to try it so badly. In order to make her happy, Misty forced herself to take those first few classes, just to please Miss Cindy. In Misty's first few days, she attempted to avoid Cindy because she had no interest in ballet, "But Cindy wasn't giving up. About a week after I'd decided I had no interest in continuing, she spotted me... trapped, I reluctantly followed her to the front of her class," (Copeland, 34). Luckily, Misty gave in and agreed to take a few more ballet classes to make Cindy happy. Both Misty and Cindy found that she had a true talent for ballet, so it was a very good thing that she tried to please Cindy.

Life in Motion Part 2

Copeland's first time wearing pointe shoes, at age 13

I have continued to read Life In Motion by Misty Copeland and I have enjoyed every single page of it. Misty's writing is so deep and reflects the highs and lows of her life in such a realistic, yet intriguing, way. Throughout reading this book, I have a new found appreciation for her as not only a dancer, but a normal human-being. Misty's life was never easy for her, but she still found a way to get through her unsteady and never stable life through her love and passion for dance and her much loved siblings. Her mother had created a tough life for the Copeland children, with many different husbands and boyfriends, living in fear of one thing or another. In Misty's life, almost every good thing came with something horrible. For example, for about four years, her mother was with a man who had a job, a nice house, and money to support them. However, this man was overly strict, caused violence in the household, and made everyone constantly live in fear of what was to happen to them.

Young Copeland as Clara in The Nutcracker

Though her life at home was unpredictable and even devastating at times, there was one thing that was almost always steady in Copeland's life - ballet. Since she began dancing at age 13 at her local Boys and Girls Club, Misty's ballet teacher, Cindy Bradley, saw much potential in her dancing and took her under her wing at her own dance studio at the other end of town. Cindy persuaded Misty to come to her studio by offering Misty a full scholarship and even providing a ride from school to the studio everyday. Although Misty had thought that all she would ever do was be the captain of the drill team, she began to find a new love of ballet that she never would have thought would come to her. Ballet came naturally to her, even though she had started very late for a regular ballet dancer, and she was able to improve more and more, becoming an amazing dancer, very quickly.

Life in Motion

I recently began reading the autobiography, Life in Motion, by the famous ballet dancer, Misty Copeland. Although I'm only about forty pages into the book, I am already enjoying the book very much because the author has a very interesting story to tell about herself and she knows how to tell the story in an interesting way. I've been interested in Misty Copeland for a while now, and when she published her first book in early 2014, I knew I had to read it because she is such an amazing and inspirational dancer. As only the second African-American soloist at the American Ballet Theater, one of the world's most prestigious ballet companies, Copeland's story about her struggles of becoming a ballet dancer through a rough childhood are very inspirational. Since I already have an idea of this story, I am ecstatic the be able to read about it in depth, and from Copeland's point of view. Not only did my previous knowledge about the author pull me into this book, but also recommendations from friends who have read the book and the book itself. Many of my friends from ballet have read this book, because Misty Copeland is quite a popular figure in ballet, and they have all loved this book. The book itself pulled me in because, on the cover, it says, "My Story of Adversity and Grace," and "an unlikely ballerina," which makes me want to learn more about how she was an unlikely ballerina.

As I am beginning to read this novel, I am hoping that Misty's writing is as beautiful as her dancing. I believe that Copeland has a very inspiring story for dancers or anyone interested in ballet and it was very intelligent of her to publish it as a book. Although the first forty pages of this book have already been very enjoyable to read, I can't wait to read more. In this beginning, it seems like young Copeland would never have any chance of becoming a ballet dancer, under all of the rough circumstances, so I want to find out how she does manage to come out as one of the world's most 

beautiful dancers.