���������������������������������������������������������������byBarbaraA.DonovanillustratedbyAmandaHaleyCopyright©byHarcourt,Inc.Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproducedortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,electronicormechanical,includingphotocopy,recording,oranyinformationstorageandretrievalsystem,withoutpermissioninwritingfromthepublisher.RequestsforpermissiontomakecopiesofanypartoftheworkshouldbeaddressedtoSchoolPer-missionsandCopyrights,Harcourt,Inc.,6277SeaHarborDrive,Orlando,Florida32887-6777.Fax:407-345-2418.HARCOURTandtheHarcourtLogoaretrademarksofHarcourt,Inc.,registeredintheUnitedStatesofAmericaand/orotherjurisdictions.PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmericaISBN10:0-15-351688-7ISBN13:978-0-15-351688-7OrderingOptionsISBN10:0-15-351216-4(Grade6AdvancedCollection)ISBN13:978-0-15-351216-2(Grade6AdvancedCollection)ISBN10:0-15-358171-9(packageof5)ISBN13:978-0-15-358171-7(packageof5)Ifyouhavereceivedthesematerialsasexaminationcopiesfreeofcharge,HarcourtSchoolPub-lishersretainstitletothematerialsandtheymaynotberesold.Resaleofexaminationcopiesisstrictlyprohibitedandisillegal.Possessionofthispublicationinprintformatdoesnotentitleuserstoconvertthispublication,oranyportionofit,intoelectronicformat.12345678910179121110090807063TheannouncementwaspinnedtothebulletinboardinMadameBelle’sDanceStudio.ItheldthewordsNiabihadhopedfor,dreamedof,andworkedtowardssinceshehadstartedballetclasseswhenshewasonlyfouryearsold.Therewouldbeanauditionofdancersforoneofthemostpopularballetsofalltime—TheNutcracker.Niabicouldbarelybreatheasshereadtheannouncementandrecalledthetryoutslastyear.“YoushouldtryoutforthepartofClara,”whisperedavoicebehindNiabi.Niabiknewthevoicebelongedtoanotherdancestudent,Alyssa.“Whatgoodwouldthatdo,Alyssa?”Niabiasked.“Youknowthatyouarethebestballetstudentinthisstudio.You’reprobablythebestinthewholecity.WhyshouldItryoutforastarringpartwhenIhaven’tgotachanceofwinningit?”Alyssawassilent...
