Life is wonderful! Ellen prepares for a family vacation and has just been picked to dance in a special performance at school. All of the glitter and hope in her life comes crashing down, though, when Ellen learns that her mother has breast cancer. In a rare yet necessary novel, Theresa Tomlinson waxes frankly about what it is like for young people when a parent is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Readers will witness Ellen's selfishness, worry and--ultimately--her courage, as she begins to come to terms with her mother's condition.

Poignantly woven into the tale is the story of the uncovering of an ancient healing spring on Ellen's school grounds. At first Ellen and her chums think the spring is just a muddy, foetid, trash-strewn bog. It takes courage to trust their teacher and believe that with some earnest muscle power they could reclaim the spring. In Dancing Through the Shadows metaphors run strong and wild, just like a healing brook. Through uncovering the muddy bog, Ellen gathers the strength necessary to be of real support to her mother. Lovely, refreshing and just what the doctor ordered in great literature for teens.