Things haven't been easy for Jessie since her brother James - sports star and popular kid - died. Her mum and dad are lost in grief and she's feeling isolated at school; when the popular girls on her dance team give her a hard time, she just can't seem to remember the routines …
… and Jessie can still see James. Talk to him, or quarrel with him, more like! They always bickered when James was alive, so why change now?
But James might turn out to be her unlikely saviour. Along with Alan, the dorky new boy, can he give Jessie the confidence to show the rest of the dance team what she's got … and help her and her parents on the road towards healing?
Funny, sharp and poignant, a story about living with a ghost, and the pain of letting go.
Recommended for Anti-Bullying Week review concludes: Dancing in the Dark is about rising above sad circumstances and finding strength in unexpected places. It features some fabulous characters and an original ghost story. This short novel is written in a clear, simple style and very highly recommended to all readers aged about 11. - Chicklish
Prendergast’s first person prose is linguistically simple but emotionally powerful, his insights into the many facets of family grieving are perceptive and sympathetic and there are some nicely observed social nuances in his Irish school setting. This is Prendergast’s first full-length novel and represents an impressive achievement. - Books for Keeps
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