Gum Great-Uncle Matthew Brown, an elderly geologist and professor, who finds the three sisters during his travels.He has been away so long that he doesn't realise who the three girls are at first, but after recognising that they are the three babies he left all those years ago, he decides he will take Petrova under his wing and help her achieve her dream. Petrova wonders what will become of her, as she is still too young to live on her own and doesn't want to dance or act. Posy is going to a ballet school in Prague, accompanied by Nana. The book ends with Pauline going off to Hollywood to make a film, accompanied by Sylvia. However, she holds onto her own dream of flying aircraft.

Petrova is not interested in the performing arts and has little talent for it but must keep attending classes and performing to help support the family. She also clashes with her sisters, as she is so focused on dancing that she is insensitive about anything that gets in her way. Posy is developing into a brilliant ballet dancer. Through this, Pauline learns enough humility to balance her talent, and goes on to play many successful lead parts.

When Pauline is picked for a lead part, the early success goes to her head, because of which the producer replaces her with her understudy (although only for a single performance, not permanently as portrayed in the 2007 film). Much of the drama comes from the friction between the sisters and from balancing their desire to help support the family financially against the laws limiting the amount of time they may spend on stage. As the children mature, they take on some of the responsibility of supporting the household. When she is about six, Madame Fidolia, a famous and retired Russian dancer, gives Posy private lessons, something she has never done before. Pauline finds she has a talent and passion for acting while Petrova hates acting and dancing. Smith, a pair of tutors who take over the children's schooling after Sylvia can no longer afford their school fees, and Miss Theo Dane, a dance teacher who arranges for the children to begin classes at the Children's Academy of Dancing and Stage Training. As they have no way to contact or track him down, Sylvia and Nana take in boarders to make ends meet, including Mr. Gum does not return in the promised five years and the money is almost gone. Gum embarks upon an expedition of many years and arranges for money to support the family while he is gone.

Ballet shoes book