I enjoyed how LeMond contrasted some of Gina's most painful moments with extraordinary visions of possibilities. These were the most memorable scenes for me. For example, she receives a visit from a figure clothed in a red robe, referring to himself as "the benevolent aspect of Mars." He shows her visions on a wall and encourages her to find the strength to create and to turn her dreams into action. Later, she's receiving a visit at the pond from a multi-colored angelbird who urges her to find her purpose and to fly. This particular message becomes a very important symbol throughout the story.

But I was most impressed with how LeMond took us through a visually striking scene during the Eagle Headland full moon harvest celebration, where Gina sees a lighthouse that appears to transform into a pyramid. She climbs the cliff and experiences something magnificent. As she ascends, she sees all of these different colors and merges into a blue pearl where she meets a birdman named Miguel. She transforms into a bird, and they perform an aerial ballet, a sky-born "pas de deux." This is probably LeMond's most beautiful and imaginative scene in the entire book, in my opinion. I could see the whole setting and luminous colors unfolding.

I loved following Gina's story because I got to see her develop along the way. She's determined but still vulnerable. She's outspoken but struggles with uncertainty, her painful experiences, and financial stability. I love that she is willing to stand up for others like Myra at the psychiatric hospital. She even encourages Myra to continue drawing despite the disapproval of Superintendent Hilary.

Julian was another character I really liked. He was nothing like his sister, Sister Majella. Initially, I thought he would betray Gina when she needed help, but he really surprised me when he offered her practical assistance after she escaped the convent. He was a very supportive character throughout much of Gina's journey. There were others who I felt were supportive in her development, like her sister Tess, who had a more grounded perspective, or Emilio, who shared the same artistic expressions as Gina. All of these different relationships helped move the narrative and Gina's journey forward.

LeMond's writing is filled with rich imagery and vivid descriptions of nature, music, the aerial dance, and the different spiritual experiences. The way she describes the colors, the birds, the robed man, and landscapes makes the story feel like a dream or a fantasy. Even the way she incorporates the crystal ball in the beginning brings readers into a narrative that transitions across different times in Gina's life. I would have liked, also, to see more time spent exploring certain conflicts and the consequences of those before moving too quickly into the next experience.

I found Ballet of the Birds to be imaginative and a unique piece of spiritual fantasy. It explored things like oppression and how to overcome it, embracing one's purpose, and not bottling up one's creativity or dreams. LeMond's biggest strength is in the symbolism surrounding Gina's life and the vivid descriptions of her experiences. The pacing could have been a bit tighter, and perhaps some of the storylines could have been further developed; however, I admire LeMond's vision for this narrative. Readers who would get the most out of this story are those who enjoy symbolic storytelling, metaphysical elements, and character-driven journeys.