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kim_j_dare's review against another edition
4.0
Ever played the piano?
Ever been really good at something, to the point that your parents hound you to devote all of your time to it?
Lucy played the piano. She was really good. Concerts, competitions, sound recordings, the works. Until eight months ago. Then, at a competition in Prague, her grandfather lied to her about how bad her grandmother's health was. When her grandmother died before she could get back to the states, Lucy walked away from the competition. And her Grandpa Beck told her that if she was walking away now, she was walking away forever. And she hasn't touched the piano since.
Except...
Her 10-year-old brother Gus is also really, really good. And when his piano teacher of the past 6 years dies, the family hires Will, a young, energetic teacher who befriends Lucy. Through her friendship with Will, Lucy comes to realize that she's not ready to walk away from the piano, although she doesn't want to be swept up in the competition and the life that her grandfather envisions for her. Will's wife is at first warm toward Lucy, but as Lucy and Will get closer, Aruna is not nearly as friendly.
Sara Zarr is amazing in her ability to build engaging, fully-fleshed, less-than-perfect characters, primary and secondary. Teens are going to enjoy getting to know Lucy, and seeing how she becomes more comfortable in her skin through the various dramas in her life.
Ever been really good at something, to the point that your parents hound you to devote all of your time to it?
Lucy played the piano. She was really good. Concerts, competitions, sound recordings, the works. Until eight months ago. Then, at a competition in Prague, her grandfather lied to her about how bad her grandmother's health was. When her grandmother died before she could get back to the states, Lucy walked away from the competition. And her Grandpa Beck told her that if she was walking away now, she was walking away forever. And she hasn't touched the piano since.
Except...
Her 10-year-old brother Gus is also really, really good. And when his piano teacher of the past 6 years dies, the family hires Will, a young, energetic teacher who befriends Lucy. Through her friendship with Will, Lucy comes to realize that she's not ready to walk away from the piano, although she doesn't want to be swept up in the competition and the life that her grandfather envisions for her. Will's wife is at first warm toward Lucy, but as Lucy and Will get closer, Aruna is not nearly as friendly.
Sara Zarr is amazing in her ability to build engaging, fully-fleshed, less-than-perfect characters, primary and secondary. Teens are going to enjoy getting to know Lucy, and seeing how she becomes more comfortable in her skin through the various dramas in her life.
sophiaknudsen's review against another edition
5.0
This book was amazing! Perfect for all musicians and people young and old....and no mushy gushy romance that detracts from such a great moral. I would recommend this to anyone who has some kind of a passion in their life
ec_newman's review against another edition
4.0
I got worried a bit and the worry was right but I liked how it was resolved.
Also Zarr writes beautifully. I want to be able to write good story and pretty sentences.
More later.
Also Zarr writes beautifully. I want to be able to write good story and pretty sentences.
More later.
deepower7's review against another edition
2.0
There was nothing really wrong with this book, but I just felt so disconnected from it, and nothing actually happened.
alicebme's review against another edition
2.0
The family, the premise, the fallibility of the main character, and the music were all good. However, I didn't enjoy the older man crushes subplot.
hatonkinson_23's review against another edition
1.0
Dnf'd - why doesn't Goodreads have a dnf button? That's should be a thing
roseleaf24's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book, but I don't think it's one that will stick with me. Coming-of-age story about a concert pianist who quits suddenly after her grandmothers death.
themaggiemch's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
This sadly was not very good. As a musician myself, I was looking forward to reading it and connecting with Lucy as a character, but she was just SO ANNOYING. Whiny about everything and kinda spoiled too. She had relationships with older men and this just wasn't talked about enough? Like not really condemned at all, even though she was a literal CHILD talking to 30-year-olds. The writing style was pretty good, but the plot was non-existent and the characters were insufferable.