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A review by katef
Four Seasons by Jane Breskin Zalben
4.0
Oh how I love a good child prodigy story. And a child PIANO prodigy? Even better. This definitely had me waxing nostalgic for my piano days. Also, being well-written and thoughtful didn't hurt either. My heart was with Ally all the way, particularly during her tough times.
There's a lot of classical music terminology and discussion of different pieces, so this may not appeal so much to folks without that background. HOWEVER, I think it will speak strongly to over-achiever-type teens and young peoples who may pile too much on themselves and then crack a bit under all the weight.
My main complaint: I hate the cover! It looks lurid and sort of V.C. Andrews-ish...doesn't match the insides at all!
Oh, also, I thought Ally's age (about to turn 13 at the beginning of the book) didn't quite match her maturity level, particularly when it came to her thinking about boys. If her age wasn't mentioned, I would have pegged her at 14 or maybe 15. It was a little disconcerting at times.
There's a lot of classical music terminology and discussion of different pieces, so this may not appeal so much to folks without that background. HOWEVER, I think it will speak strongly to over-achiever-type teens and young peoples who may pile too much on themselves and then crack a bit under all the weight.
My main complaint: I hate the cover! It looks lurid and sort of V.C. Andrews-ish...doesn't match the insides at all!
Oh, also, I thought Ally's age (about to turn 13 at the beginning of the book) didn't quite match her maturity level, particularly when it came to her thinking about boys. If her age wasn't mentioned, I would have pegged her at 14 or maybe 15. It was a little disconcerting at times.