A review by lizanneyoung
The Notes by Catherine Con Morse

3.0

Thank you to the publisher for an eARC and finished copy. I am leaving an honest review. 

This YA book follows Claire, a young pianist in training going to a performing arts boarding school. The year starts fairly normal, save for a new mysterious piano teacher that no one can get a read on. 

I think what this book does well is show the pressure teens can be under, even if society doesn’t always acknowledge that. Claire has parents who are, while supportive, very much like how many Asian American parents are described. They want her to be a doctor or a lawyer or anything but a pianist. There isn’t only pressure coming from that but from the nature of the school. They are training to be the best, and that’s a ton to put on a teen, as shown by her friend Rocky. The new teacher really layers that on, especially for Claire and Rocky, because of what she sees in their potential. Claire also struggles with not feeling as though she’s Asian enough when she is declined as a member of the Asian Student Society before the events of the book. 

Overall, this book is a positive reflection of the struggles teens can be under, and how that can further manifest in such an extreme environment.