From School Library Journal
Grade 4–6—An impressive and poignant debut novel. Eleven-year-old Zoe dreams of giving piano recitals at Carnegie Hall. When her father purchases a Perfectone D-60, though, she must settle for the sounds of the organ rather than the distinguished sounds of a baby grand. Her organ teacher, Mabelline Person, notices the child's small talent for music and recommends her for the "Perfectone Perform-O-Rama"; she will play Neil Diamond's "Forever in Blue Jeans." Accepting this new twist to her ambitions, Zoe must depend on a quirky support system: her father, who gets anxious when he leaves the house and who earns diplomas from Living Room University; her workaholic mother; and her classmate Wheeler, who follows Zoe home from school daily to spend time with her father, baking. Playing television theme songs from the '60s and '70s rather than Bach doesn't get Zoe down. Instead, aware of the stark difference between her dream and her reality, she forges ahead and, as an underdog, faces the uncertainty of entering the competition. In the end, resilient and resourceful Zoe finds perfection in the most imperfect and unique situations, and she shines. The refreshing writing is full of pearls of wisdom, and readers will relate to this fully developed character. The sensitive story is filled with hope and humor. It has a feel-good quality and a subtle message about how doing one's best and believing in oneself are what really matter.—
Jennifer Cogan, Bucks County Free Library, Doylestown, PA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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From AudioFile
Linda Urbans poignant debut novel is filled with unique characters. Zoe Elias knows shes a prodigy destined to perform at Carnegie Hall like her hero, Vladimir Horowitz. However, her agoraphobic, obsessive-compulsive father comes home, NOT with a shiny baby grand, but with a wood-grained wheeze-bag Perfectone D-60 organ! Tai Alexandra Ricci breathes life into Zoe with the perfectly sassy tone of an almost 11-year-old whose reality doesnt match her dreams. Ricci has just the right tone of exasperation as Zoe deals with her fathers Livingroom University courses. (He holds 26 degrees.) This book tugs the heartstrings, tickles the funny bone, and reaffirms the power of dreams. N.E.M. 2008 ALA Notable © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine--
Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
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Audio CD
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