Sunday, April 10, 2011

Four Seasons by Jane Breskin Zalben

Allegra Katz and her family are all involved in music.  She goes to Juilliard.  Despite all that, she likes math better than music...


Alfred A Knopf Books for Young Readers sent me a copy of this book for review.  The book is currently available through your local bookstore.


Allegra's father is a violinist and her mother is a former opera singer, so it's natural that she would also be musically inclined.  She is and she enjoys it.  But as she gets older, she find that her unflinching and harsh music teacher wants more and more time spent practicing.  This means she misses class time and she has no time for friends.  When she loses out on a boyfriend she was just beginning to form a relationship with, she begins to consider if music is what she wants to do with rest of her life.  After all, she's very good at math, too.


This author understands competition in the music world and how important is to have an encouraging positive teacher.  An instructor can stimulate or unmotivate students by their attitude and input (or lack of).


Ms. Zalben also understands puberty, a youth's desire for control of their own life, and the uncertainty that you have at age.


This is a coming of age story with a young woman trying to pick her passion in life.  It's written for ages 10 and up.


Happy reading!

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