A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban

Summary:

          Zoe is our lovable and relatable main character who is going through a lot this year in school. She just lost her best friend and is now looking for a way to be herself despite the constant judgement of others in her grade. Through this process she finds solace in playing, learning how to play, a piano. She journeys into the unknown world of competitions, practicing, and maybe even a little bit of romance.

Evaluative Criteria: Plot and Theme

            Zoe is not like the other girls in her class, but is that a bad thing? According to her former best friend, it might be! Zoe, like many of our main characters, is struggling to come to terms with the changes adolescence brings: friends, love, independence, and originality. Set in Michigan, Zoe’s world is similar to many because of the setting described: malls, convention centers, hotels, and roads that lead to home; we find how her environment affects the person she wants to become. This is seen through the progression of the story. We see her life change through the introduction of piano, despite her mother being busy and her father choosing to be sheltered, and through this introduction we see Zoe change and become comfortable with what her life and environment have to offer.

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Urban, L. (2007). A crooked kind of perfect. Orlando: Harcourt.