A Crooked Kind of Perfect

by recesstec

9.) A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban

AR Level – 3.9
Points – 4
Interest Level – Middle Grades

This book has been perfectly titled.  6th grader, Zoe is living a crooked kind of perfect life.  She has just been replaced with the popular girls by her best friend and is realizing that she doesn’t quite belong…with them.  She has a dream of being a famous pianist like the great Horowitz but when her crooked kind of perfect father goes to purchase her a piano, he returns with a Perfectone D-60 organ…sigh.  Her smart and pretty mom seems to prioritize work before family. And while there seems to be a pattern of conflict within Zoe’s life, she takes things in stride, keeps her head on straight, and makes the most of each situation.  You can’t help but to love this girl.  (Don’t get me wrong, she is not superhuman…she is 11.)  I wish I had her in my class!  I think the best part of this book (within a school setting)  is the fact that it will generate discussion that everyone has his or her own problems with which to deal even if not brought to the forefront at school.  Zoe is inspirational.  I wish I would have been more like her when I was her age.  Great read…add it to your middle grade bookshelf (grades 3-5).  There is no questionable content…ANOTHER reason to love it!  I guess I am still pondering the question, “Why DO author’s feel the need to add the token swear word in an otherwise perfectly good book?”  Thank you to Linda Urban for not doing so.  This will be on the my book club list this year!

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