A Crooked Kind of Perfect

Linda Urban

Apr 2009 · Sold by HarperCollins

About this ebook

Ten-year-old Zoe Elias has perfect piano dreams. She can practically feel the keys under her flying fingers; she can hear the audience's applause. All she needs is a baby grand so she can start her lessons, and then she'll be well on her way to Carnegie Hall.

But when Dad ventures to the music store and ends up with a wheezy organ instead of a piano, Zoe's dreams hit a sour note. Learning the organ versions of old TV theme songs just isn't the same as mastering Beethoven on the piano. And the organ isn't the only part of Zoe's life in Michigan that's off-kilter, what with Mom constantly at work, Dad afraid to leave the house, and that odd boy, Wheeler Diggs, following her home from school every day.

Yet when Zoe enters the annual Perform-O-Rama organ competition, she finds that life is full of surprises—and that perfection may be even better when it's just a little off center.

This ebook includes a sample chapter of Hound Dog True.

Ratings and reviews

A delightful read. I can't recommend this story highly enough. Linda Urban has found a voice that is pitch perfect as Zoe Elias in the first person narrative. The other characters are explored just enough to make you empathize with the journey of more than just our narrator. Each person acts their age -- this is not a story were the kids behave like adults and the adults like kids. I look forward to more from this author soon.

wow i really loved this book it made me want to read non stop and usually when i read a book it's like boring but while reading this book it mad eme realize how fun books can really be so i thank the author linda urban for inspiring me to go farther and read more books.

10 year old Zoe Alias has dreams of playing the piano, because everyone dresses up elegantly in gowns. But her father is not supposed to shop alone; so when he goes out to buy Zoe a new piano, he buys her the ugly PerfectTone360. Also, "Miss Mellabine Person" is her organ teacher. She always asks Zoe to get her things, and to move the couch. Zoe just wishes to be her prodegy. Plus, a strange boy starts following her home and hanging out with her dad!

About the author

Linda Urban's debut novel, A Crooked Kind of Perfect, was selected for many best books lists and was nominated for twenty state awards. She is also the author of Hound Dog True, The Center of Everything, Milo Speck, Accidental Agent, and the chapter book Weekends with Max and His Dad, which received two starred reviews. A former bookseller, she lives in Vermont. Visit Linda online at lindaurbanbooks.com and on Twitter at @lindaurbanbooks.