A Thousand Perfect Notes
An emotionally charged story about the power of dreams, and how passion can turn to obsession.
Beck hates his life. He hates his violent mother. He hates his home. Most of all, he hates the piano that his mother forces him to play hour after hour, day after day. He will never play as she did before illness ended her career and left her bitter and broken. But Beck is too scared to stand up to his mother, and tell her his true passion, which is composing his own music – because the least suggestion of rebellion on his part ends in violence.
When Beck meets August, a girl full of life, energy and laughter, love begins to awaken within him and he glimpses a way to escape his painful existence. But dare he reach for it?
Thrilling and powerfully written, this is an explosive debut for YA readers which tackles the dark topic of domestic abuse in an ultimately hopeful tale.
Beck hates his life. He hates his violent mother. He hates his home. Most of all, he hates the piano that his mother forces him to play hour after hour, day after day. He will never play as she did before illness ended her career and left her bitter and broken. But Beck is too scared to stand up to his mother, and tell her his true passion, which is composing his own music – because the least suggestion of rebellion on his part ends in violence.
When Beck meets August, a girl full of life, energy and laughter, love begins to awaken within him and he glimpses a way to escape his painful existence. But dare he reach for it?
Thrilling and powerfully written, this is an explosive debut for YA readers which tackles the dark topic of domestic abuse in an ultimately hopeful tale.
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Reviews
...this was just flawless. It really outlined so many issues; physical and mental abuse, but the themes of hope balanced it perfectly.
This is a gripping story [...] Please go out and buy this if you can. It is so heartbreakingly wonderful.
A quick YA with plenty of punch.
A Thousand Perfect Notes takes a searingly powerful look at the theme of parental obsession... The book's final notes will linger in the air long after the last page has been turned.
I would recommend this book to pretty much anyone who wants a hard-hitting contemporary read...
...it is hard-hitting at times,but it is also full of hope, possibility and determination and it will have you flinching, crying, holding your breath and rushing to turn the page.
...a read that will make you think and leave you wanting more.
...it's heartbreaking and everything I never knew I needed.
...shocking, but ultimately hopeful, tale.
A Thousand Perfect Notes can only be described as utterly disheartening and powerful. [...] I can't wait to read more of what C.G. Drews has up her sleeve.
Moving and hopeful and completely brilliant - this is a fantastic debut and I can't wait to see more from C. G. Drews.
Viscerally violent from the opening sentence, authentically raw, and painful to read at times, this is a superbly told, emotionally charged story of obsession, abuse and the wonderful, terrible power of music both to destroy and, ultimately, to redeem.
Music and its transformative power. First love and its intense sweetness. Domestic violence and its pernicious enforcing of secrets. How does one create a magical and powerful story from such disparate ingredients? Well, read on. A Thousand Perfect Notes is a read of great intensity on multiple levels.
What an incredible book, truly magnificent - and it's fantastic to see YA discussing issues it seems to have shied away from in recent years.