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A Crooked Kind of Perfect Paperback – April 6, 2009

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 251 ratings

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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.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"What a generous spirit behind this book: one that celebrates the crooked quirks of its characters. I love Zoe's parents and her friend Wheeler, but most especially I love Zoe. She's perfect, in the most deliciously crooked kind of way."--Sharon Creech, Newbery Medal-winning author of Walk Two Moons "An impressive and poignant debut novel . . . filled with hope and humor."--School Library Journal "Immediately engaging . . . Zoe’s world is drawn with sometimes painful precision, her emotions are revealed with empathy, and her story unfolds realistically, without the miracles she hopes for, but with small, sometimes surprising changes . . . sometimes funny, sometimes tender, this is a promising debut."--Booklist "Short, funny chapters full of exaggeration and exasperation provide lots of laughs . . . Readers with their own dreams, weird obsessions, and quirky hobbies will be heartened by the message that a few bumps, compromises, and sour notes along the way can pay off in a major key."--The Bulletin

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.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Clarion Books; First Edition (April 6, 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 015206608X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0152066086
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 9 - 11 years, from customers
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 730L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 5 - 7
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.1 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.13 x 0.61 x 7.63 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 251 ratings

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Linda Urban
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LINDA URBAN, the former marketing director at Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena, California, now writes children's books full-time. A Crooked Kind of Perfect is her first novel. She lives in Montpelier, Vermont.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
251 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read and fun. They appreciate the witty and snarky main character. The message is encouraging and touching on topics like parents with issues. Readers praise the engaging storyline with believable characters. The book is suitable for readers of all ages, including younger ones.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

28 customers mention "Readability"28 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it easy to understand, especially for reluctant readers. The story and characters are engaging, making it a quick read. Many praise the author as great and look forward to reading more from them.

"This book was on a children’s book list for our school. It’s a great book. I love the message...." Read more

"This was a fast and easy read. It was also very enjoyable. It was easy to relate to the main character, Zoe, and her dreams for her life." Read more

"...Overall, it was a cute book. I had to look up some of the songs on the internet to prove to my daughter that I was singing them correctly...." Read more

"This book is definitely perfect. The pacing is spectacular, as is the timing...." Read more

14 customers mention "Humor"14 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book. They find it funny and engaging, with a blend of wit and snarkiness. The short chapters are fun for readers, and Zoe is described as a fun character to get to know.

"This was a fast and easy read. It was also very enjoyable. It was easy to relate to the main character, Zoe, and her dreams for her life." Read more

"...What a fun girl Zoe was to get to know.. The young man in the story was a delight. The father character was developed well...." Read more

"...Oh, yes, its funny, too." Read more

"...Zoe, the main character, is the perfect blend of witty and snarky, but never mean. I love this kid!..." Read more

12 customers mention "Message"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's message encouraging and positive. They appreciate the interesting characters who teach great lessons, and the sensitive way it touches upon topics like parents with issues. The story has a great moral and interesting points of view on what it takes to have a perfect life.

"...It’s a great book. I love the message. This book is perfect for kids around four the grade on it" Read more

"...That said, it is. A sweet story and does haver interesting points of view, etc." Read more

"...There is some life in this book to learn." Read more

"This is a fantastic book about persistence, love, friendship, and family...." Read more

11 customers mention "Storyline"11 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the engaging storyline with believable characters and a realistic plot. They find the book funny and a quick read. The book explores adolescent confusion and problem-solving without heavy-handed drama. Readers appreciate the themes of persistence, love, friendship, and family.

"...What a fun girl Zoe was to get to know.. The young man in the story was a delight. The father character was developed well...." Read more

"...This is a believable story, with believable characters, and a believable plot. Oh, yes, its funny, too." Read more

"...This is a really quick read because the story and characters are so engaging...." Read more

"...That said, it is. A sweet story and does haver interesting points of view, etc." Read more

10 customers mention "Age range"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book suitable for all ages. They say it's an enjoyable read with humor, depth, and original characters. Readers mention it accurately portrays adolescent confusion and problem-solving without heavy-handed drama.

"...It’s a great book. I love the message. This book is perfect for kids around four the grade on it" Read more

"...This book accurately portrays adolescent confusion and problem solving without heavy handed drama...." Read more

"This is a great book for all ages. Humor, depth, and original characters...." Read more

"This is a great book for older kids who are figuring out friendship and family issues...." Read more

8 customers mention "Character development"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book has believable characters and a believable plot. They mention that the father character is well-developed. The short chapters are fun for their daughter.

"...It was also very enjoyable. It was easy to relate to the main character, Zoe, and her dreams for her life." Read more

"...The father character was developed well. The short chapters were fun for my daughter...." Read more

"...This is a believable story, with believable characters, and a believable plot. Oh, yes, its funny, too." Read more

"This is a great book for all ages. Humor, depth, and original characters...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2024
    This book was on a children’s book list for our school. It’s a great book. I love the message. This book is perfect for kids around four the grade on it
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2023
    This was a fast and easy read. It was also very enjoyable. It was easy to relate to the main character, Zoe, and her dreams for her life.
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2014
    My daughter is 9. She has been taking piano lessons for almost a year now. This book made her even more passionate about playing the piano. What a fun girl Zoe was to get to know.. The young man in the story was a delight. The father character was developed well. The short chapters were fun for my daughter. One night she was so proud that she had read 6 chapters in one night.. :)
    Overall, it was a cute book. I had to look up some of the songs on the internet to prove to my daughter that I was singing them correctly.
    The mother figure was a bit absent in the story, as she was in Zoe's life. The way they talked about how the father overcame some of his issues to get her to the competition was great.
    9 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2014
    Our daughter is a story-teller in her own right. She wanted A Crooked Kind of Perfect for her personal library. This book accurately portrays adolescent confusion and problem solving without heavy handed drama. Its the story of a girl working out her feelings about friends, boys, and her parents. The back story of her parents, and their imperfect efforts to support her through all this, shows up in clear snapshots of their actions. This is a believable story, with believable characters, and a believable plot. Oh, yes, its funny, too.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2012
    This book is definitely perfect. The pacing is spectacular, as is the timing. Zoe, the main character, is the perfect blend of witty and snarky, but never mean. I love this kid! Her family isn't perfect and yet, somehow they work. Don't forget to read the chapter titles because they definitely tell a story. This is a really quick read because the story and characters are so engaging. And if your kid is a slow reader, it might be great because a lot of the chapters are very short so they might feel like they're accomplishing the reading easier and gain some confidence.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2014
    While this is a good, relatively quick read, it's not in my top set of books because it just seems too oat. Everything gets settled with no major complications or changes to the characters. Everyone is pretty much who they were in the beginning. That said, it is. A sweet story and does haver interesting points of view, etc.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2019
    Zoe longs to be a concert pianist so her parents buy her a wheeze bag organ. Urban knocks it out of the park here with this sweetly funny book. It is great for reluctant readers - very funny to keep them reading. I first discovered it shortly after it was published and gave away my copy. Just read it again with a kid. So loved it.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2015
    This book was interesting and some of it was 'laugh out loud? funny. I enjoyed it. I think my grand daughter will find it interesting in a year or so. There is some life in this book to learn.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Irish Gal
    5.0 out of 5 stars Charming and enjoyable
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 31, 2014
    This was a charming and highly enjoyable book. I'm sure loads of people can relate to being given an instrument that they didn't choose to learn, but the main character makes the best of her situation. It is quite comical at times but also very touching without being sappy. Very enjoyable read.