Broken Chords [Hardcover]

Barbara Snow Gilbert (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up

Suspenseful and sensitively told, this coming-of-age story interweaves the themes of truth-telling family bonds, courage, and self-knowledge as Clara Lorenzo, a talented teenage pianist, is deciding whether to pursue her career on the concert tour.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Readers do not have to understand Bach or Rachmaninoff to appreciate the conflicts plaguing 17-year-old Clara, a gifted pianist favored to win the prestigious Nicklaus competition. Her mother, who conducts the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, and her father, once a baritone opera star, have great aspirations for their virtuoso pianist daughter; the question is, does she have the same aspirations? Gilbert (Stone Water) divides the story into three "movements" that trace Clara's emerging doubts about becoming a performing artist. The turning point comes when a wrist injury keeps her away from the piano for two weeks. During this "interval," Clara gets her first taste of how life would be without her daily three-hour practice sessionsAshe attends a football game, spends time with friends at McDonald's and (strangely) rehearses ballet. The climax comes on the final day of the prize competition, when the idea of giving up music for good begins to take hold. The ending of the book borders on hokey, and the characterizations of Clara's accompanying players are painted with broad strokes: her Russian piano teacher, the stage mother and love interest Marshall Hammonds Lawrence, a handsome boy from a poor background who possesses a passion for music that Clara lacks. The strength of the novel lies not in the too-neatly orchestrated plot, but rather in the heroine's in-depth exploration of what she truly wants for herself. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9-Clara has been studying piano since she was a youngster, and her musician parents have set their sights on a concert career for their daughter, a decision made without her input. Now Clara is 17 and is feverishly preparing for a prestigious competition. Winning would insure her start as a professional concert pianist, yet it is not clear that this is what she wants. Four years earlier, her piano teacher intervened on her behalf to convince Clara's mother to allow the girl to study ballet as well. Now, two weeks before the piano competition, a hand injury forces her to give up practice for a few days, thus giving her time to think about things that have been bothering her all along. Much of the story is predictable, although there are a few surprises at the end. Clara is the best-drawn character; most of the others are stereotypical. Her mother, a famous conductor whom Clara refers to sarcastically as Maestra, is sternly focused on her daughter's musical future. Her father is a bit more understanding. Her little brother envies the attention Clara gets. Tashi, Clara's piano teacher, is the paragon of understanding and patience. A subplot involving a romance between Clara and another music student is awkward. Though the issue Gilbert deals with is an important one for young adults, the story is not particularly compelling.
Renee Steinberg, Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJ
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Hand Print; 1st edition (August 9, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1886910235
• ISBN-13: 978-1886910232
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,265,238 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An engaging and generally fantastic book, March 20, 2002

By 

Audra Corvstky (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Broken Chords (Hardcover)

I must say, I really could not put this book down. It paints a beautiful picture of the conflicts that consume Clara Lorenzo, the 17 year old piano prodigy. She is competing in the Nicklaus competition, in which first prize is a 4 year scholarship to Juilliard. A fall in ballet practice brings her to realize that she does not truly love piano, despite daily three hour practices.
Even non-musical people can understand and even relate to this book, because it conveys inner conflict and finding one's true self so flawlessly. Teens will love this book for its accurate description of parental pressure and adults will better understand the trials and tribulations of growing up after reading it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Provides no easy answers, August 17, 2001

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Broken Chords (Mass Market Paperback)

Clara's future has been determined most of her short life: as a talented pianist, she is certain to have a sterling career as an accomplished musician. But does she love playing the best, and does she want to continue to give up pleasures for work? This provides no easy answers as Clara makes her decisions about the future.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Gift For Piano, February 21, 2001

By 

Scott Danielson (nowhere) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Broken Chords (Hardcover)

Have you ever wanted to be the best at something so badly that you would do almost anything to make it happen? This type of obsession happens in the novel, Broken Chords, by Barbara Snow Gilbert. Clara Lorenzo had an amazing gift for playing the piano. Her talent being discovered at a very young age, Clara's parents had done everything they could to see that Clara advanced as far as she could. Though Clara loved piano and was practicing endlessly for the upcoming Nicklaus competition, she also had a strong love for ballet and was in "The Nutcracker." Her parents did not approve of this; they wanted her to spend all of her time practicing piano. Clara sneaks off to ballet, and was getting away with it until she had an accident and hurt her wrist. She knew her parents would be extremely mad if they found out what she did, so she lied to the doctor, said her wrist was fine. She began practicing day and night for her piano competition. Only Clara seems to know the truth about her injury, and it is causing her a lot of pain to try to be the best. Clara discovers that she loves ballet more than piano and could not spend her life doing something just to please others, no matter how talented she was. This was a great story that is sure to be a fan of music lovers, or anyone who would just like to read a really good book.