First published 1988
Minna Pratt sits with her cello, bow poised above the strings. At eleven, she already knows music speaks truths that words cannot capture. Her family defies every convention. Her parents embrace chaos with open arms. Her siblings march to rhythms only they can hear. When Minna meets a boy who shares her musical passion, she discovers that Mozart's compositions contain secrets about the heart. Her cello lessons become life lessons. Each practice session reveals something new about herself and the people around her. The music connects her scattered thoughts into melodies that make sense. Minna learns that growing up means finding harmony between the notes others expect you to play and the song your own spirit wants to sing.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, family-life, 20th-century, coming-of-age, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family
136 pages · Hardcover · Harpercollins Childrens Books