Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Rich teen piano prodigy manages pressure, older crushes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Lucy Beck-Moreau was once the classical music world's hottest teen piano prodigy, but a fateful decision during a competition alienated her not only from the concert pianist circuit, but also from her patriarchal grandfather, who runs her wealthy San Francisco family with uncompromising expectations of greatness. After her younger brother Gus' private piano teacher dies unexpectedly, the family hires a hip, twentysomething mentor named Will, who shows an interest in getting Lucy to return to the piano. As Will and Lucy's friendship develops into an intense mentor/mentee relationship, Lucy wonders whether she can make a comeback to the instrument she once loved.
Is It Any Good?
Sara Zarr is an excellent storyteller when it comes to adolescent girl protagonists going through gut-wrenching, life-changing challenges. She beautifully portrays how characters deal with complex issues like grief and teen pregnancy (How to Save a Life), the repercussions of early sexuality (Story of a Girl), and a history of abuse and bullying (Sweethearts). THE LUCY VARIATIONS is a departure for Zarr, because Lucy's family and personal challenges are definitely what you'd call "first-world problems." She's a rich piano prodigy who doesn't really know how to be a regular privileged teenager. Lucy isn't an underdog -- which is fine -- but she's also not particularly likable.
Lucy's entitled attitude, her selfish treatment of her patient best friends Reyna and Carson, and her inappropriately strong romantic feelings for older authority figures make her a difficult protagonist to feel emotionally connected to, even though Zarr's prose is as crisp and well written as always. The secondary characters are interesting, and the Beck-Moreaus are a fascinating family (particularly her kind French father, who seems to do everything his wife and father-in-law command), but ultimately there's not as much of a poignant pay-off to Lucy the book or the character as there is to Zarr's other unforgettable novels.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Lucy learns to come to terms with her incredible talent for piano, even though it's the result of family pressure to be the best. Teens: How do you deal with pressure from your family?
Some readers have felt uncomfortable with the crush Lucy has on her teacher and then her complicated relationship with Will. Do you think Will and Lucy's relationship is inappropriate? What does Lucy's preference for "older men" reveal about her personality and maturity level?
This is the rare contemporary YA novel that doesn't feature a love story. Were you surprised there wasn't more romance? Do all teen novels need to include a romantic plotline?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Arts ( Music and Sing-Along )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : May 7, 2013
- Number of pages : 320
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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