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OLDER FICTION
Salaysay, Cynthia

Private Lessons

320 pp. | Candlewick | May, 2020 | Trade ISBN 978-1-5362-0960-0 $17.99
(2) YA Claire Alalay, a seventeen-year-old aspiring concert pianist, convinces her mother to hire respected music teacher Paul Avon. Claire throws herself into practicing and is captivated by her handsome ­mentor, craving his approval and beginning to excel under his demanding tutelage. But the older man also takes advantage of her innocence and need for acceptance, and after he sexually assaults Claire, her eyes are opened to their unhealthy dynamic. Salaysay's debut is an exploration of power--and how it manifests between a student and teacher across class, gender, and culture (Paul is white; Claire is Filipina). The unfolding of the plot, if languid, builds tension and allows for deep character development; and Salaysay's writing is fluid and evocative. Teens will recognize Claire's desire for acceptance, profound grief, and drive to succeed at something she loves. The book's ultimately heartening ending will empower young people and give them hope that gradual recovery from trauma is possible.
Reviewer: Shelley M. Diaz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2020

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