The Notes by Catherine Con Morse
on April 30, 2024
ISBN: 0593711386
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

“The Notes” is a young adult novel by Catherine Con Morse. Claire Wu is a Chinese American piano student at a prestigious music boarding school. When a renowned piano teacher, Dr. Tina Li, joins the faculty, Claire wants to impress her. Things seem to be going well when Claire begins to receive mysterious notes telling her to be careful of Dr. Li and not to fall under her spell. The book does a good job of accurately portraying the pressures of high school and the difficulties that Claire feels about not being “Asian enough” and falling below her high expectations of herself. Some plot points don’t seem to get resolved, but readers will still enjoy Claire’s growth. A recommended additional purchase for YA collections where realistic fiction and mysteries are popular.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.