A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban

 Junior realistic fiction. A good friend of mine, who is also a talented musician, recommended this book to me. In it, a young girl, Zoe, wants nothing more than to learn to play the piano and she feels that just maybe she could be a prodigy and play at Carnegie Hall just like the famous Russian pianist, Vladimir Horowitz. Her problem is that her family does not own a piano. They decide, instead, to buy an organ for her because it's cheaper and comes with free lessons. 

I loved this quick read that is divided into very short chapters. The author has the ability to create in depth characters in an economy of words. Zoe's family and friends have obstacles that seem to mar their dreams, but press forward anyway. A sweet story of perseverance and determination and love. 

Recommend: Yes. 

A Vacation to Die For (Tourist Trap Mystery #14) by Lynn Cahoon

 Mystery. Yet another installment of the Tourist Trap mysteries that I've enjoyed. I have to admit, however, that they are getting a little formulaic. And I found several editing errors in this kindle edition book. I still enjoyed it, but I may be seeing my time ending with the characters in South Cove, California. 

Recommend: probably

And the rest of the Sammy Keyes series by Wendelin Van Draanen

 There are 17 total books in the Sammy Keyes series and I just finished #17. I had probably read a little over half of them before and decided to just go for it and read them all. They are all delightful as Sammy is real and unique and brave and flawed. She makes mistakes and does incredibly courageous things at the same time. She overcomes obstacles in messy ways and is just so relatable. She makes enemies and friends and enemies that eventually become friends. These books have been uplifting to my soul these past few weeks and I'm sad to close the chapter on the last book. And just one more plug Wendelin Van Draanen ends the series in an amazingly satisfying way which makes reading them all the more fun. 

Recommend: Of course, all of them!