“Good Enough” by Paula Yoo (HarperTeen,
9780060790851, $16.99, ages 12 and older)
This is a fun and funny YA novel focused on violin recitals, first crushes,
SAT-prep anxiety, church youth-group rivalries, and the constant quest to
please one’s highly-motivated Korean parents. It's a great laugh and a
welcome dose of understanding for teens who feel over-scheduled and
pressured to be perfect little overachievers.
Patti Yoon has held the top seat in all-state orchestra for three years
running, an achievement her parents see as a great “hook” for her
applications to Ivy League schools. But for Patti, playing the violin is
actually *more* important than getting into HARVARD-YALE-PRINCETON, or “HYP”
as she calls it. Or, at least it was before she crossed paths with Ben, or
Cute Trumpet Guy as she calls him. As Patti’s crush on him grows, her
clockwork regime of homework, orchestra rehearsal, practice SAT tests, and
church-group lock-ins starts missing the beat—and really loses its appeal.
“Good Enough” reminds me, happily, of Jenny Han’s charming novel “Shug.”
Both books blend comedy with a sharply poignant look at a young woman who’s
not considered “the pretty one.” Patti is a whip-smart character who
narrates her personal and romantic ups and downs with hilarious insights and
very funny wisecracks about her life as a Korean American, a child of
immigrants, and something of a violin prodigy. She likes to make lists, and
many of the book’s pages are composed as her next-to-impossible “to-do” and
“how-to” lists, including:
“How to Make Your Korean Parents Happy” (Get into HARVARD-YALE-PRINCETON!)
and
“Top Ten Reasons You Have a Bad Violin Audition” (Cut Trumpet Guy smiled at
you!)
Patti’s lists also include recipes for tasty Korean-American canned-ham
dishes, concert dates for her secret-favorite bubblegum boy band, and tricks
for avoiding Cute Trumpet Guy when it turns out he doesn’t like her back.
Over the course of the story, she learns to deceive her high-pressure
parents in order to have fun; then she learns how that strategy won’t serve
her in the long-term. Patti eventually explains to them how important the
violin really is to her, and starts planning a future in music. She may not
get Cute Trumpet Guy, but she does set about getting the life she really
wants.
“Good Enough” is an enjoyable book with a good heart. It’s an absolute must
for young musicians and orchestra members, who will certainly dig Patti’s
fascinations with Mendelsohn, punk rock, and cheesy bubblegum music.
Review by
Mark David Bradshaw, April 2, 2008
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