The Notes by Catherine Con Morse

The Notes by Catherine Con Morse. Crown, 2024. 9780593711385






Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 4



Format: Hardcover



Genre: Realistic fiction



What did you like about the book?  Starting her junior year at the prestigious Greenwood School for the Performing Arts, Claire feels excited about the arrival of a new piano teacher, Dr. Li. Although she practices diligently, Claire’s not in the same league as handsome prize pupil Rocky Wong, who she’s been crushing on for a year. Rocky’s also a member of the elusive and prestigious Asian Student Society that Claire longs to join, although she’s not sure she’s “Chinese enough” to qualify. Dr. Li turns out to be demanding, glamorous, and hard to know, but under her tutelage, Claire blossoms while Rocky struggles. Meanwhile, first Claire, and then other piano students are inundated with mysterious and unsettling notes that hint at Dr. Li’s toxic effect on her pupils. The mystery of who’s writing the notes and whether their assertions about the teacher are correct or a matter of opinion forms the bulk of the novel, with Claire probing deeply into the commitment that becoming a great musician will require.  Morse (herself a pianist and an alumni of a boarding school similar to Greenwood) writes convincingly about the self-doubt Claire faces and her quest for affirmation from family, friends, and the cryptic Dr. Li. I found this in-depth and expertly written look at the pressures and demands of pursuing music at a high level engrossing and thoughtful. Clare’s friendships with the other members of her practice group were warm and funny, but also addressed the competitive nature of their situation; only a few of Greenwood’s pianists possess the talent, focus, resilience, and luck it will take to succeed in their rarified profession. Claire, Rocky, and Dr. Li are of Asian descent, while other members of the Greenwood community are racially diverse.



Anything you didn’t like about it? Halfway through the book, the notes take on a more sinister cast, turning to focus on one student’s mental distress, including an attempted suicide. Although this is an important topic in competitive school environments, I did feel it came out of nowhere and shifted the tone of the novel dramatically in the second half (and not for the better). The Asian Student Society, which loomed so large in the first half of the book as Claire longingly jockeyed for admission, fades away quickly as the mental health storyline comes to dominate. The two halves felt awkwardly sewn together.



To whom would you recommend this book?  Students who love boarding school stories will appreciate this book’s unique look at the commitment required for musical achievement at the highest level. The book raises interesting questions about what can be sacrificed, what support will be needed, and ultimately, how success can look different for each person.  A read alike suggestion for those who have enjoyed Finding Yvonne by Brandy Colbert (2018) or The Other Side of Perfect by Mariko Turk (2021).



Who should buy this book? High school or public libraries



Where would you shelve it? YA fiction



Should we (librarians/readers) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? No



Reviewer: Susan Harari, Keefe Library, Boston Latin School, Boston, MA



Date of review: May 6, 2024