Children’s / Teenage fiction: Family and home stories

Book SynopsisBut Cats Don't Talk is a young adult novel that combines elements of romance, tragedy, classical music, auditory hallucinations, a reinterpretation of "family," and dogged determination. It is the inspiring story of Rebecca O'Sullivan, a 17-year-old prodigy who has everything going for her: a promising career as a classical pianist, a supportive mother/piano teacher/manager, and a loving pet, Beethoven the Cat (BC), who accompanies her everywhere, even to her concerts where he wears a bowtie and sleeps atop her grand piano while she performs. Becca relies on her mother for practically everything, so when her mom dies suddenly, Becca finds herself ill-equipped to take care of herself or to perform her remaining concerts that season. To make matters worse, BC starts talking to her— becoming snarkier by the moment— and convinces Becca she is losing her mind. Even with the help of Cassie, her alcoholic aunt, Dak, her new friend/boyfriend, and Mrs. Fox, her honorary grandmother, Becca is afraid she won't be able to hold it together long enough to perform the last two concerts. And even if she does, she has no idea what she is going to do after the concerts are over.Table of ContentsChapter Title: Page No.:The Seventh Beethoven Sonata Concert 5Dinner with the Zelinskis 25My Birthday and The Worst Day Ever 37The Return of Aunt Cassie 83Funeral Preparations 90Mom in Pink 95Coping 109Lessons Gone Wrong 121The Night Before the Show 133The Foxwoods Casino Concert 139The Morning After 167Driving Lesson Number Two 176Piano Lesson Number Two… and Lunch 186Another Lesson with Mrs. Fox 192The Day Before the Show 200The Eighth Beethoven Sonata Concert 212Master of My Fate, Captain of My Soul 230Exploring URI 253Shopping with Mrs. Fox 260Getting to the Show 266Soundcheck 281BC Predicts the Future 289The Eighth Beethoven Sonata Concert— Again 297Sonatas Nos. 29 & 30 303Intermission 307Sonatas Nos. 31 & Half of 32 313Interruption 319Sonata No. 32 326After the Show 338

Read more less