{"product_id":"private-lessons-9781536230413","title":"Private Lessons","description":"\u003cb\u003e\"Beautifully explores topics not often addressed. . . . Claire's need for affection and acceptance leads her into entirely believable and utterly sad encounters, while the strength she musters carries her through to an uplifting conclusion.\" --\u003ci\u003eBooklist \u003c\/i\u003e(starred review) \u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAfter seventeen-year-old Claire Alalay's father's death, only music has helped her channel her grief. Claire likes herself best when she plays his old piano, a welcome escape from the sadness--and her traditional Filipino mother's prayer groups. In the hopes of earning a college scholarship, Claire auditions for Paul Avon, a prominent piano teacher, who agrees to take Claire as a pupil. Soon Claire loses herself in Paul's world and his way of digging into a composition's emotional core. She practices constantly, foregoing a social life, but no matter how hard she works or how well she plays, it seems impossible to gain Paul's approval, let alone his affection. Author Cynthia Salaysay composes a moving, beautifully written portrait of rigorous perfectionism, sexual awakening, and the challenges of self-acceptance. Now in paperback with an updated cover, \u003ci\u003ePrivate Lessons\u003c\/i\u003e is a timely and vital story that delves into a complicated student\/teacher relationship, as well as class and cultural differences, with honesty and grace.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCynthia Salaysay\u003c\/b\u003e holds a bachelor's degree in English from University of California, Berkeley, and has workshopped her fiction at Tin House. She has written food and culture articles for the \u003ci\u003eSan Francisco Examiner\u003c\/i\u003e, the\u003ci\u003e San Francisco Bay Guardian\u003c\/i\u003e, the \u003ci\u003eEast Bay Express\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eCivil Eats\u003c\/i\u003e. Currently, she works as a Reiki practitioner and an operating-room nurse in Oakland, California. This is her first novel.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Candlewick Press (MA)","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50508995985682,"sku":"9781536230413","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_eeed9815-afa9-4e9b-8c3c-e7a5062bd026.jpg?v=1730884796","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/private-lessons-9781536230413","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}