A Crooked Kind of Perfect

A Crooked Kind of Perfect is a middle grade novel written by Linda Urban and originally published in 2007. This story centers around 11-year-old Zoe, who wants more than anything to play the piano but is given an organ instead. Alongside Navigating Challenging Family Dynamics, Zoe learns the power of Friendship as a Pillar for Personal Growth and undergoes a personal journey toward Making the Most of Imperfection. A Crooked Kind of Perfect received 20 state award nominations.

This guide is based on the 2007 Scholastic edition of the novel.

Plot Summary

Zoe Elias is 10 years old, and her dream is to become a star pianist so she can play at Carnegie Hall. She imagines herself an elegant musician surrounded by adoring fans. Zoe believes that, like her hero Vladimir Horowitz, she is a prodigy and just needs the piano to prove it. When Zoe asks her parents for a piano, her dad buys an electric organ called the Perfectone D-60 instead.

Zoe’s mom works as a state finance controller and isn’t home often; her dad is always home because he becomes severely anxious and overwhelmed when he leaves the house.