There are some aspects of present day life in the UK that are wonderful, and the placing of pianos in railway station concourses and shopping centres is one of them. That unexpected treat of music of different kinds, often wonderfully played, coming at is in the midst of life's business is uplifting. And the variety of very different individuals playing that music is a lesson in humanity.
This story gives us a wonderful fictional example of an unlikely child pianist playing one of those pianos. Lacey is in Year 7 at school, but she and school do not get on well. The story opens with ...
'LACEY LAYTON!' Mr Jenson yells. 'I am sick and tired of hearing your voice.'
I'm about to get kicked out - again. I just need to say one more thing and I'll be free.
Does she say just one more thing? She does ...
'Well, I'm sick and tired of hearing your voice, sir,' I say with a smirk. It works.
Rebellious, friendless, witty Lacey's life is a chaotic mess at home, too. But, against her expectations, something subtly shifts when an empathetic, non-judgemental music teacher with a sense of humour lures her into finding she can enjoy making up her own tunes on the piano. Her life calms, and she's happier, the instinct to quarrel softened. But then that music teacher leaves. Furious Lacey vows never to play the piano again ... until she discovers that piano on the station that empties off people at night. But that piano is about to be removed. Unless Lacey can help to save it.
Difficult, rebellious Lacey is depicted with humour and understanding, and the story twists and keeps us hooked right until the end. A very satisfying read. The illustrations show Lacey's feelings, and the feelings of those around her, brilliantly, taking us further into her experience of it all.
I'm just re-reading KM Peyton's trilogy of stories about rebellious 1970s youth Patrick Pennington who, against stereotype, is a brilliant pianist. This story, published by Barrington Stoke with dyslexic readers in mind, is a shorter and more accessible story that achieves the same satisfaction of the child seen by herself and others as a no-hoper proving that judgement wrong.
