Fifteen-year old Beck is playing the piano. He does it when he wakes up, he taps notes with his fingers when bringing his baby sister to preschool, he plays it when he gets home, and he plays it on stages in front of unflinching juries.
But when a girl from the neighborhood, August, decides to befriend him, whether he likes it or not, he starts to see things that are not black and white.
This novel contains examples of the following tropes:
- Abusive Parents: The maestro, Beck's mother. She was a renowned pianist in her youth and strives for perfection in Beck.
- Annoying Younger Sibling: Joey is this for Beck. She is 10 years younger than him, and he mostly takes care of her since the maestro won't.
- Apathetic Teacher: Beck notes his teachers do not care what happens to their students at home, blissfully leaving him alone about homework and such.
- Bittersweet Ending: His uncle gets custody of Beck and Joey, promising that they don't have to play the piano ever again. But both had to be treated in the hospital first, Beck lost part of his hearing, and they are moving to Germany, leaving August behind.
- Born Unlucky: Beck is born into a famous pianist family, and his mother forces him to live up to the name.
- Celebrity Crush: August is in love with the band Twice Burgundy, dreaming of marrying both of them. When she falls for Beck, she offers him that he can be the fourth partner in the marriage.
- Classical Music Is Cool: Most characters think this.
- Deaf Composer: In the end, Beck hits his head on the piano and loses most of his hearing.
- Defrosting Ice Queen: Beck is surprised himself that he starts to like August and is relaxed around her.
- Disappeared Dad: Beck's father is gone. The maestro hinted she left him since he was an obstacle in her piano play. Joey's father is similarly absent. Beck notes she is the result of a very short relationship.
- Embarrassing First Name: Becks given name is actually Beethoven. He hates it, not just for being named that, but because it reminds him his mother doesn't want him to be his own person.
- Granola Girl: August. She doesn't wear shoes, braids wool in her hair, and is vegetarian.
- Generation Xerox: Jan mentions that their parents made him and the maestro practice Chopin's études for hours a day and that he hated it.
- Girls Like Musicians: Once August finds out Beck is a musician, she is head over heels for him and demands he writes her a song.
- Horrible Housing: Beck is embarrassed by his house. Some windows are broken, the maestro doesn't care much about furniture besides the piano, and somebody stole their mailbox, which is why they use a bucket with a stone.
- Lady Swearsalot: Joey swears like a pirate who stubbed his toe. The only reason she is getting away with it is that it is in German.
- Lethal Chef: Joey is responsible to make breakfast and lunch for herself and Beck. Being five years old, this results in meals like uncooked rice with peanut butter or sandwiches with pencil shavings.
- Nephewism: Beck and Joey move in with their uncle in the end.
- Parental Abandonment: The maestro signs over custody to her brother and leaves, apparently forever.
- Parental Neglect: The maestro doesn't really look after her children, having them missing food, clothes, and other necessities. As long as she can hear Beck play the piano, she thinks everything is fine.
- Pet the Dog: The maestro allows Beck to go to Augusts birthday party.
- Promotion to Parent: Beck is the only one who takes care of Joey, filling the spot of a parent. It doesn't go well.
- Secret-Keeper: Joey has to keep the secret that August is walking them to and from school.
- Social Services Does Not Exist: Joey's teachers do recognize something is wrong with the Keverichs, but do nothing but bug Beck about it.
- Sweet Tooth: Joey can be bribed with chocolate and only chocolate.
- The Charmer: The maestro is a completely different person in a concert setting, charming everybody around her.
- Troubled, but Cute: Beck and Joey.
- Troubling Unchildlike Behavior: Joey is Ax-Crazy, emulating her mother. This results in her getting suspended from preschool after biting the teacher and threatening another student with scissors. Beck also regularly has to flee after dropping her off before a teacher can complain to him about her aggression.
- Would Hurt a Child: The maestro doesn't mind hitting her children to get them in line with her perfectionism.
