Review

A Lonely Girl is a Dangerous Thing is a raw and telling glimpse into the world of a child prodigy

By Karen Viggers
July 11 2020 - 12:00am
Jessie Tu's book is an assured debut. Picture: Supplied
Jessie Tu's book is an assured debut. Picture: Supplied
  • A Lonely Girl is a Dangerous Thing, by Jessie Tu. Allen & Unwin. $29.99.

Have you ever wondered about child prodigy musicians? Like, for example, a nine-year-old violin soloist who plays with an international orchestra with as much technical skill and accomplishment as an adult. Where does such brilliance come from? Pushy parents? A knowledgeable teacher? Natural talent? And what is the cost to the child? What sort of adult do you become after famous beginnings? How do success and failure shape us and break us?