The Rising Star of Rusty Nail cover

The Rising Star of Rusty Nail

Author: Blume, Lesley M.M.

Reading Metrics

Grade Level Middle Grades (MG 4-8)
Book Level 5.4
Points 9.0
Fiction/Nonfiction Fiction
Word Count 56302
Points per Word 0.00016
Page Count 270
Points per Page 0.033333

Description

In the small town of Rusty Nail in the early 1950s, musically talented ten-year-old Franny wants to take advanced piano lessons from Olga Malenkov, a famous Russian musician suspected of being a communist spy by members of the community.

Quick Summary

In 1950s small-town America, ten-year-old Franny dreams of becoming a piano prodigy, but the only teacher who can help her is a mysterious Russian exile everyone whispers might be a communist spy. Kids will devour this page-turner where musical ambition collides with Cold War paranoia, featuring a determined heroine, hilarious small-town characters, and a secret that will keep readers guessing until the very last page. If your kid loves the mystery and heart of "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" or the underdog spirit in "Wonder," they'll be totally hooked on this hidden gem. Perfect for kids ages 9 to 13 in grades 4 through 7 who enjoy historical fiction with a dash of suspense and a lot of heart.