The Rising Star of Rusty Nail

Written by Lesley M.M. Blume

A small-town piano prodigy wonders whether a mysterious newcomer is her ticket out.

3.8 Goodreads · 432 ratings

288 pages· 56,302 words· Est. 8 hour read· 790L· AR 5.4 · 9 AR pts

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Bookroo's summary

In 1953, ten-year-old Franny Hansen is a piano prodigy in Rusty Nail, Minnesota, a one-traffic-light town that was once the Coot Capital of the World. She has outgrown the town's only piano teacher, until a mysterious Russian woman arrives. Franny's neighbors are sure the newcomer is a Communist threat, but Franny wonders whether she could be the key to a bigger future.

From the publisher

★ “A story that is as rich as it is delicious.”–Booklist, Starred Franny Hansen is a 10-year-old piano prodigy living in Rusty Nail, Minnesota. Once the Coot Capitol of the world, in 1953 it’s just a run-of-the-mill town with one traffic light and a bizarre cast of characters. She’s long exhausted the talents of the town’s only piano teacher and seems destined to perform at church events and school assemblies, until a mysterious Russian woman arrives in Rusty Nail. Franny’s neighbors are convinced the “Commie” is a threat to their American way of life, but Franny’s not so sure. Could this stranger be her ticket out of Rusty Nail? Lesley M. M. Blume returns with the poignant and laugh-out-loud funny story of one girl’s attempt to pursue the American dream in small town America. “Blume has skillfully combined humor, history, and music to create an enjoyable novel that builds to a surprising crescendo.”–School Library Journal

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