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228th out of 248 books
—
285 voters
The Rising Star of Rusty Nail
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...more
Hardcover, 288 pages
Published
June 12th 2007
by Knopf Books for Young Readers
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Fanny a young girl from a small town is a talented piano player. The only problem is her parnets can't afford to get her a good teacher. When a strange Russian woman who is a gifted piano player arrives in town this seems to be Fanny chance to become a great painist. Only problem is it is 1953 and the town is convinced the Russian woman is a Commie. Fanny also has to deal with a rivial Nancy who plays the piano well but, not great. Nancy's father though has the money to rig things in his daughte...more
The Rising Star of Rusty Nail is the story of A talented Painist, Franny Hansen who lives in Rusty Nail, Minnesota.
Rusty Nail is called "The Heartland of America" and used to be the former "Coot Capital."
Rusty Nail though is also not very popular since mostly farmers live there and filled with crazy, strange, shy, and weird people.
Like they say "No Two Flakes aare exactly alike" is like all the resindents in Rusty Nail.
Characters:
Franny Hansen is a prodigy of the piano, and also called a trouble...more
Rusty Nail is called "The Heartland of America" and used to be the former "Coot Capital."
Rusty Nail though is also not very popular since mostly farmers live there and filled with crazy, strange, shy, and weird people.
Like they say "No Two Flakes aare exactly alike" is like all the resindents in Rusty Nail.
Characters:
Franny Hansen is a prodigy of the piano, and also called a trouble...more
This was one of my accidental finds at the library. I was looking to check out some of the Superfudge books by Judy Blume (for the hundredth time because my children love reading and re-reading them) and this wonderful book was alphabetically next to Judy Blume’s work on the shelf.
The cover was a piano keyboard, which caught my eye. I am always on the lookout for books about the arts that might be fun, informative and engaging to read. The Rising Star of Rusty Nail is all of those things intertw...more
The cover was a piano keyboard, which caught my eye. I am always on the lookout for books about the arts that might be fun, informative and engaging to read. The Rising Star of Rusty Nail is all of those things intertw...more
The Rising Star of Rusty Nail is a relastic fiction novel written by Lesley M.M. Blume. It takes place in a rural community in Minnesota during the Cold War, approximately 60 years ago. During this period, the United States was pitted against the Soviet Union, in a battle between capitalism and communism, or so historians describe.
Because of this difference in ideals, Americans like the main character, Franny Hansen, and her neighbors, naturally detest Russians, whom they stigmatized as "Commie...more
Because of this difference in ideals, Americans like the main character, Franny Hansen, and her neighbors, naturally detest Russians, whom they stigmatized as "Commie...more
Mar 02, 2013
Oksana *Bookaholic*
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Piano lovers, people who like a good realistic-fiction novel
This book was fantastic! I enjoyed the characters, and I loved how the author managed to appeal to kids and teens. I was reading about this ten-year-old and even I was fascinated and not bored. I really loved the fact that it was centered around piano. Since I play, it was awesome hearing about that. Another thing is I loved how it wasn't fake. Franny loses the piano contest to Nancy and is devastated. But since Nancy's parents bribed the judges and that's why she won, their family was shunned....more
I liked this a lot better than I thought I would. Set in the 1950's in Rusty Nail, Minnesota, a small town is scandalized when a Russian woman moves in. She is a child protege and recognizes the skill of one of the town's girls, Franny Hansen. I have no musical skill, but this was written in such a way to let the reader understand what it feels like to be on stage and knowing you are nailing a performance.
A few nit-picks - I hate it when a small town family goes to the big city and just doesn...more
A few nit-picks - I hate it when a small town family goes to the big city and just doesn...more
I loved this as much as Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades... Lesley Blume is definitely an author to watch for middle grade readers. This story takes place in Midwest of the 1950's. Young Franny is sassy and troublesome, but looking for her chance to make it big with her piano-playing. When a Russian (i.e. suspected Commie) moves in next door, Franny pursues her one and only opportunity. Not only a good story, but I loved the characterization of the rivals--sassy, uniquely talented Franny pit...more
I loved this book. Perhaps largely because I love music but also because of the manner in which Blume addresses serious issues in life. The book is about a 10 year old piano prodigy who has to work through prejudice, teasing, gossip, learning how to stand up for what's right when the majority is taking the lower road, persistence, fights with friends, competition, what it takes to be excellent at something, etc. Set in the 1950s, the book also delves a bit into McCarthur and the issues at that t...more
Actually, more like 3.5 or 3.75 stars.
I loved Blume's debut novel, Cornelia, so I was a little bit disappointed in this book. The plot line was compelling and I liked the main character (Franny Hansen) a lot. However, I wasn't as thrilled with Blume's depictions of some of the background characters. Being a Midwesterner, I found it strange that some of the townspeople seemed like real yokels who used poor grammar and said "ain't" a lot. Sure, Rusty Nail is a small town, but Minnesota is known fo...more
I loved Blume's debut novel, Cornelia, so I was a little bit disappointed in this book. The plot line was compelling and I liked the main character (Franny Hansen) a lot. However, I wasn't as thrilled with Blume's depictions of some of the background characters. Being a Midwesterner, I found it strange that some of the townspeople seemed like real yokels who used poor grammar and said "ain't" a lot. Sure, Rusty Nail is a small town, but Minnesota is known fo...more
Living in the tiny town of Rusty Nail, Minnesota, Franny is certain that her talents as a pianist will forever go unnoticed. She's already outgrown the one piano teacher in town and her parents don't have the money to pay for a fancy teacher like her arch nemesis Nancy's. Then Franny gets a stroke of good luck. One of the young bachelors in town gets married to a Russian woman and brings her back to Rusty Nail. The town is agog and buzzing with gossip. Imagine... a Commie in their very own town!...more
while it wasn't at all what i thought it would be, i actually really enjoyed reading about Franny Hanson. she is a very unique character, and looking at Rusty Nail through her eyes. i liked how her opinions on her Russian piano teacher change. the book was very well written, with a lot of description and detail, and i would like to read more by the author. overall, while this wasn't as good as some of the author's other works. i thought it was pretty good.
Feb 28, 2013
Leanna
added it
I thought this was a great book. I wasn't looking for a book like this to read, but my friend reccomended it to me. He picked it up and showed me while he said "Look! It has a piano on it!" because he knows music is important to me.
I began to read it and loved it. I could understand Franny's feelings and I was so proud of her in the end. The antagonist is so mean and rude. Sandy and Franny really got her good in the beginning! ;)
I began to read it and loved it. I could understand Franny's feelings and I was so proud of her in the end. The antagonist is so mean and rude. Sandy and Franny really got her good in the beginning! ;)
Franny Hansen, a determined ten-year-old pianist, convinces the mysterious Russian newcomer to become her piano teacher despite the disapproval of most of the townfolk, who are caught up in the fear and suspicion of 1954 McCarthyism. Under Madame Malenkov's tutelage Franny rapidly matures both musically and personally, growing from a thoughtless prankster into a thoughtful young girl. Blume captures the passion a true virtuoso feels for music and the close-minded dread of the "Communist threat"...more
Good to find a story that addresses McCarthyism with a female lead. But the historical accuracy of many details in this book are way off. No girl in 1953 would wear jeans and a t-shirt to school, no one had Big Wheels then (they weren't invented until the 1970s). The fact checking was really, really awful (and distracting to an adult) but it was a good story for the time period and showing how a community can be insular.
Jun 16, 2010
Relyn
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
teachers, parents, tweens
Recommended to Relyn by:
I love the author's first book
I love Lesley M.M. Blume's first book. I am hoping this one is as wonderful. It's certainly begun well. I've laughed out load several times already.
This one was wonderful, too. The main character is ten and I am thinking of using this as a read aloud for later in the school year. Maybe March or so. It was funny, entertaining, and full of opportunities for character-related discussions. I just love Lesley M.M. Blume.
This one was wonderful, too. The main character is ten and I am thinking of using this as a read aloud for later in the school year. Maybe March or so. It was funny, entertaining, and full of opportunities for character-related discussions. I just love Lesley M.M. Blume.
Fun historical fiction about Franny who lives in the small town of Rusty nail and dreams of life beyond the small town. She and her best friend Sandy are best known as the town trouble makers but that changes when a mysterious stranger moves to town and has everyone on edge. Franny gets excited when she sees the new resident moving in a grand piano. This could be the break she has been waiting for.
A wonderful read aloud story which my 16, 12, and 9 year old grandkids all enjoyed. the opening chapters are laugh aloud funny and the story should inspire budding piano players. Set in a 1950s small town in
Wisconsin, the plot cleverly follows the lives of those who fear the Russian lady who arrives and the young girl who wants to study piano with her, The book should prove to be a winner with many.
Wisconsin, the plot cleverly follows the lives of those who fear the Russian lady who arrives and the young girl who wants to study piano with her, The book should prove to be a winner with many.
Oct 05, 2010
Rebecca
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Middle Schoolers, Piano players
Shelves:
library-book
The Rising Star of Rusty Nail is about a girl named Franny who lives in a small town named Rusty Nail in the 1950s and is extremely good at piano. However, her parents can't afford a decent teacher, and when her old teacher quits, Franny is left with no means of putting her talent to use. When a Russian woman named Madame Malenkov offers to teach Franny, she is overjoyed. But the members of the community react harshly to Madame Malekov, calling her a 'Russian spy' and a 'Commie'. Franny also has...more
Franny is a good piano player. In fact, she's the best piano player in Rusty Nail MN. But that isn't saying much, because Rusty Nail is so small that the biggest excitement is when the wife of the local Congressman comes to town for a short visit and the town goes all out to impress her. So imagine the excitement when a real Russian comes to town. Rumors fly that she is a Communist spy and Franny is determined to find out for sure. But what she discovers instead is that the Russian is really a f...more
Jan 30, 2012
Katie(:
is currently reading it
Since Im reading this book, I dont know what the whole story is about. But Im on Page 215 so Im almost done! :D Im reading this book for a school assignment, but we could choose what to read. At first I thought I wouldnt like it because its not a scary/mystery/suspenseful book, but Im really enjoying it(:
Franny lives in a small town in the 50's when a Russian woman moves in. She ends up being Franny's piano teacher after a lot of pestering but receives a lot of anti-Communist sentiment from the neighbors. I thought I'd like the small town personalities of the characters but most of them just seemed like small minded mean girls--even the nice ones.
This would make an awesome book for a book discussion. Just discussing people's prejudices, first impressions, dealing with those people who get everything while others have to work for it, the power of being talented and the effect of people to change our lives when we least expect it. So great themes but this comes with a warning, there is a bit of cheesiness here!
I enjoyed her other one so picked this one up... Franny feels she may be stuck in a little backwards town playing the piano for sch...more
I enjoyed her other one so picked this one up... Franny feels she may be stuck in a little backwards town playing the piano for sch...more
It's 1954 & the Commie scare is rife in Rusty Nail, MN. Ten-year-old Franny, a piano-playing prodigy, has an opportunity to receive music lessons from a mysterious Russian lady. What to do? This book is so right on about the 1950s in middle America.
I really liked the comparisons to musical scores and the setup of the book. The story was a little unbelieveable, but still enjoyable. Historical fiction is not usually my favorite, but 50's just doesn't seem that historical! I must be old!!!
Another winner from Lesley M.M. Blume. Francis Hansen is stuck in her one-horse town, Rusty Nail. Although she is a talented pianist there is no one in town to give her lessons so Francis along with her best friend Sandy, spend their time planning and pulling off pranks on the their classmates and fellow citizens. At least until Madame Malenkov shows up. Madame malenkov is a famous pianist though she's not interested in giving lessons plus she's from Russia so that makes her a Communist as well...more
This is a fabulous tale involving unfair competition, preconceived notions, misconceptions, and McCarthyism. The characters are beautifully developed, the plot moves quickly, and the lessons learned are universal.
There's just nothing like a great, small town, middle-America historical fiction. Rising Star of Rusty Nail is set in the 1950s in a small, one-traffic-light town where there's scarcely a thing to do when you're bored and where gossip travels fast no matter how big the news.
Our main character dreams of playing piano in the White House like the girl she saw on the newsreel who, at a year younger, got to play for the President of the United States. When our character catches news of a celebrity vi...more
Our main character dreams of playing piano in the White House like the girl she saw on the newsreel who, at a year younger, got to play for the President of the United States. When our character catches news of a celebrity vi...more
There were parts of this book I really enjoyed, however there were also parts that left me feeling a little less than satisfied. One thing I enjoyed: the explanation of how the book is structured the same as a certain piano concerto -- I really enjoyed it as a stand alone at the beginning of the story (good way to explain the natural progression of a story), but it took on even more meaning as the story unfolded. Another part I loved: the mother of the main character -- her actions toward the en...more
An aspiring ten-year old pianist in a small 1950's era town overcomes suspician of a Russian woman to further her skills by taking piano lessons from her.
This book is about a girl named franny who learns to play the piano from a professional in a small town. I thought it was cute, but it wasn't for my age range. very historical though. Funny too!
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big wheel in 1953?????????????? | 1 | 7 | Jan 27, 2009 01:08pm |
