Who could resist a book with a cover like this?  A slim girl, back turned, stands under the marquee of an old-time movie theater, her pink polka dot tights the only splash of color on a dark, rainy night.

Thus, the mood is set for a mystery that takes place around the Little Arts, a movie theater in a little town where nothing much happens–until the girl in pink tights shows up, and Dani, the young heroine, is consumed by curiosity as to who this stranger is.

As the plot unfolds, just like in the movies, Dani will convince readers that old movies can take one away from life’s troubles, that Rita Hayworth had glamour like no star before or since, and that black and white movies are far more elegant than color.

One more thing to like about this mystery for the middle grades is that there are no scenes to leave you wondering if they’re totally  appropriate for sixth graders, but there’s plenty of action and suspense to keep everyone turning pages.