Harrowing and heartbreaking are the words that describe this story, based on the 1948 real-life abduction of 11-year old Sally Horner.

While stealing a composition notebook from the Woolworth’s in her hometown of Camden, New Jersey, young Sally is confronted by a man claiming to be an FBI agent. The man, convicted child abuser Frank LaSalle, frightens Sally into thinking she is going to court and possibly jail for her shoplifting crime. He tells her he is taking her into custody until her court date and the petrified child believes him. More horrifically, he convinces her to lie to her mother and tell her she is going to the shore with a friend for a few days so that no one will come looking for her. Thus begins almost 2 years of sexual abuse and false identities as the kidnapper takes her from state to state, always one step beyond being saved.

Told from the perspectives of Sally, her mother Ella, her sister Susan and various other characters, the author provides a realistic feel for the fear, guilt, shame and hopelessness that surely surrounded them all during this nightmare. The story of abduction is true, and the author’s fictional recounting of events over that two-year period was chilling enough to make me believe things definitely could have occurred the way they were written.

Sally Horner and her abductor were prototypes for characters in the novel “Lolita,” by Vladimir Nabokov. I was not aware of this, or even of Sally Horner herself until I read this book. For those who don’t know how Sally’s story turned out, I won’t expound any further. I will say that this can be a tough read for the tender-hearted, and there are potential triggers here for those who have suffered or witnessed sexual abuse.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

5 stars

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2268141163?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

I feel so many things right now, it is hard to put all of these feelings into words. Anger, sadness, nausea. I have goosebumps, and I had them the whole time I was reading Rust and Stardust. As an adult, it is hard to comprehend kidnapping. Why would someone do it? Why would the child go with them? Why was the child not found sooner? I found myself asking myself so many questions whilst reading.

This book is based on the real life kidnapping of Sally Horner. This really happened. It's not another made up story to grab the readers attention with horrible things. It is real life. Sally really existed, she was really kidnapped. We read about Sally's time with La Salle through multiple perspective's. We have Sally's perspective, the people surrounding Sally in her new life, and Sally's family as they live without Sally. It is a truly heart wrenching story.

Ultimately, it was the cover that attracted me to this novel. It is very unique and the red ribbon is of significance to the story. Definitely read the synopsis before you embark on this journey. There are many triggers throughout.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I really loved the author's gorgeous writing style. It was very descriptive and made it easy to picture the story as I was reading. I liked the characters and general story line. Having never read Lolita (gasp) I don't know how well it links to the original, but it was a great book even if you don't know the Lolita story.

Rust & Stardust... where do I begin? Oh my gosh 5 huge gut wrenching and beautiful stars!!

Oh my goodness did I cry on this book.... this book was so amazing!

This is my first book that I've read by Greenwood and I honestly am not sure why?! I have 2 others sitting on my kindle and am going to get to them ASAP now!!

Greenwood tells a disturbing and heart-breaking story of Sally Horner and her abductor Frank LaSalle. The novels stars off in 1948 with Sally stealing a notebook from Woolworth's in order to impress her friends. Sally is approached by a man outside the store, claiming to be an FBI agent who says he is going to save Sally from prison due to her stealing. For the next two years, Sally is taken across multiple state lines with her captor, Frank LaSalle, and the heart-ache that accompanies Sally through her childhood.

Greenwood's words flow so beautifully across the pages that you can't help but get lost in the world of Sally and her family. The story alternates between Sally, her mother Ella, sister Susan, brother-in-law Al, and all the other people whose lives were touched by Sally throughout her journey.

I do have to warn you... this novel touches on some serious issues of child abuse (including physical, sexual, and emotional). This novel actually reminded me a little bit of the dark but beautiful book "All the Ugly and Wonderful Things" by Bryn Greenwood.

In all the darkness to this novel.. there is also so so much beauty. This is going on my top reads for 2018. I can't recommend this enough and am telling you to pre-order this one. I will be buying a hardcover when the book comes out in August of 2018.

Greenwood you got me with that ending.... I couldn't hold it together.. tears were a flowing my friends. I feel like my heart is broken :(.

A HUGE thank you to St. Martins Press, Netgalley, and T. Greenwood for an advanced arc in exchange for my honest review.
Published to GR: 2/25/18
Publication date: 8/7/2018

This is a tough, hard to read book to, but would have been so much more powerful if it had been about 100 pages shorter. I do recommend this book, the structure and writing is very well done. Also anyone who is a fan of Lolita should also read this novel.

I really enjoyed this book. The subject matter is disturbing, yet not overly graphic or exploitative. This is a true story, and the author did a fantastic job of immersing the reader into Sally's perspective. I'll definitely read more from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for an advance copy to review for my unbiased opinion.

Admittedly, this novel was hard for me to review. As a lifelong Nabokov & Lolita lover, I was loathe to delve into the complete seediness of it all.

However, this true story of Sally Horner and her abduction by a pedophile was so beautifully, evocatively, and originally written, I couldn’t put it down. The reader’s main narrator is Sally herself, with the people she meets along her journey interspersed throughout. The desperation, the fear, the loneliness comes shining through, but in such a subtle way.

It’s incredibly sad. Greenwood managed to write in different voices that managed to differentiate themselves so well.

My only criticism is that I did end up skimming through a few of the narratives that added nothing to the novel.

Sally is only 11 years old and desperate to fit in with the popular girls and become part of the in crowd. In an effort to impress them she steals a 5 cent notebook. Frank LaSalle, an ex-convict recently released from prison uses this chance opportunity to pose as an FBI agent and "arrest", Sally.

Sally being naive, trustworthy and scared falls for his ruse and becomes his victim. He convinces, Sally that in order for her to avoid jail she must cooperate with him. Sally obliges. The book then chronicles the next two years in which, Sally is physically, mentally and sexually abused. The move from one location to another to avoid detection.

Greenwood tells this story from multiple points of views. The reader hears Sally's view, her families, the police and those few individuals who pop in and out of her life for various reasons.

Greenwood gives a voice to, Sally with tact and emotion. Your heart will break over and over again. You will cringe, your skin will crawl in particular as the desperation, fear and loneliness come to life across the pages. Rust and Stardust is well written, dark and real.
Be prepared to go on an emotional journey.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
“Rust and Stardust” by T. Greenwood is based loosely on true events. In New Jersey in 1948, Sally Horner steals a notebook from Woolworth’s in order to impress her friends. When she is approached by a man outside the store, claiming to be an FBI agent who is going to “save her from jail”, her life is forever changed. For the next two years, Sally is taken across state lines multiple times, bouncing from home to home with her captor, Frank LaSalle, a wanted criminal and sex offender. “Rust and Stardust” tells not only the story of Sally, who is forever changed and forever bound to Frank, but of those she left behind who feel her void most vividly.
Greenwood tells a disturbing, psychological, morally defunct story in “Rust and Stardust”. The plot began right away, which instantly draws a reader in to the dark underworld of child abduction. The storyline alternates and we hear not only from Sally herself, but from her mother, sister, brother-in-law, friends, and all of those individuals whose lives she touched throughout her journey. With such an expansive cast of characters, alternating storylines would normally be challenging and difficult to follow but Greenwood sets up in such a way that the plot is expanded and the characters are given room to develop at a slow burn.
Loosely based on Vladimir Nabokov’s “Lolita”, “Rust and Stardust” is not for the faint of heart. The darkness of the plot brings to mind “All the Ugly and Wonderful Things” by Bryn Greenwood as well, with the depravity and empathy and all the feelings of disgust and emotional turmoil.
The ending of this novel was definitely unexpected and tragic, especially knowing this ending based on the real outcome. The struggles faced by Sally and her family were honest and emotional, and this story is not one that will be easily forgotten.
A difficult novel to read, based on its subject matter, “Rust and Stardust” ran the gamut of emotions, while still managing to captivate me and keep me engaged until the very end. A very well told story, full of complex characters and disturbing plot twists, I highly recommend this novel for readers who are looking for something terribly dark and fascinating.

This is the first book I’ve read by T. Greenwood.
I found the subject to be a disturbing, difficult topic to read about.....being based on a true story even more so.
The story flowed well and was easy to read in that sense, but still not a feel good book....

If you haven't read Lolita or weren't alive before 1948, Sally Horner and Frank LaSalle might not already be household names. T. Greenwood has taken the story of Sally's kidnapping by deceptive con man Frank LaSalle, that really happened in the late forties, and used it as the premise for this fictitious novel. Since I hadn't re-read the summary before I started this book, I was absolutely infuriated and angry as the pages wore on, but I was engrossed and I read the whole book in a day. Greenwood did a remarkable job. What got me through this book, besides Greenwood's writing style, were the "helpers" present throughout Sally's traumatic adventure across the country. From school teachers to circus "freaks", a string of hope was present throughout the whole book. The ending of Rust & Stardust does coincide with what actually happened to Sally. So if you don't want to know how this fateful tale ends, don't Google the real story!

Heartbreaking. Tragic. Important.
Although the tale is sickening, it is tastefully portrayed. This version of Sally Horner’s kidnapping shows us how simple it is for a child to be abducted and remain captive for the fear that is planted by their captor. It all, makes sense; doesn’t want to disappoint mother, doesn’t want more trouble to befall those around her. Sally is not too young to know that it is not right, but she is not mature enough to escape the situation. Hug your kids and show them that they can come to you with ANYTHING.

In 1948, 11-year-old Sally Horner stole a notebook from Woolworth’s. Frank LaSalle, newly released from prison, witnessed the theft and grabbed Sally, telling her he was with the FBI. Terrified of getting in trouble, she agreed to leave with him, and she didn’t come home for two years.
I was drawn to read this novel after discovering that Sally’s story inspired Nabokov’s Lolita.
Rust and Stardust is a fictionalized account of what may have happened during Sally’s two years on the run with Frank LaSalle. LaSalle mentally and physically abused Sally, convincing her at first that he was the law, then that he was her real father. Sally was naïve and gullible, believing that she had to keep quiet or she would get in trouble. He took her across the country, evading the police and the FBI, telling neighbors that Sally was his daughter.
No one thought to question his story.
Rust and Stardust gives life to a real story that has almost been lost to history. Told from multiple points-of-view, the story follows Sally’s nightmare with Frank LaSalle, and also the horrible anguish of her family searching for her. The author deftly recreates Sally’s thought processes, showing how this young girl could believe such outlandish lies even while enduring abuse and isolation. Even though I knew the outcome, this was a gripping story. My heart was racing while I turned the pages.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Pretty sad tale. Well imagined and written but I was not expecting Sally to die at the end, so young. Obviously, it's a true story so that couldn't be avoided but I wasn't aware of the true ending before reading. Left just feeling sad. And the car crash scene isn't clear. Only after reading the funeral scene--and going back--did I figure out she died. It's not obvious enough (at least for this obtuse reader).

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview this ARC of Rust & Stardust.

First of all, let me just say, I adore T. Greenwood. She has written some of my favorite books. But I have mixed feelings about this one.

Greenwood does something that should have been done a long time ago. She gives a voice to Sally Horner, the young girl who was abducted in 1948 and provided inspiration for the story Lolita.

Here's your trigger warning, this is truly every parents worst nightmare, and especially in the beginning, so hard to read. It never ceases to amaze me just how narcissistic and manipulative people can be. To not only get away with a child abduction, but to keep them for as long as he did. Greenwood takes a lot of liberties with this story, largely by adding fictional characters and probably fictional drama to Sally's story, which made me a bit uncomfortable? Here's your spoiler alert, Sally's whole life is tragic, from beginning to end, so to add intrigue and entertainment to her story feels inappropriate and exploitive. But flip that coin over, and I also really appreciated being able to hear her story and learn more about this poor young victim. So, there you go.

A harrowing take on what happened to Sally Horner those two years she was abducted and the couple of years following. A heart breaking rendering...and very well written. The story is compelling and completely gripping due to the variation of viewpoint as well as the level of detail involved in the storyline. It really made me appreciate my own life and understand how lucky I am and how dangerous the world can be for some. I will never understand how some people come to be like La Salle. This is an extremely sad story and is not for the weak of heart to read..

Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for gifting me with an ARC of Rust & Stardust in exchange for my honest review.

I read this book in one sitting with my heart pulsating, holding my breath in dread and anticipation. Artistically told, I was introduced to a true crime event I was unfamiliar with. In June of 1948, 11 year old Sally Horner was abducted under the most bizarre circumstances and held captive for two years. Her story is believed to be the basis for Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita.

Told in multiple points of view, one gets the perspective of victim, family members, law enforcers and acquaintances who knew intrinsically something was wrong but not sure how to help young Sally. Frank LaSalle a convicted rapist and kidnapper preyed on the innocence of Sally, convincing her he was with the FBI and she was in trouble with the law.

While the story is horrifying, T. Greenwood presents it in such a respectful, graceful manner. Your heart will ache for Sally, her mother and the tragic circumstances that destroyed both their lives. I highly recommend this stunning tale.

‘I’m gonna need for you to come with me,’ he said, tugging at her arm to pull her along.’

Camden, NJ, 1948. Sally Horner is just 11 years old when wanting to be part of girls’ club changes her life forever. To join, Sally must steal something from the local Woolworth’s. Sally knows that stealing is wrong, but she longs to belong. Sally takes a notebook, but just as she gets to the front door she’s accosted by a man:
’I’m sorry, miss, but you’re going to need to come with me.’.

The man tells her that he is an FBI agent, and because he likes her, he’s not going to hand her to the police. The man is Frank LaSalle, a 52-year-old man, fresh from prison. He convinces Sally do as he says. This involves a complicated story, which has Sally’s mother initially believing that Frank LaSalle is the father of a friend of Sally’s and is taking her on a holiday.

So begins almost two years of physical and mental abuse as Frank LaSalle takes Sally westward from Camden. Sworn to secrecy, fearing for her mother and her sister, Sally suffers in silence. Some of those she meets along the way are concerned for her, but they (and the police) seem to always be one step behind.

‘Don’t worry about your mama, Sally. They’ll forget about you soon. It’ll be like you never was.’

The real-life kidnapping of Sally Horner is one of the inspirations behind Vladimir Nabokov’s novel ‘Lolita’. Near the end of ‘Lolita’, Nabokov writes: ‘Had I done to Dolly, perhaps, what Frank Lasalle, a fifty-year-old mechanic, had done to eleven-year-old Sally Horner in 1948?’ I’ve read ‘Lolita’ three times, but I never looked for any information behind this reference until after reading this novel. Both ‘Lolita’ and this novel are fiction, but Sally Horner’s abduction is fact. In this novel Ms Greenwood draws Sally from the shadows and gives her a voice. Imagine being an eleven (and then twelve) year old girl in her situation. Imagine feeling unable to tell anyone what was happening, for fear of what might happen to you or to those you love?

‘Please let them find me, she thought. Before it’s too late.’

Ms Greenwood explores this period in Sally’s life from several different angles. Her mother, her sister, her brother-in-law and a couple of the people she meets along the way are each part of the story. Perhaps her mother was naïve and trusting, perhaps Sally should have tried harder to escape. It’s always easy to wonder why other people act the way they do (or do not). By presenting this story in the way she does, Ms Greenwood invites the reader to imagine being Sally, or one of the other people worried for her. But for Sally there is little comfort, no escape.

‘Why didn’t anyone try to save her?’

Those who know the story of Sally Horner know how it will end. Those who do not will, like me, be turning the pages hoping that Sally will be rescued. Some, like me, finding the suspense unbearable will do some research before the end of the novel. Whichever way you choose to approach Sally’s story, it’s uncomfortable.
I did not enjoy this novel in any conventional sense of the word. I was profoundly moved by it, reduced to tears
at times, occasionally taking heart from the small pieces of humanity Sally benefitted from on her journey. How can it be that so many of us remember ‘Lolita’ but have never explored Sally Horner’s story? Ms Greenwood has written a powerful and moving novel, imagining aspects of Sally Horner’s journey. This is not an easy read, but I think it will prove unforgettable.

And the title ‘Rust and Stardust’?

‘My car is limping, Dolores Haze,
And the last long lap is the hardest,
And I shall be dumped where the weed decays,
And the rest is rust and stardust.’
― Vladimir Nabokov, ‘Lolita’

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Engaging and griping, Rust and Stardust is the fictionalized story of Sally Horner, an inspiration of the infamous Lolita.
Sally Horner is caught trying to steal a cheap composition notebook in New Jersey in 1948. The "FBI agent" tells her she must go with him to face trail over the event. So begins a years long capture of an eleven year old girl by a 50-sometyhing pervert. While the novel is the fictionalized version of these events, the majority of the story's components are factual.
I finished this book in two days because the book was engaging and the chapters short enough to spur the reader to want to know what happens next. The story fallows the point of view of a variety of characters including Sally h, her mother, and those she meets along the way.
As both a novel lover and a true crime buff, I loved Rust & Stardust; I was entrance at page 1.