My secret sits at the back of my throat like a balled-up spider. I don't like it there. Who would? Spider secrets are the worst. For a whole year, I've been trying to figure out a way to get this one out, but I'm afraid if I move, that secret might stretch out its legs and crawl down my throat, all the way to my stomach where I'll never be able to reach it. Shy Novalee starts the fourth grade determined to make friends. When her mom finds her grandfather's violin, Nova decides to take fiddle lessons to impress her classmates. To her surprise, she's a natural musician, and she even makes a few friends. But Nova's world soon tumbles out of control. Her violin teacher makes too many demands, and before long, she's keeping secrets that threaten her universe. She must find the courage, voice, and persistence to confront the spider secret, but how can she?