The ways of reflecting classical texts in modern literature on the example of the story “Pi Day” by N. Dashevskaya addressed for teenage readers are considered. It is shown how the creation is formed on the allusion to the tragedy “Mozart and Salieri” by A.S. Pushkin. The specificity of a new type of hero, developed in the context of traditions, taking into account the ideas about modern teenager personality is revealed. The correlation of the plot about Mozart and Salieri with the literary hero of the new time is described. In the main antagonists’ images of N. Dashevskaya’s story – Lev Inozemtsev and Kirill Komlev – the positive and negative features combination is emphasized. The methods of gifted teenager image formation in the creation are characterized, the artistic embodiment specificity of his socialization, adaptation way in the school community is determined. Differences number of the modern author’s book from the classical creation are highlighted, the writer’s desire to form in young readers the need to have a look at the source material is emphasized. The compositional features of the story “Pi Day” are defined: division into two equal parts, narration on behalf of different characters, fragmentary day-night narration. The practical significance of the research, the results using possibility in literature school teaching as a way of increasing the high school students reading interest to the classic Russian literature is outlined.