Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
Who would like this book?”…He felt things were often connected in ways that no one could yet explain in scientific terms. But if none of this was coincidence, what was it?” (p. 249) If you like this quote, art, puzzles, codes, and mystery, read this book!
Why? Petra and Calder are not friends when this novel begins, but a series of strange coincidences bring these two eccentric sixth graders together. The coincidences revolve around a missing painting by the Dutch painter, Jan Vermeer. Their open-minded teacher, Ms. Hussey, at the University of Chicago’s Lab School, seems to be involved, as does their stern, elderly neighbor Ms. Sharpe. Petra and Calder plunge into solving the mystery with a captivating combination of intuition and logic. Their process takes them to many fascinating places in Chicago, and Balliett describes them so well that I felt as if I were there. I never thought about visiting Chicago before, but after reading this book I want to go and use the book as my tour guide! The afterword has lots of information about the author, the illustrator, Vermeer, puzzles, and art.
The details: 254 p. 2004