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473 reviews for:

Chasing Vermeer

Blue Balliett

3.68 AVERAGE


i simply love the thinking. the plot is good but the way they think simply draws me in. i spent a whole day tring to veiw things the way petra or caulder would and it was amazing. this is an amazing book.
shanlamb's profile picture

shanlamb's review

3.0

The first book. I definitely think she got better!
adventurous challenging hopeful informative inspiring mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
cj_michael94's profile picture

cj_michael94's review

3.0

I admit, that I did not know if I would like this novel going into it. After reading, I was pleasantly surprised. Not my favorite, but it gave me more than anticipated!

I loved this book as it took me into a world of mystery and novelty. The way it was explained fit in with the weird coincidences strung in each page. And Calder Pillay is an only child who LOVES his pentominoes in the book Chasing Vermeer. He is a person who loves mystery and surprise. It is a bit more descriptive in the book about exactly who he is.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Might use excerpts for future lesson plans

One more star just for the ending. I loved the last few chapters but getting there was painful.
mysterious fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

***USING RATING SYSTEM 1.0***

Story: 2/4
  • The story is simple and somewhat engaging, but it lacks enough originality or depth to make it a memorable read.

Characters: 2/4
  • The characters are somewhat developed, but they don't stand out and may not evoke strong emotions in the reader.

Setting: 2/4
  • The setting is described well enough to give a basic sense of where the story takes place.

Writing: 2/4
  • The writing style is clear and easy to read, with some interesting elements.

Vibes: 1/4
  • I read it, but it wasn't anything noteworthy.

  • Overall a mostly forgettable read.


Overall Score: 9/20

Star Rating: 2.25/5
adventurous mysterious fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

libraryjill16's review

3.0

This book alternates point of view between the two main characters, a boy and a girl, so I think it could be enjoyed by either. Kids will probably better relate to bickering/tension between the two than I could. Also, I felt that there were some unclear moments where the author didn't give clear reasoning for things that were happening, they just did because she wrote it. It's a good adventure, though, and a lot of kids probably won't care about that. Also, it made me curious enough to look up some stuff about Vermeer and look at his paintings, so if it can inspire others to do so as well, that's pretty great!

Because it fits so nicely in our summer reading theme and I think kids will like it, I'm going to booktalk it. Here it is:“Dear Friend, I would like your help in identifying a crime that is now centuries old.” Thus begins the mystery, “Chasing Vermeer” by Blue Balliett. Interspersed w/ code, this book invites you to help solve the mystery of whether all the paintings attributed to Vermeer were actually painted by him. Two students, Calder and Petra, who alternately narrate the tale, become caught up in an international art theft in their quest to help solve the mystery. Side note: I looked up Vermeer’s paintings online so I could see what some of the paintings they talk about in the book look like.