Reviews

The Van Gogh Deception by Deron R. Hicks

kawarwick's review against another edition

4.0

A fun middle grade mystery adventure story. Has some parts that remind me of Home Alone. Loved the QR codes that are included. They show the pieces of art being referred to in the story. I’d like to see Art and Camille go on another adventure.

akbusybee's review against another edition

4.0

From the first page of the book, the author keeps you guessing. The Van Gogh Deception is a great mystery that follows the two main characters on an artful chase! Fast paced and enjoyable!

jmmerc1's review against another edition

3.0

I started this book as a read aloud for my 4th grade class and they were not interested in it at all. The whole book takes place only over two days and changes point of view frequently. The beginning is very confusing and to be quite honest boring because we do not understand what is happening. My students voted to not finish the book and begin a different one. 

I continued to read this story on my own and as I got to the middle/ almost the end is when it became more interesting and the pieces were coming together. I wish there was an epilogue on how Art and Camille stay in touch after everything went down! Their friendship was my favorite part.

lostinafairytale's review against another edition

4.0

This book is like a mini Jason Bourne movie for middle schoolers! It's like a mix of Home Alone and Catch That Thief and basically every great story where the kids are the ones who have to try and outsmart the bad guys. It was super fast-paced and played out exactly like a movie.

wendyk's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny informative mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book was so good! And fun because there are QR codes throughout so you can see the art the author's writing about. Genius idea.
A boy is found in the National Gallery of Art. He doesn't know his name, who he is, or how he got there. He doesn't remember anything, except seemingly random art facts. Is that why he's being chased?
This thrilling, fast-paced art mystery through Washington DC was a fantastic read. Can't wait to read the others in the series.

molly_dettmann's review against another edition

4.0

A lost boy with no memory, a nefarious plot involving a Vincent Van Gogh work, and a scrappy girl who finds herself in the middle of it all...The Van Gogh Deception did not disappoint once it mixed all of these things together for one thrilling, fun, MG mystery. The book also features QR codes so that readers could use their phones to see the artwork that was being mentioned. I liked that idea, but was so caught up in the story I never actually did it. It would have been cooler to just have the artwork in it.

pickekat's review against another edition

5.0

I really enjoyed this book. I loved how there was suspense on every page and that the story came together so well at the end. This was a mystery, and an incredibly well written one, for that matter. I would recommend this to anyone who likes mystery, art, or suspense. I do think that this book is best for 4th graders and up, though, because the “bad guys” are aiming to hurt the characters. This was a great book.

jcarsrud's review against another edition

5.0

This was an exciting adventure all the way through! I would recommend it to any middle schooler who likes action, adventure, and mystery!

fionak's review against another edition

3.0

Well-plotted, if predictable. The characters are flat and at no point did I care what happened or feel emotionally engaged.

annegirl's review against another edition

adventurous informative mysterious tense fast-paced

4.5