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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
Great young adult mystery. Can't wait to read it to my class.
this has been referred to as "the davinci code for tweens." i can't tell if they meant to bring the bad with the good with that review, but it seems awfully accurate. it's not very well-written but it's fun and easy to read and exciting.
Looking for a good book for younger children with high reading levels? This might be a winner! No zombies, death, vampires or blood! Follow Petra and Calder as they try and unravel mysterious clues about a book, a letter and the lady in Vermeer's painting, "A Lady Writing". Fun and full of interesting twists-and-turns, this book keeps kids guessing (and reading!) to discover the ending. A definite read for the art lovers, too!
A quick book for middle-grade kids, based around two sixth-graders who find themselves in the middle of a puzzle.
The book was extremely fast paced, much faster than it should have been for the mystery of it all. The characters were introduced so quickly that you really didn't get a whole lot of feel for Petra and Calder.
I'm going to let that go though, as I'm sure many sixth graders don't have the patience for 400-page novels. I loved to read at that age and I know personally that it was a lot easier for me to get through the 150-250 page books than to try to concentrate for 400-pages. So I believe it is a good size for the target audience.
The mystery itself was well thought out, the way everything connected at the end was interesting, but the thought processes that lead them to the clues was ridiculous at times. Calder coming up with a whole clue because he saw a single letter; mixing up words until they sound like a sentence they overheard someone say and thinking it is significant.
Although not the greatest book ever written, it did have a fun story and I feel like it would be inspiring for children around the sixth grade age to learn about art and puzzles.
The book was extremely fast paced, much faster than it should have been for the mystery of it all. The characters were introduced so quickly that you really didn't get a whole lot of feel for Petra and Calder.
I'm going to let that go though, as I'm sure many sixth graders don't have the patience for 400-page novels. I loved to read at that age and I know personally that it was a lot easier for me to get through the 150-250 page books than to try to concentrate for 400-pages. So I believe it is a good size for the target audience.
The mystery itself was well thought out, the way everything connected at the end was interesting, but the thought processes that lead them to the clues was ridiculous at times. Calder coming up with a whole clue because he saw a single letter; mixing up words until they sound like a sentence they overheard someone say and thinking it is significant.
Although not the greatest book ever written, it did have a fun story and I feel like it would be inspiring for children around the sixth grade age to learn about art and puzzles.
Cute mystery about a stolen Vermeer painting. What's nice about this book is the theme of understanding, interconnectedness, and coincidence that is prevalent throughout.
A most excellent and bizarre young adult book. I have the other two in the series and am anxious to get started. I utterly failed the picture clues though.
This did not take long to read. It's a well written mystery full of excitement and clues that could lead a reader to figure some things out on their own. The illustrations were fantastic and held some of their own clues, too. I think a lot of middle school kids would like this book. It has both a male and female slueth making it easy for boys and girls to relate. I love the tie to art history. Very fun book.
Found the beginning a bit slow but picked up part way through
Calder Pillay is entering sixth grade without his best friend, Tommy, who just moved to NYC and is a bit lonely. His sixth grade teacher, Ms. Hussey, is very interesting. Instead of teaching straight curriculum, she's always throwing out fun research. Calder becomes friends with Petra who is also in his class and lives down the street. Three letters go out asking or threatening 3 unknown people to do something.
Ms. Hussey has her class thinking about what would be a more memorable letter and then what makes art. She's not afraid to go down a path, find a dead end and then try something else.
But there are a bunch of coincidences. Petra finds a book, Lo!, about unexplained disappearances and thinking differently and a scrap of letter that seems ominous. Tommy's neighbor, Frog, disappears. Then there's a connection between Mr. Watch, the bookstore owner, and Mrs. Sharpe, the woman who got rid of Lo! This bookstore is where Calder works part time.
Now a famous painting has been taken and the thief wants the world to examine all Vermeer paintings because he says only 26 of the 35 attributed to him are truly his. The thief sends letters to the newspaper to print. He says he will return the painting after research is done and he thanks his three helpers.
Ms. Hussey and Petra's dad are acting weird. Tommy's stepfather walks out on Tommy and his mom. They want to come back but don't have the money.
Mrs. Sharpe goes to the police because she was the recipient of one letter. Calder's dad remembers her husband was a Vermeer scholar killed years ago in Europe. Ms. Hussey missing from school next day. Turns out she got a letter. Mr. Sharpe had written letter to wife just before death saying he made a big discovery about Vermeer but he was killed before the announcement.
Petra and Calder figure out that the painting is hidden behind a secret panel at their school. They are chased by the thief, and they split up with the thief chasing Calder. Petra is picked up by Campus Security. She leaves the painting in there as she chases Campus Security who is looking for Calder because he's been injured. The thief removes the painting from Campus Security car and gets away. Petra later finds Calder with the painting in nearby tree house.
Thief was Tommy's stepdad who used the three letters to deflect attention from him. He was big time thief who died of a heart attack while trying to run away.
Painting is returned. Many coincidences and patterns. Fun because of it.
Most of the kids in the class liked it. (2020) 1st thru 5th
Ms. Hussey has her class thinking about what would be a more memorable letter and then what makes art. She's not afraid to go down a path, find a dead end and then try something else.
But there are a bunch of coincidences. Petra finds a book, Lo!, about unexplained disappearances and thinking differently and a scrap of letter that seems ominous. Tommy's neighbor, Frog, disappears. Then there's a connection between Mr. Watch, the bookstore owner, and Mrs. Sharpe, the woman who got rid of Lo! This bookstore is where Calder works part time.
Now a famous painting has been taken and the thief wants the world to examine all Vermeer paintings because he says only 26 of the 35 attributed to him are truly his. The thief sends letters to the newspaper to print. He says he will return the painting after research is done and he thanks his three helpers.
Ms. Hussey and Petra's dad are acting weird. Tommy's stepfather walks out on Tommy and his mom. They want to come back but don't have the money.
Mrs. Sharpe goes to the police because she was the recipient of one letter. Calder's dad remembers her husband was a Vermeer scholar killed years ago in Europe. Ms. Hussey missing from school next day. Turns out she got a letter. Mr. Sharpe had written letter to wife just before death saying he made a big discovery about Vermeer but he was killed before the announcement.
Petra and Calder figure out that the painting is hidden behind a secret panel at their school. They are chased by the thief, and they split up with the thief chasing Calder. Petra is picked up by Campus Security. She leaves the painting in there as she chases Campus Security who is looking for Calder because he's been injured. The thief removes the painting from Campus Security car and gets away. Petra later finds Calder with the painting in nearby tree house.
Thief was Tommy's stepdad who used the three letters to deflect attention from him. He was big time thief who died of a heart attack while trying to run away.
Painting is returned. Many coincidences and patterns. Fun because of it.
Most of the kids in the class liked it. (2020) 1st thru 5th