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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
This book played a significant part in how 4th grade me saw the world. I love it with my whole heart. It's the reason I love the color yellow, "the color of surprises", and it's one of the many wonderful books that made me love patterns and mysteries. I think you can trace my current obsession with Agatha Christie back to this book.
Underwhelming mystery and too smug. The book has all the elements of what should be catnip for me: paranormal happenings, misfit smart kid protagonists, kids visiting museums to solve ancient(ish) mysteries by looking at art, and a familiar midwestern setting. It's almost really good! But the author is so fucking lecturey in the kids' inner monologues about art and the public's response to the main Art Mystery. The coincidences don’t add up to much—neither a satisfying answer nor a sense of awe or wonder. Just a list of stuff. Skip it. Too bad, this could have been fabulous.
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-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
I think this book would appeal to a specific type of person. This would be a great book for a kid who likes to learn, or anyone who likes puzzles.
I say puzzles more than mysteries, because although the plot follows a mystery, the characters don’t solve a mystery as much as observe a puzzle.
Basically things just happen around the characters, and they notice and record them instead of really problem solving. For myself who enjoys more plot and character focus, I wasn’t very satisfied with things being revealed that way, when I was expecting a mystery to solve. It’s basically just a list of clues that are not explained until the very end.
However, the end was exciting, and I did learn something about art! It is a children's book, so they may enjoy it more than I did. But I enjoyed another Balliet book as an adult.
I say puzzles more than mysteries, because although the plot follows a mystery, the characters don’t solve a mystery as much as observe a puzzle.
Basically things just happen around the characters, and they notice and record them instead of really problem solving. For myself who enjoys more plot and character focus, I wasn’t very satisfied with things being revealed that way, when I was expecting a mystery to solve. It’s basically just a list of clues that are not explained until the very end.
However, the end was exciting, and I did learn something about art! It is a children's book, so they may enjoy it more than I did. But I enjoyed another Balliet book as an adult.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
adventurous
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
i read this for the first time in elementary school and still love it at 28 years old! the characters are quirky and find solace in each other. their unique way of thinking helps them solve the mystery of a lifetime and their bravery as 11 year olds is so enticing to read.from the first chapter i was reminded why this book has stayed in my mind for 2 decades. it really hooks you in and has interactive mysteries to solve as the reader. i think all elementary school kids should read this to foster a love of reading.
challenging
informative
mysterious
slow-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
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
