A review by cocoonofbooks
Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett

3.0

This book was fine but a bit disappointing. I think as a book for getting kids interested in 17th century art that is likely to have appeal to all genders, it's pretty good. But as a mystery, there was unfortunately not a ton of deduction and a whole lot of magical realism that gave the kids the clues they needed. Despite the lengthy "wrap-up" section at the end, there's a lot that wasn't explained,

from how the painting was stolen initially to why there was a parody version carefully wrapped in paper in a storage closet

. I also side-eyed a little bit the teacher becoming friends with two of her 12-year-old students

plus one old lady

after failing to make friends her own age. I'd still be open to reading the second book in the series.