Chasing Vermeer

Balliet, Blue. Illustrated by Brett Helquist. Chasing Vermeer. Scholastic, 2004. ISBN: 0-439-372941.

Plot Summary

Petra and Calder are not afraid to see the truth. They are beginning to see coincidences and when a Vermeer painting goes missing, those coincidences gain significance. An international art thief has stolen the painting to send a message. Inconsistencies in the paintings make the thief think that some of Vermeer's 35 works are fakes. Soon the whole world is talking about it, and Petra and Calder are following the trail of coincidences to find the missing painting. The trail is leading back to their Chicago neighborhood, to their sixth grade teacher and the strange old lady who lives down the street. Now the race is on. Can Petra and Calder unravel the mystery before it's too late?

Critical Evaluation

Chasing Vermeer is fabulous. It's a high stakes art theft meets Encyclopedia Brown. Mixed into the story are all sorts of puzzles. Pentominoes (a geometry puzzle like tangrams) figure prominently in the plot, as does the number 12. There are also word puzzles, secret codes, and a clue hidden in the illustrations. These brain teasers get the reader involved, even if the reader can't sneak into the university library at night. Besides the fun (and challenging) puzzles, the plot moves quickly with lots of twists and turns. Also, the value of the stolen painting makes the case important, so the whole world is watching. The character's excitement is believable.

Reader's Annotation

Coincidence? Sixth graders Petra and Calder don't think so. Willing to see the truth that's right in front of them, the pair sets out to solve an international art crime that even the FBI can't crack.

About the Author

Blue Balliet grew up in New York City. Then she moved to Nantucket where she wrote a collection of Nantucket ghost stories. She met and married her husband in Nantucket. They then moved to Chicago and Balliet taught third grade at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, just like the character in Chasing Vermeer.

Genre

Mystery

Curriculum Ties

Could accompany a unit on pentaminoes.

Could be used to teach art. Students could look at Vermeer paintings, or another artist.

Booktalking Ideas

Is a theft for noble reasons okay? Explain the thief's motives for stealing the painting.

Reading Level/ Interest Age

Grades 5-7

Controversial Subject Matter and Defense of Ideas

None

Why Book was Included

Recommended by a classmate