Module 8: Chasing Vermeer

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett

Book Summary:

Petra Andalee and Calder Pillay are two quirky kids who are brought together because they both have Ms. Hussey as a teacher. Strange things start happening in their town, including a famous Vermeer painting that goes missing. They also begin to see patterns and connections between events that used to seem unconnected to each other. Petra and Calder try to use their unique skill sets and the clues to uncover the strange circumstances and the locations of the missing painting.

APA Reference of Book:

Balliett, B. (2004). Chasing Vermeer. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.

Impressions:

I loved this book! It has a little bit of history, mystery, friendship, and puzzles. The author and illustrator invite the reader to try and find clues in the illustrations and decode the coded language. The reader becomes an active participant in the story. I love that a real painter (Vermeer) and painting are used in the story. I could not wait to find out where the painting was hidden and who took it. I like the characters (Petra and Calder) because they are not your typical characters and have very unique talents and interests. I think this book is just so different than the majority of other books out there. I do not think this book will appeal to all readers because some kids do not want to be such an active participant in the story. However, kids who love puzzles and mysteries should really enjoy this story.

Professional Review:

 “Secrets, lies and mysteries surround the work of one of the greatest artists of all time. Moonlit chases, hidden hiding places, and even a secret code help to solve the mystery. Is this the new sequel to THE DA VINCI CODE? Nope --- it's an equally entertaining novel for younger readers. CHASING VERMEER encourages kids to use all their creativity and problem-solving skills to tackle a real-life mystery surrounding the elusive painter Johannes Vermeer. Calder Pillay and Petra Andalee are both a little odd. Their intellectual curiosity and their unique hobbies fit right in, though, with their eccentric families and with their creative classmates at the University of Chicago Lab School. When three mysterious letters show up in their neighborhood and seem linked to the theft of a famous Vermeer painting, a chain of coincidences brings Calder and Petra together to help solve the crime. First-time author Blue Balliett seems to enjoy playing with coincidences, both plausible and far-fetched, and the theme of chance and coincidence cleverly runs through the novel. The novel, with its high-profile crime of a well-known painting (secretly reproduced on the book underneath the dust jacket), also seeks to inspire young people to appreciate art as both dynamic and relevant to their lives. "Children were thinking about Vermeer, too. They were comparing, writing, and visiting museums with friends. Many said that they hadn't realized how cool old pictures could be." The novel's illustrations breathe almost as much life into the book as the text does. Illustrator Brett Helquist (best known for illustrating Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events) includes a full-page illustration for each chapter. Pay attention! Some of the drawings reveal a secret that careful readers can help uncover. With its emphasis on puzzle-solving, CHASING VERMEER is reminiscent of classic novels like THE WESTING GAME. Its focus on connections and coincidences will remind many of HOLES, and its art-related mystery calls to mind FROM THE SECRET FILES OF MRS. BASIL E. FRANKWEILER. In other words, CHASING VERMEER deserves a spot alongside many well-loved children's books. It's that good.”

Piehl, N. (2005, May 1). Chasing Vermeer [Review of the book Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett]. KidsReads. Retrieved from http://www.kidsreads.com/reviews/chasing-vermeer

Library Uses:

For this book, I think it would be really fun to set up a library scavenger hunt. You could start by telling the kids that a “priceless” piece of art has been stolen and you need their help to find it. You could break them up into small groups of 3 or four. Each group would be given a clue to point them to another clue. The clues would be hidden inside different books in the library. This would help familiarize kids with the different sections in the library. The clues could be art, puzzle, or letter related to go along with themes in the book. The clues would lead them to the lost art hidden in a book. The lost art could just be a child’s artwork or a print of an actual famous piece of art. Then the groups could win prizes like game books or puzzles. You could give a short book talk on Chasing Vermeer at the end.