Chasing Vermeer, Volume 1The classic tradition of E.L. Konigsburg's From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, debut author Blue Balliett introduces readers to another pair of precocious kids on an artful quest full of patterns, puzzles, and the power of blue M & Ms. Eleven year old Petra and Calder may be in the same sixth grade class, but they barely know each other. It's only after a near collision during a museum field trip that they discover their shared worship of art, their teacher Ms. Hussey, and the blue candy that doesn't melt in your hands. Their burgeoning friendship is strengthened when a creative thief steals a valuable Vermeer painting en route to Chicago, their home town. When the thief leaves a trail of public clues via the newspaper, Petra and Calder decide to try and recover the painting themselves. But tracking down the Vermeer isn"t easy, as Calder and Petra try to figure out what a set of pentominos (mathematical puzzle pieces), a mysterious book about unexplainable phenomena and a suddenly very nervous Ms. Hussey have to do with a centuries old artwork. When the thief ups the ante by declaring that he or she may very well destroy the painting, the two friends know they have to make the pieces of the puzzle fit before it's too late! |
Contents
About Pentominoes and About This Story | 9 |
LOST IN THE ART | 18 |
WORMS SNAKES AND PERIWINKLES | 43 |
Copyright | |
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agreed asked began blue building Calder and Petra called carefully Chapter Charles Chicago closed corner covered dark didn't door explained eyes face feel felt floor followed Frog front glass going gone gotten Hall hand happened head heard Hussey idea inside kids kind knew Lady leave letter light lived looked mean morning moved museums never noticed opened painting Park pentominoes person picked picture piece pocket police Powell's pulled question remember running secret seemed Sharpe Sharpe's side someone sound started steps stopped street suddenly sure talking teacher tell theft thief things thought told Tommy took tried trying turned twelve University Vermeer voice walked wall Watch weeks window woman wonder writing X X X