76 pages • 2 hours read
Blue BalliettA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett follows two gifted sixth-graders, Petra Andalee and Calder Pillay, from the University of Chicago’s Laboratory School as they unravel an art mystery involving a stolen Vermeer painting. Using their unique skills with patterns, pentominoes, and codes, they navigate a series of puzzles to find the missing artwork, solve hidden clues, and uncover the thief in contemporary Hyde Park.
Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett is celebrated for its clever integration of art, mystery, and puzzle-solving that appeals to young readers. The book's engaging storyline and unique illustrations by Brett Helquist receive praise. Some critics note that the plot can become convoluted and the characters occasionally lack depth. Nonetheless, its innovative approach to children's literature is widely admired.
Readers who enjoy Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett are young sleuths aged 8-12 with a passion for mystery, art, and puzzles. Fans of The Westing Game or From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler will appreciate the clever, art-themed detective work and mind-bending challenges that this book offers.
Lexile Level
770LMystery / Crime Fiction
Action / Adventure
Children's Literature
Education
Arts / Culture