Chapter Book #8

Title: Chasing Vermeer

Author: Blue Balliet

Illustrator: Brett Helquist

Genre: Fiction

Sub genre: Mystery

Theme:  Adventure, Mystery, Teamwork

Characters: Petra, Calder, Mr. Hussey, Mrs. Sharpe, thief

Summary:  Petra and Calder find themselves solving a mystery as sixth-graders. A mysterious letter is sent to three people and begs them not to tell. The two kids live in Hyde Park, Chicago. Their teacher, Mr. Hussey, teaches them about art which intrigues Petra who questions him. The book tells of the two students solving the mystery piece by piece by solving puzzles with pentiminoes. The book has many pictures, maps, and puzzles that readers can enjoy while trying to figure out the mystery themselves while reading. A thief has stolen one of Vermeer's paintings, and a letter from him has appeared in the newspaper telling them that he has the original A Lady Writing painting, and he will not give it back until they tell him which paintings were originally painted by Vermeer and not a fake. Mrs. Sharpe and Mrs. Hussey are both involved in receiving the letters, so Petra and Calder go to them to investigate. The thief is found dead and was asked to steal the painting and sell it for sixty million dollars.

I would use this book for independent reading during reading time in class. Each student will read a chapter on their own and get into literature circles afterward to enhance their comprehension of the reading. This will get students thinking critically about the reading. The book being a mystery is great for the classroom because it will build suspense and interest the students between lessons.