Chasing Vermeer Review

	Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks Author(s): Blue Balliett Binding: Mass Market Paperback Average Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars	Retail Price: ~~$7.99~~ Online Sale Price: $6.06 Save $1.93 Today! * Price is subject to change.
Features: ISBN13: 9780439372978 Condition: NEW Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

When a book of unexplainable occurences brings Petra and Calder together, strange things start to happen: Seemingly unrelated events connect; an eccentric old woman seeks their company; an invaluable Vermeer painting disappears. Before they know it, the two find themselves at the center of an international art scandal, where no one is spared from suspicion. As Petra and Calder are drawn clue by clue into a mysterious labyrinth, they must draw on their powers of intuition, their problem solving skills, and their knowledge of Vermeer. Can they decipher a crime that has stumped even the FBI?

User Submitted Chasing Vermeer Reviews

March 9, 2010
A great idea that sadly failed to deliver
Chasing Vermeer does have some lovely elements, which is why I am giving it a two rating instead of a one. The exploration of how ideas such as aesthetic appreciation, coincidence, and expert knowledge are constructed is a wonderful way to get the reader thinking. And as a person with numerous copies of Fortean Times as well as some art history books on Vermeer and a keen interest in puzzles, I was pleased with the concept of this book.

Unfortuately, I felt that everything that was appealing about this book was completely undone without any revelations of brilliance. After a short while, all critical thinking must be put aside if the reader is to stick with the plot. The method of discovery is sloppy and unsound.

I definitely appreciate creative exploration and the idea of ubiquitous patterns and relationships in seemingly unrelated things, but I found no satisfaction in that unconvincing resolution that Chasing Vermeer offered.

January 10, 2010
Doesn't live up to its promise, but worth the read
*Disclaimer: This is from an adult's perspective. A young reader might have a very different reaction to this book.

I was so excited by this book when I started reading it -- it sets up interesting characters, an exciting mystery, and a visual puzzle for the reader to solve through the illustrations in the book. I loved the initial character development of Petra and Calder, two smart young people who have very different ways of thinking. It was fun using the pentomino code to decode the letters in the book, and to try to solve the hidden puzzle in the pictures. And I loved that the mystery was based around art history. But as I read on, I became disappointed. The character development fell flat. The visual puzzle was not quite as challenging as I'd hoped (though still satisfying). And, most disappointing of all, the mystery was really not as exciting as initially promised (trying to turn the nitpicky art historical issue of painting attribution into a big international scandal just didn't work for me).

Despite these disappointments, I still believe this book has something special to offer, with its unique approach, and its two main characters who really think about the world around them, and use all their intelligence and intuition to solve the mystery.

January 10, 2010
It is a beautiful literary piece...
...THAT BELONGS IN THE DUMPSTER!!!!! This book was so boring!! I had to read it for an 8th grade novel study and I was soooooo bored. I was so glad that we only had to bear the book for only a few weeks.

This is basically the story: A painting by stupid, unknown painter is stolen by some guy with bad taste and two kids, uhh!!!!, team up to solve the mystery of the missing painting all by themselves!!!! Arie you serious? I have two words for this idiotic story: Totally cliche!!!!

Let's first analyze the book in its major components:

Characters: OH MY PIG FAT!!!These worthless slob children were poorly developed and horribly illustrated. I mean they are 2nd-rate-mamma-love rodents!!!! They are uglier than the aliens on loyd in space. The girl is the 3 d's: dull, drab, and too demented to have a life. The bored out his mind boy plays with these lame and stupid childhood excuse for legos called pentaminoes and uses these headaches to solve puzzles and his stupid problems!!!! Excuse me?!!!! Shouldn't these losers be working on homework since they are obviously failing!!!!!

Plot: Mamacitas!!!!! It is soooo not worth your time!!! Everyone who lives in the stupid city is concerned about the stolen painting. I mean shouldn't these people go on with their lives. The stupid teacher dedicates her whole class time to find out the stupid mystery!!!!! The mayor is even halting all his duties just to locate the useless painting!!! It is so unrealistic!!! Just because a painting is missing doesn't mean you should stop all of the activity in the town so everyone can find the stupid painting!!!

The Whole Shabang: All in all....this book is horrible!!!!!! I wanted to give it a lower rating sooo bad!!!! I mean-I am peeing in my pants to give it a -5/5!!!!!!! This book is for kids!!! If you want to read a more sofisticated and worthwihile book i suggest the picture of dorian gray or a brave new world!!!!! They are classics!!!!

Don't waste your hard earned coins!!! It is not worth your $7.99!!!! Believe me!!! It sucks!!!

November 24, 2009
Large Print, carry-on
I ordered a copy of Chasing Vermeer over the summer. I was looking forward to adding it to my collection...it seemed to be long enough to enjoy, from the number of pages it was. Then I see the print. Its huge. It seems like half the book is blank space or pictures, so I read it quicker than I would like.

November 20, 2009
Read along with Chicago area 2nd grader - Great
I read this book first before reading it with my 2nd grade daughter to make sure the content was appopriate. When we read it together she loved it. We used to live in Chicago and now live in the suburbs. We started reading it in Oct., just as how the book starts.

The vocabulary was a little difficult for her, but she was interested enough to use a dictionary. She loved working on the code and could do it by herself.

She became so interested in art and pentominoes that she read a book about Vermeer. Although I agree with some reviewers that the plot has a few logical leaps for adults, she seemed to enjoy the coincidences.

We are planning a trip soon to the U of C campus to eat at the Medici restaurant, visit Powell's, and maybe the Art Institute.

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