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allisonhollingsworth's review
4.0
I loved watching these characters solve the mystery, again! I really like Tommy, Petra, and Calder but I wasn't a huge fan of the new characters, Zoomy and Early. I think that the significance of them being "thirteen" and growing into their bodies and such was really present in the story and made it really relate-able to that age group! Felt nostalgic reading this book, it was nice.
couillac's review
3.0
Balliett's latest middle grade mystery finds the characters from her previous books coming together in Chicago for one great investigation. Seeing these characters start to negotiate adolescence along with the mystery is satisfying and authentic, and the mystery as a whole offers plenty of possible suspects, red herrings, and clues for avid young mystery readers. At the same time, the solution to the mystery was a bit of a let down - no actual villainy?! Aw... Additionally, I occasionally found myself confused by the exercises that took up their time. Considering the Bean as a possible hiding place for stolen goods felt like forcing even more of Chicago into the story than needed to be, and there was a lot of emphasis on patterns that didn't amount to much in the end and contributed to a scattered-feeling to the plot. Inside all of this is an engaging mystery story, but sometimes the plot got a little off track. Still, fans of her work will want to pick this one up. I would start mystery lovers on one of her other titles and then let them find this one once they have an attachment to the characters. A solid mystery if not her best.
recorderkfk's review
3.0
Balliet's latest book is very much on theme with the rest of her art mystery books featuring tweens.
Having read the previous three books in the series, chasing Vermeer, The Wright 3, and The Calder Game, I can say that this fourth book pieces and players fits well within the established framework and themes of the previous books, but is not a stand out.
The three main characters that we've seen over the previous three books, Calder, Petra and Tommy are back and going through the throes of puberty. The addition of two new characters, a small kid in glasses named zoomy and a similarly dialectical girl named early make a welcome addition to the cast of characters. Hope they show up in more books.
At times it's quite a bit to balance, but the way that the characters adjust to the shifting dynamic of a crew of five solving an art mystery is well done.
Balliet has always played with both the supernatural and magical realism and all her books, and it features the most prominently in this one. The ghost of a museums namesake plays a key part in the team finding stolen art.
Balliet Will often spin various word clues theme or event repetitions and other small puzzles throughout the book to create an environment around the mystery which ultimately all come to head when it is solved at the end. I found the various side puzzles and themes constructed in this book less effective at creating a final crescendo when the solution was reached.
Nonetheless, the book continues to excel at creating the wonder, mystery, crypticNess, and utter fascination in art, museums, and the art world. Which as a kid of 12 when I first read chasing Vermeer is just as important to me now that I'm in my 20s.
Having read the previous three books in the series, chasing Vermeer, The Wright 3, and The Calder Game, I can say that this fourth book pieces and players fits well within the established framework and themes of the previous books, but is not a stand out.
The three main characters that we've seen over the previous three books, Calder, Petra and Tommy are back and going through the throes of puberty. The addition of two new characters, a small kid in glasses named zoomy and a similarly dialectical girl named early make a welcome addition to the cast of characters. Hope they show up in more books.
At times it's quite a bit to balance, but the way that the characters adjust to the shifting dynamic of a crew of five solving an art mystery is well done.
Balliet has always played with both the supernatural and magical realism and all her books, and it features the most prominently in this one. The ghost of a museums namesake plays a key part in the team finding stolen art.
Balliet Will often spin various word clues theme or event repetitions and other small puzzles throughout the book to create an environment around the mystery which ultimately all come to head when it is solved at the end. I found the various side puzzles and themes constructed in this book less effective at creating a final crescendo when the solution was reached.
Nonetheless, the book continues to excel at creating the wonder, mystery, crypticNess, and utter fascination in art, museums, and the art world. Which as a kid of 12 when I first read chasing Vermeer is just as important to me now that I'm in my 20s.
directorpurry's review
3.0
Read for the "Read the States" Challenge for: Illinois!
I love the Chasing Vermeer series. I own the previous three novels and I've loved it since I read the first one. Sadly, this book is probably the least successful of the four for several reasons. It did have many positive aspects, though, and Balliett's writing is always so enjoyable and easy to read.
To start, there were too many characters. Petra, Calder, and Tommy were the main characters of the past two books, and the series started initially with only Calder and Petra. Zoomy and Early are from other, separate, works of Balliett's. Coming into this book not knowing either of the new characters definitely put me at a disadvantage. I didn't feel as if they were introduced very well, and they felt quite flat through much of the story. To be honest, it felt almost gimmicky that they were even being introduced at all. Especially Zoomy - why is a child from Michigan being brought in to help some other kids?
I also had some trouble with Tommy in this one. While he has never been my favorite character (Petra, I love you, you're my girl!) I definitely felt like he backslid in this one. In The Wright Three he was rather mean to Petra, but they worked out their differences. In Pieces and Players he returns to being salty about missing out on the first mystery and can be pretty rude to both Petra and Early, though rarely out loud.
The general plot felt much less polished than some of the others in the series. One of the important elements in the other books is that our kids simply fall into the mysteries that they work to solve. In this novel, they are drafted by a group of adults to solve a legitimate art heist. I know it's a middle grade mystery, but come on! It was a lot of fun when they bumbled their way through, whereas in this novel they're kind of being led by the hand through several instances. The ending was rather unsatisfactory as well - again, I didn't feel like they solved it so much as smacked into the conclusion.
The other books in this series do also feature elements of surprise and premonition-via-dreams, but I felt in this instance they were over the top. Calder's focus on the prime numbers felt less pointed and significant than it does in the other stories, and it was felt almost obligatory in some instances, rather than necessary. The dreams added little to the overall conclusion, and I was actually kind of surprised that they went so far as to pull out an ouija board. The focus on the Farmer ghost felt like the furthest reach into the supernatural so far in the series and I'm not sure if it was totally successful.
One element in this story was quite surprising, and I can't say I loved it, but I did find it an interesting addition - puberty. One of the things that made the other books so charming and readable was the childlike nature of the characters. They were barely into middle school and young and very assured of themselves. But all children grow up, even these literary young-ins.
I thought Balliett did a very good job of capturing the confusing and claustrophobic nature of puberty, spending time focusing on their changes. As an adult, it wasn't something I was looking for in my middle grade literature, but I know that if this book had been out when I was totally in love with the first book, it would have been helpful to me to read. It was an interesting addition to the series, though it may have made the plot slightly less successful - even through their doubt, the main characters previously persevered with belief in themselves, which becomes all that much more difficult going through puberty.
Overall, I was a bit disappointed in this book, but I still love the series desperately. It was a huge part of my late elementary and middle school years. I picked up a nearly pristine copy at Half Price Books and I found, much to my surprise, that it was signed! So even if it is my least favorite of the series, I treasure it for that, and it will certainly take its rightful place on my bookshelf next to the rest of the series.
(But really, everyone should go read Chasing Vermeer. I love Petra and it's such a fun time!)
I love the Chasing Vermeer series. I own the previous three novels and I've loved it since I read the first one. Sadly, this book is probably the least successful of the four for several reasons. It did have many positive aspects, though, and Balliett's writing is always so enjoyable and easy to read.
To start, there were too many characters. Petra, Calder, and Tommy were the main characters of the past two books, and the series started initially with only Calder and Petra. Zoomy and Early are from other, separate, works of Balliett's. Coming into this book not knowing either of the new characters definitely put me at a disadvantage. I didn't feel as if they were introduced very well, and they felt quite flat through much of the story. To be honest, it felt almost gimmicky that they were even being introduced at all. Especially Zoomy - why is a child from Michigan being brought in to help some other kids?
I also had some trouble with Tommy in this one. While he has never been my favorite character (Petra, I love you, you're my girl!) I definitely felt like he backslid in this one. In The Wright Three he was rather mean to Petra, but they worked out their differences. In Pieces and Players he returns to being salty about missing out on the first mystery and can be pretty rude to both Petra and Early, though rarely out loud.
The general plot felt much less polished than some of the others in the series. One of the important elements in the other books is that our kids simply fall into the mysteries that they work to solve. In this novel, they are drafted by a group of adults to solve a legitimate art heist. I know it's a middle grade mystery, but come on! It was a lot of fun when they bumbled their way through, whereas in this novel they're kind of being led by the hand through several instances. The ending was rather unsatisfactory as well - again, I didn't feel like they solved it so much as smacked into the conclusion.
The other books in this series do also feature elements of surprise and premonition-via-dreams, but I felt in this instance they were over the top. Calder's focus on the prime numbers felt less pointed and significant than it does in the other stories, and it was felt almost obligatory in some instances, rather than necessary. The dreams added little to the overall conclusion, and I was actually kind of surprised that they went so far as to pull out an ouija board. The focus on the Farmer ghost felt like the furthest reach into the supernatural so far in the series and I'm not sure if it was totally successful.
One element in this story was quite surprising, and I can't say I loved it, but I did find it an interesting addition - puberty. One of the things that made the other books so charming and readable was the childlike nature of the characters. They were barely into middle school and young and very assured of themselves. But all children grow up, even these literary young-ins.
I thought Balliett did a very good job of capturing the confusing and claustrophobic nature of puberty, spending time focusing on their changes. As an adult, it wasn't something I was looking for in my middle grade literature, but I know that if this book had been out when I was totally in love with the first book, it would have been helpful to me to read. It was an interesting addition to the series, though it may have made the plot slightly less successful - even through their doubt, the main characters previously persevered with belief in themselves, which becomes all that much more difficult going through puberty.
Overall, I was a bit disappointed in this book, but I still love the series desperately. It was a huge part of my late elementary and middle school years. I picked up a nearly pristine copy at Half Price Books and I found, much to my surprise, that it was signed! So even if it is my least favorite of the series, I treasure it for that, and it will certainly take its rightful place on my bookshelf next to the rest of the series.
(But really, everyone should go read Chasing Vermeer. I love Petra and it's such a fun time!)
kailey_luminouslibro's review
4.0
Calder, Petra, and Tommy are called in to investigate a terrible art theft from a local museum, along with two new kids, Zoomy and Early. The formidable Mrs Sharpe has brought them all together in the hopes that their unique way of solving puzzles may help to recover the thirteen stolen pieces of artwork. But the museum’s board of trustees is playing their own game, arguing about the future of the art museum. Only Calder and the gang can unravel the clues and solve the mystery!
I really enjoyed this book, especially because of all the great information about art! The plot takes several interesting turns, and the characters are unique and endearing.
I loved the way that Tommy and Zoomy became friends, and how Petra and Early quickly joined forces with their mutual love of words. The group dynamic is wonderful as they all bounce ideas off each other and share their thoughts.
I thought the mystery could have been a little tighter. I felt like there were a lot of superfluous red herrings and too much time was spent on rabbit trails that had no bearing on the main plot.
One of things that I both loved and that annoyed me a little in this book was the unique way that the kids talk and think. I love that they make weird connections with things they see and hear, and they find meaning in seemingly useless or mundane things. But it also got on my nerves a little because their meaning isn’t always clear. They throw in some off the wall comment, and sometimes it makes sense with the rest of the conversation and sometimes I’m left scratching my head.
Another thing that annoyed me was the constantly changing POV. The characters will all be standing around in a scene, and the narrator takes a little trip into each of their brains. Calder was thinking this. Petra thought that. Tommy said to himself this thing. Early was feeling this. Zoomy thought that. And then we jump back into the action of the scene after our little brain check-in with each character. It slowed down the pacing of the story, and I hate changing POVs, especially within the same scene.
I wish I had known that the new characters in this book are actually introduced in other books outside this series. I would have read their individual stories first, and now I’ve been spoiled for their endings. Oh well.
Still an enjoyable read, and a fun story!
I really enjoyed this book, especially because of all the great information about art! The plot takes several interesting turns, and the characters are unique and endearing.
I loved the way that Tommy and Zoomy became friends, and how Petra and Early quickly joined forces with their mutual love of words. The group dynamic is wonderful as they all bounce ideas off each other and share their thoughts.
I thought the mystery could have been a little tighter. I felt like there were a lot of superfluous red herrings and too much time was spent on rabbit trails that had no bearing on the main plot.
One of things that I both loved and that annoyed me a little in this book was the unique way that the kids talk and think. I love that they make weird connections with things they see and hear, and they find meaning in seemingly useless or mundane things. But it also got on my nerves a little because their meaning isn’t always clear. They throw in some off the wall comment, and sometimes it makes sense with the rest of the conversation and sometimes I’m left scratching my head.
Another thing that annoyed me was the constantly changing POV. The characters will all be standing around in a scene, and the narrator takes a little trip into each of their brains. Calder was thinking this. Petra thought that. Tommy said to himself this thing. Early was feeling this. Zoomy thought that. And then we jump back into the action of the scene after our little brain check-in with each character. It slowed down the pacing of the story, and I hate changing POVs, especially within the same scene.
I wish I had known that the new characters in this book are actually introduced in other books outside this series. I would have read their individual stories first, and now I’ve been spoiled for their endings. Oh well.
Still an enjoyable read, and a fun story!
gsd1011's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
mom22boys's review
3.0
My son rated this 4 stars, but I rated it 2, so we've compromised at 3 stars. We did this as an audio book and I never could get interested. The story jumped around a lot and I had trouble keeping up with what was going on. That being said, my 11yo and my 8yo were quiet and attentive and enjoyed the book, so that says a lot.
abutler's review
1.0
I enjoyed her other books, but this is so nonsensical I don't know what to do with it. There's no actual detective work being done in this book and every "clue" comes from supernatural intervention. For example, information comes to them in dreams from the stolen paintings themselves and from a Ouija board session. The constant illogical deduction is near infuriating, "Hey, there's five crows sitting over there. They're black, the jacket on the man in one of the paintings is black. Maybe we should follow the crows as they have a clue for us." IT MAKES NO SENSE! Ugh.
bexshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0