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bogbodyanon's review against another edition
4.0
This was perhaps the most suspenseful book in the series so far. I think the puzzles and patterns were harder to see than in the others. I love that Petra and Tommy bonded
sarahanne8382's review against another edition
4.0
The third book following the kids from Chasing Vermeer is just as creative and engaging as the first two. This time Calder's father has taken him along on a business trip to England, but only a couple days into their trip Calder goes missing and Mrs. Sharpe flies Petra and Tommy out with her to find their missing friend.
As usual with this group, strange coincidences start piling up the more they investigate this mystery. The art connection in this book is Alexander Calder himself. The 7th graders went to an exhibit of Calder mobiles in Chicago, and the British village the Pillays were visiting had a Calder sculpture in the town square that went missing the same night the boy did.
If you like the first two books in this series, you will like The Calder Game just as much. The story is equally as engaging and there are just as many puzzles and codes to play with when you're not busily turning the pages. These have got to be fun books to use in the classroom because there are so many activities you could do outside of just exploring the story. I also like that while these books all follow the same characters, you could jump into the middle of this series without missing any important details from the earlier books. Each story is self-contained.
As usual with this group, strange coincidences start piling up the more they investigate this mystery. The art connection in this book is Alexander Calder himself. The 7th graders went to an exhibit of Calder mobiles in Chicago, and the British village the Pillays were visiting had a Calder sculpture in the town square that went missing the same night the boy did.
If you like the first two books in this series, you will like The Calder Game just as much. The story is equally as engaging and there are just as many puzzles and codes to play with when you're not busily turning the pages. These have got to be fun books to use in the classroom because there are so many activities you could do outside of just exploring the story. I also like that while these books all follow the same characters, you could jump into the middle of this series without missing any important details from the earlier books. Each story is self-contained.
alexandritewiz's review
2.5
I really enjoyed Balliett’s other books but this one had so many loose ends and felt very hastily finished.
rennyzenny's review
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
tiffanywang29's review against another edition
2.0
Ms. Hantman read the first page and it already sounded cool!
cathyatratedreads's review against another edition
4.0
Fun book for teens. Lots of neat things for them to think about, to learn, to connect. Smart, clever, and interesting. But not quite as engaging for adults.
gbliss's review against another edition
2.0
The franchise continues its sad, steady decline. At this point this is a concept that has over stayed its welcome. The weakest "mystery" of the three books in the series and the one with the thinnest connection to the artist of the title.
The mystery at this point boils down to boy falls in well. Man steals back sculpture for no good reason. Bumps head. Wakes up and explains everything.
Characters that were charming and appealing in Chasing Vermeer are, at this point, annoyingly precocious. The pretext for getting the second two kids to England -- they know how "Calder thinks" and will thus be able to find him -- is unbelievable and cloying in ways that typify the weaknesses of this book.
The mystery at this point boils down to boy falls in well. Man steals back sculpture for no good reason. Bumps head. Wakes up and explains everything.
Characters that were charming and appealing in Chasing Vermeer are, at this point, annoyingly precocious. The pretext for getting the second two kids to England -- they know how "Calder thinks" and will thus be able to find him -- is unbelievable and cloying in ways that typify the weaknesses of this book.
leora_____'s review against another edition
5.0
one of the best books of all time!!! out of the first (chasing vermeer), and second (the wright 3) books in the trilogy, this one is the best!!!
kidclamp's review against another edition
3.0
There was a lot I liked about this, the three characters are interesting and they form good relationships, the plot is intriguing and compelling and I like the hint that puzzles that can help lead you to the answer, but that's the problem too, the puzzles are only a hint and end up not actually relating to the solution of the mystery. Two kids travel to England and have an adventure and become friends, but actually do nothing relating to solving the mystery. After building and building the plot simply unravels in the end.