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Booktalk
#1
Do you like a good mystery
book? Well, this just may be what you are looking for. When
Petra finds a mysterious letter, the mystery begins. "Dear Friend:
I would like your help in identifying a crime that is now centuries old."
Unfortunately, the letter blows away before Petra can read the rest.
Meanwhile, a priceless Vermeer painting on route to the Art Museum is stolen
and the thief vows not to return the painting until the experts admit that
some of the Vermeer paintings have been done by impostors. And Petra's
new teacher takes a particular interest in the missing painting.
And then there's Mrs. Sharpe whose husband was killed years ago after proclaiming
he had new information about the Vermeer painting. And let's not
forget Petra's new friend Calder. Just what is it about his pentominoes?
Booktalk #2
Two
bright young people have strange things begin to happen around them. Bit
by bit, clues accumulate. Smart and savvy, Petra and Calder put the pieces
together and a pattern emerges or does it? Can they trust anyone as they
get closer to a solution? Danger begins to be their companion as they try
to solve the mystery and prevent the theft if the valuable Vermeer painting.
Hint: Don’t forget to use Brett Helquist’s illustrations with their hidden
clues to help you solve the mystery. (Jean B. Bellavance for Pennsylvania
Young Reader's Choice Awards, 2005-2006)
Booktalk
#3
This
real-life mystery begins when three people receive a message that reads:
"Tell no one or your life will be in danger." They are all asked to help
solve a crime which involves the theft of a Vermeer painting as it is being
transported from Washington, D.C.
to the Chicago Museum of Art. The twist in the plot is that the three people
who receive the letters do not know that anyone else has received them. Petra
and Calder are caught in a web of coincidences, questions, suspicions,
and puzzles when they learn about one of the letters. Their involvement
deepens and becomes more dangerous when the thief threatens to destroy
the painting. Moonlight chases, hidden hiding places, and a secret code
along with Petra and Calder’s
creativity and problem-solving skills help to solve the mystery.Black-eyed
Susan Award nominee 2005-2006
Booktalk
#4
(Print a set of pentominoes
from Scholastic’s site and cut them apart. For each bold letter, pull out
the corresponding pentomino.)
These are
Pentominoes, and the shapes represent different Letters of the alphabet.
In this story that you’re just gonna Love, Petra Andalee and Calder Pillay,
two X-traordinary 6th graders caught Up in a crime. A rare Painting by
Johannes Vermeer has been stolen, and the thief wants to keep the artwork
hidden until the world admits that some Vermeer paintings are just plain
Fakes. But Petra and Calder feel a great connection to Vermeer, so
they’re desperate to solve the mystery. They end up on an adventure around
Chicago and use these pentominoes to help them along the way. If you like
reading stories Where teens take control and make a difference, You’ll
definitely want to piece this puzzle together. Read Chasing Vermeer. (Prepared
by: Leigh Jordan,
SCASL Junior
Book Awards) |
