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Chasing Vermeer
by Blue Balliet Scholastic
India, New Delhi. Pages 254. Rs
195. PUZZLES, codes, letters, a bit of danger, lots of quirky characters, an intriguing art theft, strange coincidences and clues that actively involve the reader`85 what more can young minds discovering the thrill of mystery ask for? In her ingeniously plotted first novel, Balliet has brought in all elements of a classic mystery and yet delivered it in a light-hearted manner sure to appeal to the inquisitiveness of the pre-teens it is intended for. Calder Pillay and Petra Andalee, both sixth-graders at the University of Chicago School, become friends, united by their admiration for their teacher, Mrs Hussey, whose unorthodox methods of teaching make learning an adventure. Starting with an assignment to study the importance that letters may have in life and Picasso's ideas about art being "a lie that tells the truth", the two are pushed headlong into a sudden onslaught of strange occurrences and mysterious coincidences that are seemingly unconnected. These mysteries deepen considerably with the theft of a Vermeer masterpiece while on its way to an exhibition near their homes. The thief, with a scholarly cause, is holding the painting hostage, demanding correction of damaging misattributions to Vermeer among his early and late works. Readers have an edge over the students as they already know of an enigmatic letter sent to three unidentified persons asking for their help regarding a centuries-old crime against a painter's artistic legacy. Determined to solve the mystery, Petra and Calder embark on some intellectual sleuthing of their own that not only casts a shadow of doubt on everyone they know, but also puts them face to face with very real danger. Many elements play a role in solving the crime: a strange old book with unusual ideas that Petra finds, Calder's set of Pentominoes (math tools with corresponding letters from the alphabet), the code he has established for corresponding with his friend Tommy and his coded letters about a missing boy named Frog, Petra's dream about the lady in the missing painting and her intuitive communing with her. To add to this general atmosphere of the unusual, Balliet has interspersed a lot of interesting twists and red herrings in the narrative. Peppered with seemingly random events that eventually come together in a pattern, Chasing Vermeer is a delightful piece apparently written to encourage children to think about relationships, coincidences, serendipity, the connection of art to life, and other topics that are usually far from young minds. Balliet has created a book that encourages imagination and can offer children something new upon each reading. The crisp and intelligent prose makes for a fast-paced story that never stops challenging the reader. Illustrations by Brett Helquist add to the element of fun, incorporating clues to a secret message, the answer to which can be found on the publisher's website. It is rare that
illustrations have a purpose other than embellishment. Here, however,
they create a parallel interactive mystery that children will delight in
solving; just the right mix of all that the video-game crazed pre-teen
falls for. |
