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Chasing Vermeer #3
The Calder Game
Petra, Calder, and Tommy, the sleuths at the center of the amazing CHASING VERMEER and THE WRIGHT 3, are back with a labyrinthine new mystery to solve.
When Calder Pillay travels with his father to a remote village in England, he finds a mix of mazes and mystery . . . including an unexpected Alexander Calder sculpture in the town square. Calder is strangely drawn to the sculpture, while other people have less-than-friendly feelings towards it. Both the boy and the sculpture seem to be out of place . . . and then, on the same night, they disappear! Calder's friends Petra and Tommy must fly out to help his father find him. But this mystery has more twists and turns than a Calder mobile . . . with more at stake than first meets the eye.
When Calder Pillay travels with his father to a remote village in England, he finds a mix of mazes and mystery . . . including an unexpected Alexander Calder sculpture in the town square. Calder is strangely drawn to the sculpture, while other people have less-than-friendly feelings towards it. Both the boy and the sculpture seem to be out of place . . . and then, on the same night, they disappear! Calder's friends Petra and Tommy must fly out to help his father find him. But this mystery has more twists and turns than a Calder mobile . . . with more at stake than first meets the eye.
379 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2008
106 people are currently reading
2401 people want to read
About the author
Blue Balliett
12 books520 followersI was born in New York City and grew up playing in Central Park, getting my share of scraped knees, and riding many public buses and subways. By the time I was a teenager, I sometimes stopped at the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Frick Museum after school, just to wander and look and think. The Met has five Vermeer paintings and the Frick three, so Vermeer and I have been friends for many years.
After studying art history in college, I moved to Nantucket Island, in Massachusetts, in order to write. I surprised myself by writing two books of ghost stories, stories collected by interviewing people. My husband and I met and were married on Nantucket, lived there year-round for another 10 years, and had our two children there.
When our kids started school, we moved to Chicago. I began teaching 3rd grade at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. One year my class and I decided to figure out what art was about. We asked many questions, visited many museums in the city, and set off a number of alarms — by mistake, of course.
In writing Chasing Vermeer, I wanted to explore the ways kids perceive connections between supposedly unrelated events and situations, connections that grown-ups often miss. Given the opportunity, kids can ask questions that help them to think their way through tough problems that adults haven’t been able to figure out — problems like the theft of a Vermeer painting!
In The Wright 3, I play with questions about architecture as art, the preservation of old buildings, and Frank Lloyd Wright’s legacy. I wanted to continue exploring controversial ideas within the three-dimensional art world. We need kids to develop into powerful, out-of-the-box thinkers, now more than ever. I believe in making trouble — of the right kind.
My third book, The Calder Game, takes place in a small community in England, a 1,000-year-old town that I visited while on a book tour. I had a wonderful time writing this book. I had to do lots of eavesdropping, poking around, tiptoeing through graveyards, and climbing walls, and then there was all the Cadbury chocolate I had to eat. Alexander Calder's work is art for any age. I first saw his sculpture when I was 9 years old, in a show at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. It was art but it was magic, and it left me hungry for more. This, I'm sure, was the beginning of my belief that art is about adventure.
Blue Balliett grew up in New York City and attended Brown University. She and her family now live in Chicago, within walking distance of Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House. Balliett's books have now appeared in 34 languages. Warner Bros. Pictures has acquired the film rights to Chasing Vermeer.
After studying art history in college, I moved to Nantucket Island, in Massachusetts, in order to write. I surprised myself by writing two books of ghost stories, stories collected by interviewing people. My husband and I met and were married on Nantucket, lived there year-round for another 10 years, and had our two children there.
When our kids started school, we moved to Chicago. I began teaching 3rd grade at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. One year my class and I decided to figure out what art was about. We asked many questions, visited many museums in the city, and set off a number of alarms — by mistake, of course.
In writing Chasing Vermeer, I wanted to explore the ways kids perceive connections between supposedly unrelated events and situations, connections that grown-ups often miss. Given the opportunity, kids can ask questions that help them to think their way through tough problems that adults haven’t been able to figure out — problems like the theft of a Vermeer painting!
In The Wright 3, I play with questions about architecture as art, the preservation of old buildings, and Frank Lloyd Wright’s legacy. I wanted to continue exploring controversial ideas within the three-dimensional art world. We need kids to develop into powerful, out-of-the-box thinkers, now more than ever. I believe in making trouble — of the right kind.
My third book, The Calder Game, takes place in a small community in England, a 1,000-year-old town that I visited while on a book tour. I had a wonderful time writing this book. I had to do lots of eavesdropping, poking around, tiptoeing through graveyards, and climbing walls, and then there was all the Cadbury chocolate I had to eat. Alexander Calder's work is art for any age. I first saw his sculpture when I was 9 years old, in a show at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. It was art but it was magic, and it left me hungry for more. This, I'm sure, was the beginning of my belief that art is about adventure.
Blue Balliett grew up in New York City and attended Brown University. She and her family now live in Chicago, within walking distance of Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House. Balliett's books have now appeared in 34 languages. Warner Bros. Pictures has acquired the film rights to Chasing Vermeer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 552 reviews
May 30, 2009
Having worked at an arts magnet school for the past three years, I struggled to find ways to incorporate art into my student's day while still meeting all of my core content responsibilities. This and the other two Balliett books solved my problem. Every time I put the bookmark in and said, "I think we'll stop there for today." They would groan and say "one more chapter!" We made Calder mobiles the last week of school and it was amazing to me how well my little 4th graders incorporated Calder style elements into their work. I LOVE this author's work. She inspires the kids, and she inspires me to be a better teacher!
May 31, 2020
randomly felt like reading this book from my childhood yesterday lolol
June 15, 2008
Third in Balliett's series involving three smart kids, an artist, and a mystery. This one features the artist Alexander Calder and takes place largely in Oxford, England.
Calder is an artist made for kids to appreciate and Balliett does a super job intriguing her intended audience. As with her previous books she engagingly provides puzzles and such to entice them to go off and find out even more about this marvelous artist. Her love of art and artists is clear yet, as in her earlier books, she communicates information about Calder without being heavy-handed. Impressively she provides energy and action as the kids visit a museum exhibit and otherwise learn more about this artist.
I also think Balliett, a former teacher, does a nice job further developing the relationships between her three child characters: Calder, Petra, and Tommy. Children will easily connect to the forced intimacy Petra and Tommy experience as they search for their missing friend.
However, I was disappointed with the mystery aspects of the story. A good mystery, to my mind, is full of red herrings, clues, and intriguing leads to the final solution. With a good mystery, once I learn who did it I am either pleased because my suppositions were accurate or pleasantly surprised because the author has done such a great job playing with me, the reader. Neither happened when I got to the end of this book; frustratingly, it is a weak and unsatisfying solution (as in the previous books there is a deux ex machina situation and coincidences --- won't say more for fear of spoilage). Mind you, it IS satisfying in terms of the kids' relationships and Calder's with his dad, just not in terms of the mystery itself.
So come to this book to engage with Alexander Calder,spend some time in England, to see how a couple of kids who don't particularly like each other learn to at least respect each other,to watch a father and son reconnect, and to experience some exciting moments and drama if not a particularly developed mystery.
Calder is an artist made for kids to appreciate and Balliett does a super job intriguing her intended audience. As with her previous books she engagingly provides puzzles and such to entice them to go off and find out even more about this marvelous artist. Her love of art and artists is clear yet, as in her earlier books, she communicates information about Calder without being heavy-handed. Impressively she provides energy and action as the kids visit a museum exhibit and otherwise learn more about this artist.
I also think Balliett, a former teacher, does a nice job further developing the relationships between her three child characters: Calder, Petra, and Tommy. Children will easily connect to the forced intimacy Petra and Tommy experience as they search for their missing friend.
However, I was disappointed with the mystery aspects of the story. A good mystery, to my mind, is full of red herrings, clues, and intriguing leads to the final solution. With a good mystery, once I learn who did it I am either pleased because my suppositions were accurate or pleasantly surprised because the author has done such a great job playing with me, the reader. Neither happened when I got to the end of this book; frustratingly, it is a weak and unsatisfying solution (as in the previous books there is a deux ex machina situation and coincidences --- won't say more for fear of spoilage). Mind you, it IS satisfying in terms of the kids' relationships and Calder's with his dad, just not in terms of the mystery itself.
So come to this book to engage with Alexander Calder,spend some time in England, to see how a couple of kids who don't particularly like each other learn to at least respect each other,to watch a father and son reconnect, and to experience some exciting moments and drama if not a particularly developed mystery.
February 28, 2010
I liked the intent of this book: to get kids excited about art and ideas. It inspired me to make a mobile - a piece of art in motion, never exactly the same thing twice -- like people do in this book. I like the idea that art can be for anyone, not just those rich enough to collect it.
However, the characters and plot seemed a bit lame to me. I never really cared about the characters very much; they were too two-dimensional. Granted, if I had read the previous two books of the series, I might care about them more. The best mysteries have suspense and a series of progressive clues. Both were lacking in this story line. It seemed to take forever for any progress to be made in the book's quest. I was disappointed because I really wanted to love this book!
One more thing (which is a bit of a spoiler alert), if your child became lost in a park, perhaps kidnapped and worse, would you let your child's friends wander around in that park without adult supervision?? I definitely wouldn't.
However, the characters and plot seemed a bit lame to me. I never really cared about the characters very much; they were too two-dimensional. Granted, if I had read the previous two books of the series, I might care about them more. The best mysteries have suspense and a series of progressive clues. Both were lacking in this story line. It seemed to take forever for any progress to be made in the book's quest. I was disappointed because I really wanted to love this book!
One more thing (which is a bit of a spoiler alert), if your child became lost in a park, perhaps kidnapped and worse, would you let your child's friends wander around in that park without adult supervision?? I definitely wouldn't.
October 30, 2024
This book is the third book in a series I read in 5th grade, and I remember it being a little more suspenseful and intense than the other two! I was right, but this book really is fabulous. I highly recommend this series(so far, haven’t read the fourth one yet, that ones next) to anybody, but it will probably appeal best to younger kids who love puzzles and brain teasers, or adults that want a fun wholesome story that makes their brain work. 4.5 stars from me!
July 26, 2014
Actual Rating 3.5
I believe this is the first time in a couple of years that I read a middle grade book. The only reason I even picked it up was because I had read the first two books in the series in middle school and adored them. So I set out to complete the series.
It was such an interesting experience because middle grade is so different from YA and Adult and it was just so refreshing.
But with that said it’s pretty hard to say anything about this book because I have no idea how I feel about it.
While it was different it didn’t induce the same excitement the first two books had for the younger me. Yes you could argue that I’ve grown up since and expect a lot more out of books. The fact that I liked almost every book I read back then doesn’t help either, but the fact that I liked almost every book I read back then could also mean that I had great taste. After all the only book that had angered me was Twilight (there is a story behind that).
I don’t remember a lot about the first two books so I could be wrong, but I feel like the mystery in the first two books was very well developed and a lot more interesting compared to this one. The only thing that was going on in this book was the search for Calder, which didn’t really keep me on my toes. The ending was rushed and I didn’t really understand what had happened. It also bordered on unrealistic.
I realize I shouldn’t be so critical of a middle grade book because it’s aimed at a younger audience who aren't as likely to be bothered by those little things but I AM a reader.
With that said I really enjoyed the characters. They were such a refreshing change from the angst filled teenagers of YA and the complicated adults of Adult (that sounded better in my head). It was just incredibly fun to read about these characters who always meant what they said. Their innocence was refreshing.
For example Tommy and Petra do NOT like each other (in the beginning). If this had been a YA the author would have played off this hate and made it into a romance, yet there were no romantic feelings between the two. The author actually developed their friendship. I almost cried (tears of joy of course) because I am so fed up of the whole hot and cold shit.
Calder wasn’t there for a large chunk of the book but he was definitely missed. I remember him being my favorite character and I think I would have liked the book a whole lot better had he been there to help solve the mystery. He was always an interesting character. And adorable too. He is always thinking about puzzles and is pretty smart but he tends to misspell words all the time.
Petra can sometimes be slightly condescending the way pre-teens can sometimes be. It always made me laugh when she criticized Tommy in her head and how she said eww so often. She is pretty smart too.
Tommy.. was interesting. He kind of reminds me of a stereotypical pre-teen. Messy and unorganized. He loves collecting treasure and (in my opinion) isn’t as smart as Calder and Petra but he has his own charm.
Mrs. Sharpe, who I don’t really remember from the previous books (I am getting old okay?) was interesting I suppose but I don’t understand why she would so readily help these kids much less pay for the expenses. I am glad that the author actually provided them with a chaperone who was sharp (see what I did there?) but it came off a tad bit unrealistic.
So did Walter Pillay for that matter. While I am glad the author develops a healthy parent-child relationship, Walter’s speech bothered me. He didn’t sound like an adult. He sounded like a kid. Again I realize that this is a book meant for pre-teens and so it would be more suitable to have the father sound like a child but it bothered me.
I guess in the end this book was enjoyable, but the mystery fell flat. I do hope to read another middle-grade in the near future but I honestly don’t know. Maybe if I want a break when I get fed up from reading so much angst in YA, NA and Adult.
This review has also been posted on my blog
I believe this is the first time in a couple of years that I read a middle grade book. The only reason I even picked it up was because I had read the first two books in the series in middle school and adored them. So I set out to complete the series.
It was such an interesting experience because middle grade is so different from YA and Adult and it was just so refreshing.
But with that said it’s pretty hard to say anything about this book because I have no idea how I feel about it.
While it was different it didn’t induce the same excitement the first two books had for the younger me. Yes you could argue that I’ve grown up since and expect a lot more out of books. The fact that I liked almost every book I read back then doesn’t help either, but the fact that I liked almost every book I read back then could also mean that I had great taste. After all the only book that had angered me was Twilight (there is a story behind that).
I don’t remember a lot about the first two books so I could be wrong, but I feel like the mystery in the first two books was very well developed and a lot more interesting compared to this one. The only thing that was going on in this book was the search for Calder, which didn’t really keep me on my toes. The ending was rushed and I didn’t really understand what had happened. It also bordered on unrealistic.
I realize I shouldn’t be so critical of a middle grade book because it’s aimed at a younger audience who aren't as likely to be bothered by those little things but I AM a reader.
“..Cader the Math Whiz, Tommy the Finder, Petra the Scribbler..”
With that said I really enjoyed the characters. They were such a refreshing change from the angst filled teenagers of YA and the complicated adults of Adult (that sounded better in my head). It was just incredibly fun to read about these characters who always meant what they said. Their innocence was refreshing.
For example Tommy and Petra do NOT like each other (in the beginning). If this had been a YA the author would have played off this hate and made it into a romance, yet there were no romantic feelings between the two. The author actually developed their friendship. I almost cried (tears of joy of course) because I am so fed up of the whole hot and cold shit.
Calder wasn’t there for a large chunk of the book but he was definitely missed. I remember him being my favorite character and I think I would have liked the book a whole lot better had he been there to help solve the mystery. He was always an interesting character. And adorable too. He is always thinking about puzzles and is pretty smart but he tends to misspell words all the time.
Petra can sometimes be slightly condescending the way pre-teens can sometimes be. It always made me laugh when she criticized Tommy in her head and how she said eww so often. She is pretty smart too.
Tommy.. was interesting. He kind of reminds me of a stereotypical pre-teen. Messy and unorganized. He loves collecting treasure and (in my opinion) isn’t as smart as Calder and Petra but he has his own charm.
Mrs. Sharpe, who I don’t really remember from the previous books (I am getting old okay?) was interesting I suppose but I don’t understand why she would so readily help these kids much less pay for the expenses. I am glad that the author actually provided them with a chaperone who was sharp (see what I did there?) but it came off a tad bit unrealistic.
So did Walter Pillay for that matter. While I am glad the author develops a healthy parent-child relationship, Walter’s speech bothered me. He didn’t sound like an adult. He sounded like a kid. Again I realize that this is a book meant for pre-teens and so it would be more suitable to have the father sound like a child but it bothered me.
I guess in the end this book was enjoyable, but the mystery fell flat. I do hope to read another middle-grade in the near future but I honestly don’t know. Maybe if I want a break when I get fed up from reading so much angst in YA, NA and Adult.
This review has also been posted on my blog
March 14, 2008
I vaguely remember not being all that thrilled with Balliett's second book, The Wright 3, but The Calder Game is delightfully full of mystery and suspense, incorporating her familiar themes of art, language, and numbers. I love how Balliett introduces artists and thier work to young readers. I get excited about whomever she's writing about, so hopefully the kids will too.
Balliett takes the action to England, where Calder and his dad are traveling on a business trip. With Calder out of the threesome, Tommy and Petra struggle to get along without him as the common denominator. When Calder disappears, the two, and Mrs. Sharpe, travel to England to help Calder's dad find him.
Definitely worth checking out, this third volume will be released in May.
Balliett takes the action to England, where Calder and his dad are traveling on a business trip. With Calder out of the threesome, Tommy and Petra struggle to get along without him as the common denominator. When Calder disappears, the two, and Mrs. Sharpe, travel to England to help Calder's dad find him.
Definitely worth checking out, this third volume will be released in May.
March 4, 2008
An OK mystery. The text was a little too repetitive and the "clues" fell too neatly into place. Having said that, I think lots of kids would like this third whodunnit from Balliett.
November 28, 2013
I personally think it is the best book in the series.
March 7, 2024
so there WAS a code for me to crack in the illustrations
December 24, 2024
My least favorite of the series
September 2, 2025
The 52 Book Club's 2025 Challenge - Summer Challenge #18 - Shares Main Theme with previous book
The 3rd in the series! I love these characters.
The 3rd in the series! I love these characters.
June 8, 2020
A good book and interesting. I think the theme just keeps going.
February 19, 2013
This book is bad. It is really, really bad. It is so completely evident that the writer head-tripped this book right from the start; witness the convenient first name of the character, Calder, coinciding with the Artist-For-Which-This-Book-is-a-Designated-Teaching-Tool.
Calder has a set of pentominoes. He keeps them in his pocket. This is his defining characteristic. By this you are supposed to understand that he is an unusual and clever boy. What does he do with them? He fiddles with them. The author is CONSTANTLY reminding the reader that Calder has pentominoes in his pocket. And what are pentominoes? Well, these are cut-out shapes in the form of letters. Calder has a complete set!
Calder has two friends. One is a girl. She is into words. Words words words. Sometimes she writes them down. Sometimes she just thinks about them. His other friend is a boy. He is a finder. A treasure hunter. He likes to find stuff. He thinks about finding things often. Because that's what he's about.
Calder's two friends don't like each other. That is so there can be CONFLICT.
Calder's father is going to Oxford for a conference. He decides to take Calder with him. They stay in Woodstock, because Calder's father wants Calder to experience an old town. (Oxford isn't an old enough town? Calder's father has to get himself back and forth to his conference at Oxford every day, half an hour away, so they could stay in an old town? No, it's so she could put the (or use the) Calder statue in Woodstock for her Problem.
The statue disappears. And Calder disappears! He goes off to Blenheim to see the maze. Did I mention the pentominoes? What does he do with them? He sits in a graveyard in Oxford and draws mazes. He has graph paper, so it isn't clear why he needs the pentominoes.
So, what do you do when your son disappears? Call the police to start one of their famous manhunts? Yes, the police are asking around at Blenheim, because there they found one of Calder's pentominoes under a bush in the famous maze. Did I meantion that Calder has a set of pentominoes? That he keeps in his pocket? They are very important to him.
So, what does Calder's dad do? He sends for Calder's two friends, all the way from Chicago, to come and help find Calder. Why? Because they know how Calder thinks! So they'll be able to find him!
And that is as far as I got. Because this is a really, really stupid book.
This woman really can write, though. Near the beginning, she describes Calder's class going on a field trip to the Chicago Museum of Art to see the Calder exhibit. (Calder is the Artist-Theme . . . I already mentioned this.) But Balliett's description of the Calder exhibit was terrific. She conveyed, with verve and passion, just what the effect of the exhibit is when you go see it. It made me want to go see it.
I wish she used her powers for good. Because this story is awful.
Calder has a set of pentominoes. He keeps them in his pocket. This is his defining characteristic. By this you are supposed to understand that he is an unusual and clever boy. What does he do with them? He fiddles with them. The author is CONSTANTLY reminding the reader that Calder has pentominoes in his pocket. And what are pentominoes? Well, these are cut-out shapes in the form of letters. Calder has a complete set!
Calder has two friends. One is a girl. She is into words. Words words words. Sometimes she writes them down. Sometimes she just thinks about them. His other friend is a boy. He is a finder. A treasure hunter. He likes to find stuff. He thinks about finding things often. Because that's what he's about.
Calder's two friends don't like each other. That is so there can be CONFLICT.
Calder's father is going to Oxford for a conference. He decides to take Calder with him. They stay in Woodstock, because Calder's father wants Calder to experience an old town. (Oxford isn't an old enough town? Calder's father has to get himself back and forth to his conference at Oxford every day, half an hour away, so they could stay in an old town? No, it's so she could put the (or use the) Calder statue in Woodstock for her Problem.
The statue disappears. And Calder disappears! He goes off to Blenheim to see the maze. Did I mention the pentominoes? What does he do with them? He sits in a graveyard in Oxford and draws mazes. He has graph paper, so it isn't clear why he needs the pentominoes.
So, what do you do when your son disappears? Call the police to start one of their famous manhunts? Yes, the police are asking around at Blenheim, because there they found one of Calder's pentominoes under a bush in the famous maze. Did I meantion that Calder has a set of pentominoes? That he keeps in his pocket? They are very important to him.
So, what does Calder's dad do? He sends for Calder's two friends, all the way from Chicago, to come and help find Calder. Why? Because they know how Calder thinks! So they'll be able to find him!
And that is as far as I got. Because this is a really, really stupid book.
This woman really can write, though. Near the beginning, she describes Calder's class going on a field trip to the Chicago Museum of Art to see the Calder exhibit. (Calder is the Artist-Theme . . . I already mentioned this.) But Balliett's description of the Calder exhibit was terrific. She conveyed, with verve and passion, just what the effect of the exhibit is when you go see it. It made me want to go see it.
I wish she used her powers for good. Because this story is awful.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2008
Mystery chapter book
For ages 9 and up
When Calder goes missing on a trip to England, his friends Petra and Tommy become involved in the search for what happened to him - and a missing Alexander Calder sculpture.
This is the third installment in Balliett's series of art-related mysteries. Illustrations by Brett Helquist not only compliment the story but also contain a mystery of their own. The story has a great sense of atmosphere and does a wonderful job of describing real and imaginary art, which would make this a good choice not only for mystery fans, but also for art lovers.
While the mystery ends up being not all that mysterious, the depictions of the relationships between characters never falters. Petra, Tommy and Calder are believable 7th graders; Calder holds the group together, and when he goes missing, the other two have to figure out how to be friends - and how to work together and think like Calder to solve the mystery. This isn't one of the stories where the children solve the mystery that the adults can't see - they get real help from some adults. Only a few characters are a bit flat, and a few loose ends left unresolved. Overall, it's the themes of balance and the power of art and friendship that carry the book.
The Horn Book's review points out that Balliett often substitutes "coincidence for plot development," but compliments the way she writes about art and creativity - a fair assessment. School Library Journal's review is delightful to read, emphasizing the use of mobiles in the story and evoking the same atmosphere as the book.
For ages 9 and up
When Calder goes missing on a trip to England, his friends Petra and Tommy become involved in the search for what happened to him - and a missing Alexander Calder sculpture.
This is the third installment in Balliett's series of art-related mysteries. Illustrations by Brett Helquist not only compliment the story but also contain a mystery of their own. The story has a great sense of atmosphere and does a wonderful job of describing real and imaginary art, which would make this a good choice not only for mystery fans, but also for art lovers.
While the mystery ends up being not all that mysterious, the depictions of the relationships between characters never falters. Petra, Tommy and Calder are believable 7th graders; Calder holds the group together, and when he goes missing, the other two have to figure out how to be friends - and how to work together and think like Calder to solve the mystery. This isn't one of the stories where the children solve the mystery that the adults can't see - they get real help from some adults. Only a few characters are a bit flat, and a few loose ends left unresolved. Overall, it's the themes of balance and the power of art and friendship that carry the book.
The Horn Book's review points out that Balliett often substitutes "coincidence for plot development," but compliments the way she writes about art and creativity - a fair assessment. School Library Journal's review is delightful to read, emphasizing the use of mobiles in the story and evoking the same atmosphere as the book.
June 7, 2008
this book suffered from all of the short-comings of her first two. all three books are ridiculously heavy-handed with the symbolism and "coincidences," and the "codes" and patterns she devises are kind of lame, especially in this book. also, all three books parrot her own personal opinions about the state of "art." oh, you like vermeer, calder, and bansky (and we learn late in this book--baaaaarf--o'keefe)? that's nice. also, she thinks all art should be free all the time (admirable enough, sure, but could you communicate that in some other way besides talking about yet another exhibit that was made free to everyone by an "anonymous donor" or another art book made really cheap by an "anonymous donor" or another piece of art donated by, you guessed it, someone anonymous?)
the first two books were made better by 1) the fact that they were set in hyde park (which probably only endears them to lab school and university of chicago kids, really) and 2) the fact that they were her first and second novel and we might forgive her her foibles. by the third book, the formula is getting old and i'm not as forgiving.
this would be perfectly good for a 4th grader, though. read "chasing vermeer" to your kids first, then "wright 3," then, if they're still dying for more, go ahead, "calder game" isn't a total waste of time.
the first two books were made better by 1) the fact that they were set in hyde park (which probably only endears them to lab school and university of chicago kids, really) and 2) the fact that they were her first and second novel and we might forgive her her foibles. by the third book, the formula is getting old and i'm not as forgiving.
this would be perfectly good for a 4th grader, though. read "chasing vermeer" to your kids first, then "wright 3," then, if they're still dying for more, go ahead, "calder game" isn't a total waste of time.
October 28, 2014
The Calder Game is a good mystery book for any person age 10 or up, if you are under 10, you will probably not know what the book or settings are about. Blue Balliett does a good job at placing historical facts in a suspense.Some great parts are learning who some famous artists and learning about math tools. There is only one bad part, and that is the boring parts that lead up t the suspense. I think any kid above 10 who has a taste for suspense will enjoy this book. this book reminds me when I was younger watching Scooby-Doo. that is basically what this book is like, except for an older audience and with more drama and build up to the plot. I might read the books that follow in this series. In all, this is a great book that I would read again.
May 31, 2009
I am a big enough dork that I picked this up partly because of Brett Helquist's illustrations, but mainly because of my own obsession with Alexander Calder. What I discovered was an homage to his work, crafted intricately, with humor, poise, and a wee bit of art education thrown in. I need to find more books by Balliett - it would seem that this is part of a series? References are made to other adventures (generic, not specific) had by the main characters, so I assume said adventures have been chronicled. Via this book alone, Balliett has the potential to make my list of favorite YA authors!
June 29, 2015
These books are a lot of fun ... mystery, puzzles, and kids having fun ... all while learning about art. This one also gave us a glimpse into life in England, and was fun, especially since I was there last year. I enjoyed this story, this puzzle very much ...
October 19, 2014
I think this book is a great finale to this series. It is suspenseful and very exciting. The characters and plot are all very easy to follow and understand as well. I definitely recommend this book!
December 5, 2015
A nice enough read. It wouldn't shake the world or anything.
November 1, 2020
The Calder Game by Blue Balliett is an exciting mystery about three 6th graders, Calder, Tommy, and Petra, from Hyde Park, Chicago. When an exhibit from Alexander Calder, an artist and sculptor famous for his amazing mobiles, comes to the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art the children are enthralled by the mobiles. Calder feels particularly drawn to the mobiles because he is named after Alexander Calder and his parents are big fans of the artist. Soon, Calder and his friends start seeing Calder mobiles everywhere, both real and imaginary. When Calder takes a trip to a small, rural town in England with his Dad, the unthinkable happens…another Alexander Calder sculpture appears. As the town grapples with this unwelcome and surprise gift, Calder senses that there is something strange going on. But before we learn more, Calder, and the Calder statue, vanish. Tommy and Petra travel to England to help solve the mystery and find their missing friend with help from both Calders, and some sleuthing.
I would highly recommend this exciting mystery book to advanced readers or mystery-lovers in late-elementary or early middle school (4-6 grade). The text introduces rich vocabulary in an accessible way, has interesting and robust characters, and beautifully describes settings and emotions. This would be an excellent read-aloud text and addition to a classroom library. It would be a wonderful text for mini-lessons on word usage, characters, and settings before writers workshop. Because the text introduces rich vocabulary, it would be a great text for shared reading activities. It would be helpful to pair this text with a lesson about Alexander Calder’s sculptures and mobiles, because this story focuses so deeply on his work and students will likely be curious to learn more about his art. I would also incorporate an activity where students make their own Calder mobile and write a short story or explanation for their thought process behind their work as the characters do in the story.
I would highly recommend this exciting mystery book to advanced readers or mystery-lovers in late-elementary or early middle school (4-6 grade). The text introduces rich vocabulary in an accessible way, has interesting and robust characters, and beautifully describes settings and emotions. This would be an excellent read-aloud text and addition to a classroom library. It would be a wonderful text for mini-lessons on word usage, characters, and settings before writers workshop. Because the text introduces rich vocabulary, it would be a great text for shared reading activities. It would be helpful to pair this text with a lesson about Alexander Calder’s sculptures and mobiles, because this story focuses so deeply on his work and students will likely be curious to learn more about his art. I would also incorporate an activity where students make their own Calder mobile and write a short story or explanation for their thought process behind their work as the characters do in the story.
January 6, 2018
I remember really enjoying the first two books (well, Chasing Vermeer at least, I don't remember much about Wright 3) when I was a kid, but I don't know if maybe the series just doesn't age well for adults. I did enjoy some aspects:
- the sense of suspense and mystery
- some of the mobile stuff
- the overall plot direction
- the tie-in with art (once again)
- Mrs. Sharpe
but a lot of other things took away from my enjoyment as well:
- the "England is just so weird and different and insular" thing was kind of uncomfortable and never really subverted. I especially disliked how long we dwelled on the villagers being exclusionary and hostile, and hating Americans and modernization, and I never really understood why Calder didn't bother to do a little research. I know he's like 12 but I'm pretty sure I knew British people called fries "chips" at that age.
- the early story dragged while the later story felt rushed
- well before the end, it was pretty easy to figure out what was going on
- a lot of the newer characters weren't very developed
- the puzzles tended to be very short-lived, overly basic, or just not directly related to the story. It felt like the kids never really figured much out that was useful, even with the "kids know better than adults" vibe.
- I found Petra really obnoxious
I know this is targeted toward younger kids, and I'm not upset I read it, but I didn't have as much fun as I'd anticipated based on memories of the earlier books. I've also developed an appreciation for books that don't try to make things too easy just because they're for kids, and I definitely felt like this book tried way too hard to be kid-friendly, taking away from the effectiveness.
- the sense of suspense and mystery
- some of the mobile stuff
- the overall plot direction
- the tie-in with art (once again)
- Mrs. Sharpe
but a lot of other things took away from my enjoyment as well:
- the "England is just so weird and different and insular" thing was kind of uncomfortable and never really subverted. I especially disliked how long we dwelled on the villagers being exclusionary and hostile, and hating Americans and modernization, and I never really understood why Calder didn't bother to do a little research. I know he's like 12 but I'm pretty sure I knew British people called fries "chips" at that age.
- the early story dragged while the later story felt rushed
- well before the end, it was pretty easy to figure out what was going on
- a lot of the newer characters weren't very developed
- the puzzles tended to be very short-lived, overly basic, or just not directly related to the story. It felt like the kids never really figured much out that was useful, even with the "kids know better than adults" vibe.
- I found Petra really obnoxious
I know this is targeted toward younger kids, and I'm not upset I read it, but I didn't have as much fun as I'd anticipated based on memories of the earlier books. I've also developed an appreciation for books that don't try to make things too easy just because they're for kids, and I definitely felt like this book tried way too hard to be kid-friendly, taking away from the effectiveness.
April 28, 2021
When seventh graders Calder, Tommy and Petra visit the Alexander Calder exhibit they each experience the mobiles in their own way. Calder tried to figure out the puzzle he saw in each piece, Tommy saw each mobile as a way to bring a collection alive, and Petra thought of words as things, not just meanings but balanced in three dimensions. When introduced to a museum invented game encouraging the creation of a mobile of five parts: objects, symbols, or ideas that move in relation to one another, the friends predictably played the game in their own unique way. Weeks later Calder visits England with his father and is surprised to find a Calder sculpture in the villages town square. When both Calders disappear on the same night, many puzzles must be solved. Balliett weaves a solid to her character’s strengths. Illustrator Brett Helquist adds to the fun by including a hidden message which appear in a pattern of fives. Although in this book Balliett continues the character’s adventures from previous books The Calder Game easily stands on its own merits and readers need not be familiar with the first two stories to enjoy this puzzling tale.
May 3, 2022
This is the third book by this author that involves art. Calder, Tommy, and Petra, now in 7th grade, visit an art exhibit of mobiles by Calder's namesake, Alexander Calder, in their home town of Chicago. The exhibit includes "the Calder Game" that encourages visitors to create their own mobile of objects, symbols, or ideas using five parts. When his father goes to England to attend a conference, Calder joins him and is surprised to find a Calder sculpture displayed in the square next to his bed and breakfast. While he enjoys the sculpture, the villagers do not, because it doesn't fit with the history and tradition of Woodstock. Suddenly, both the Calder sculpture and Calder the boy disappear. Tommy and Petra are called to England because of their love of puzzles and playing with ideas and words. Can the Calder Game help them solve the mysteries and bring Calder home? This is a unique book that will get readers thinking about art in a new way. I plan to use it with my Tween book club this summer so we can play the Calder Game too! Suitable for grades 4-8 and those that enjoy mysteries or thinking about new ideas.
July 14, 2023
Meh. I liked a lot of things about this book, but the child characters and the faith adults put in them stretched credulity. This is the third book in a series, which I did not realize. It is also a middle-grade book, which I did not realize (don't judge a book by its cover, children), so my rating may not be entirely fair. Starting with book three probably put the characters' established relationship in a weird light, but I don't think you need to have read the previous books to understand this one at all.
What I thought was out there was how much faith the adults put into children to find a missing person who might be dead or dying. It was a bit of a stretch. Maybe reading the first two books would have explained that better.
I really liked the art connections, though. Alexander Calder is an interesting dude, and I enjoyed learning about him. I don't think I'll be going out of my way to hunt down and read the first two, though, even though the first book (and the series) is called Chasing Vermeer, whom I like very much.
What I thought was out there was how much faith the adults put into children to find a missing person who might be dead or dying. It was a bit of a stretch. Maybe reading the first two books would have explained that better.
I really liked the art connections, though. Alexander Calder is an interesting dude, and I enjoyed learning about him. I don't think I'll be going out of my way to hunt down and read the first two, though, even though the first book (and the series) is called Chasing Vermeer, whom I like very much.
September 30, 2024
I read the first in the series when it was first published in 2004 when I was an intermediate (5-6) librarian. I just finished "The Calder Game" as I was reviewing it for my daughter-in-law who teaches 4th grade. It is a great little mystery that includes geography, history, math, art and a few life lessons along the way. I would recommend this book for 4th - 8th grades/ 9-13 yrs.
The three characters Calder, Petra and Tommy are very likeable characters and mature in their eagerness to expand their knowledge. Helquist black/white full page illustrations add to the story and the short chapters are a quick to read. The Author's Notes with diagrams of the mobiles and the Author's Whisper with places, people, pentominoes, and the Minotaur a combination of several of Alexander Calder's sculptures sections at the end are also a great addition of information for the reader.
The story keeps the reader involved in the twists and turns in the mystery. I enjoyed this book in the series much more than the first one. It encourages me to read number four in the series "Pieces and Players."
The three characters Calder, Petra and Tommy are very likeable characters and mature in their eagerness to expand their knowledge. Helquist black/white full page illustrations add to the story and the short chapters are a quick to read. The Author's Notes with diagrams of the mobiles and the Author's Whisper with places, people, pentominoes, and the Minotaur a combination of several of Alexander Calder's sculptures sections at the end are also a great addition of information for the reader.
The story keeps the reader involved in the twists and turns in the mystery. I enjoyed this book in the series much more than the first one. It encourages me to read number four in the series "Pieces and Players."
June 12, 2025
I thought this started out well, with the trip to the museum and intro to Calder's art. Once Calder (the character) got to England, some parts felt more like a guided tour than a story. I thought the mystery had lots of potential but not enough clues or puzzles like the first 2 novels. Tommy and Petra seemed to spend too much time thinking about the other kid characters on an emotional level instead of solving the mystery.
That said, the writing was good enough for the first 3/4 of the novel to keep me interested. The last quarter of the book, though, almost felt as if someone else wrote it. Or as if the writer realized there were too many loose ends to tie up and a deadline looming. Too much of the end of the story was told in straight narrative form, without dialogue and without being "in the room" with the characters. It had a this-happened-then-this-happened, etc. feel to it. Then the writer didn't seem to know when to stop tying up loose ends. That was incredibly disappointing.
That said, the writing was good enough for the first 3/4 of the novel to keep me interested. The last quarter of the book, though, almost felt as if someone else wrote it. Or as if the writer realized there were too many loose ends to tie up and a deadline looming. Too much of the end of the story was told in straight narrative form, without dialogue and without being "in the room" with the characters. It had a this-happened-then-this-happened, etc. feel to it. Then the writer didn't seem to know when to stop tying up loose ends. That was incredibly disappointing.
April 24, 2019
Normally if I'm binge-reading a series I wait until I've read them all to write a review, but I have to say something before the end!
The first book was incredibly quirky and clever and intelligent. I really enjoyed it! But my main complaint was that the pattern of coincidences they put together to solve the mystery absolutely would not hold up in the real world - it was unrealistic.
Well, by now in the third book, there's some vague muttering about patterns, a lot of chatter about 'art', and mostly just the kids wandering around on instinct finding nothing until eventually the mystery was solved for them. It was realistic! I got my wish!
And it was so, so boring.
Some of these elements were definitely present in book 2, but gods, so much of the mystery in book 3 was just kind of info- dumped on us, there wasn't really much of a mystery after all.
Here's to hoping book 4 pulls itself a bit more together?
The first book was incredibly quirky and clever and intelligent. I really enjoyed it! But my main complaint was that the pattern of coincidences they put together to solve the mystery absolutely would not hold up in the real world - it was unrealistic.
Well, by now in the third book, there's some vague muttering about patterns, a lot of chatter about 'art', and mostly just the kids wandering around on instinct finding nothing until eventually the mystery was solved for them. It was realistic! I got my wish!
And it was so, so boring.
Some of these elements were definitely present in book 2, but gods, so much of the mystery in book 3 was just kind of info- dumped on us, there wasn't really much of a mystery after all.
Here's to hoping book 4 pulls itself a bit more together?
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