The Calder Game by Blue Balliett first caught my eye due to the art reference. Then as I was introduced to the characters, their personalities and the structure of the story I felt very familiar with the book. It felt like a cross between an American Harry Potter and The Da Vinci Code.
There are three main characters, all in the seventh grade. Calder Pillay is the main character with two friends, Tommy and Petra who are only friends due to Calder. The girl is a little of a brain and the boys are lifelong friends. There is a mystery revolving around the artwork of Alexander Calder. Beginning in Chicago, where Calder lives, a basic introduction to Alexander Calder’s work is made and the premise of the plot. Calder travels with his father to a remote village in England. The village is complete with a castle, grounds and a hedge maze. The connection starts with an anonymous donation of a large Alexander Calder sculpture to this small village that is not well-received. Both sculpture and boy are missing on the same morning. Solving the mystery becomes top priority and Calder’s friends are recruited to help in the case.
I think I would like to use this is future lessons with 5th grade. There are references to real artwork and places mixed in with fictional information. It would be fun to challenge the kids to investigate the artwork and discover the art at the same time they unravel the mystery. Calder, the main character, also uses pentominoes frequently and those could be used within the lesson as well. This is the third book by this author and all three have the reference to artwork and mysteries. I know what DaVinci code did for awareness in Leonardo’s artwork, why couldn’t this series do the same among children and young adult readers?
There are three main characters, all in the seventh grade. Calder Pillay is the main character with two friends, Tommy and Petra who are only friends due to Calder. The girl is a little of a brain and the boys are lifelong friends. There is a mystery revolving around the artwork of Alexander Calder. Beginning in Chicago, where Calder lives, a basic introduction to Alexander Calder’s work is made and the premise of the plot. Calder travels with his father to a remote village in England. The village is complete with a castle, grounds and a hedge maze. The connection starts with an anonymous donation of a large Alexander Calder sculpture to this small village that is not well-received. Both sculpture and boy are missing on the same morning. Solving the mystery becomes top priority and Calder’s friends are recruited to help in the case.
I think I would like to use this is future lessons with 5th grade. There are references to real artwork and places mixed in with fictional information. It would be fun to challenge the kids to investigate the artwork and discover the art at the same time they unravel the mystery. Calder, the main character, also uses pentominoes frequently and those could be used within the lesson as well. This is the third book by this author and all three have the reference to artwork and mysteries. I know what DaVinci code did for awareness in Leonardo’s artwork, why couldn’t this series do the same among children and young adult readers?
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