This is the third from Blue Balliett, which I didn’t know existed until I went to Hyde Park in Chicago and saw the house that was featured in Wright 3. There in the Frank Lloyd Wright house I saw both this book and pentominoes. I was very excited to get both. It was also really cool being in a place featured in a book. So even though I didn’t really like the Wright 3 as much, I was willing to give this author another go.

She didn’t disappoint. This book is much better than Wright 3. This time there isn’t so much whining and stupid fights. Tommy and Petra are flown to England to help rescue their friend Calder, who goes missing the same night that a sculpture by the artist named Calder. This time instead of the kids being on their own, they get grownup support and trust. Finally.

I love how art and mystery are combined in these books. Now I want to learn more about the mobiles and sculptures of Calder, not to mention I have been working with my own set of pentominoes.

The sequel to Chasing Vermeer that I mentioned yesterday that I wanted to read. So, I went to the library got the audio book (the print version being out) and listened to it yesterday. This one was a little annoying. A new character, Tommy, was so busy feeling sorry for himself and mad at his friend Calder for making another friend, it was tedious. That took too long to be resolved so the plot could progress.

This installment of the problem solving, coincidence seeking and otherwise art saving kids involves the saving of a Frank Lloyd Wright house in Hyde Park. Reading these has defiantly made me want to take a trip to Hyde Park when I’m in Chicago in a week.

Another thing that bothered me, here are these kids who first save a painting by Vermeer and then a house by Frank Lloyd Wright, yet no one seems to mention that these kids do this in less than a year. It is as though the painting was forgotten. That didn’t make much sense to me. But I still want to play with a set of pentominoes.

I don’t like mysteries. Although if more were like this one I would love them. This was the most intelligent, funny, cute and random book I have read in ages. The idea of experimental schools, coincidences being crucial and of course pentominoes are well done. The puzzles, codes and other creative thinking by the characters is so much fun. Not to mention the use of art. I can’t wait to read the sequel, Wright 3, which I am getting out of the library today.

Oh and it was illustrated by the same guy as The Series of Unfortunate Events.