The Calder Game
by Blue Balliett
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Reviewed by Tasha for TeensReadToo.com
Calder, Tommy, and Petra are back for another art-filled mystery.
It all starts when they take a field trip to the art museum to see the new exhibit featuring work by Alexander Calder. Even though their nasty and fun-sucking teacher tries to make the trip as miserable as possible, the three friends manage to find great inspiration and fascination in Alexander Calder's work.
Before long, Calder's dad invites him on a trip to England with him. Cald...more
Calder, Tommy, and Petra are back for another art-filled mystery.
It all starts when they take a field trip to the art museum to see the new exhibit featuring work by Alexander Calder. Even though their nasty and fun-sucking teacher tries to make the trip as miserable as possible, the three friends manage to find great inspiration and fascination in Alexander Calder's work.
Before long, Calder's dad invites him on a trip to England with him. Cald...more
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Read in April, 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 book...more
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 book...more
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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 th...more
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Read in July, 2008
Books by this author are great, combining kids thinking, exploring and "solving crimes" with an exploration of great art (Vermeer, Calder).
This book explores the work of Alexander Calder (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A... who invented the mobile, and fits the main characters (Calder, Petra and Tommy) into a world where its hard NOT to be excited about going to see the art, to experience it.
This book ...more
This book explores the work of Alexander Calder (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A... who invented the mobile, and fits the main characters (Calder, Petra and Tommy) into a world where its hard NOT to be excited about going to see the art, to experience it.
This book ...more
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Read in August, 2008
Tommy, Calder and Petra return to participate in a live Calder game where people visiting a Calder exhibit in Chicago are encouraged to make their own creations. This results in Calder traveling to England to experience an ancient maze. The Calder Game is taken to international levels where a rich art collector begins placing Calder statutes in 5 specific places around the world. One is in the city where Calder visits but the town isn't appreciative of this gift and it along with Calder disap...more
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Read in March, 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...more
Balliett takes the action to England, where Calder and his dad are traveling on a business trip. With Calder out of the...more
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Read in August, 2008
recommends it for:
people who liked the first two
Some other reviews of this book were not as thrilled with it as with the first two. I absolutely loved Chasing Vermeer and the Wright Three and I think this one was nearly as good. My only wish was that there be more of the number/puzzle solving that was in the first two. However, it was still filled with mystery and suspense and kept me guessing. I love how these books are amazing mystery stories infused with art, history, math, logic, and much more. Whenever I read one of them I become intrigu...more
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Read in August, 2008
recommended to Shannon by:
I stumbled upon it. what a wonderful trip.recommends it for: anyone
Blue Balliett has a remarkable way of introducing art concepts into a world that allows you to freely think of the interesting connections and beauty found in the world and our lives with various artists. This new book focusing on the art of Alexander Calder is both beautiful in imagery and thought provoking. Balliett seems to be taking on the role of Art Wish by making art available (accessible) to children.
After reading each of Balliett's books with my children we entered into our own adve...more
After reading each of Balliett's books with my children we entered into our own adve...more
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Read in May, 2008
Always glad to read a story featuring Calder, Petra, and Tommy, I enjoyed this but thought the clues and history and puzzles lacked some of the interrelatedness that made the first two books so great. Some of the clues were even left unused, I believe, such as the yarn.
Seems like there could be a sequel when G. comes to visit next summer...
I still have to break the Calder Code in the illustrations.
Bottom line: I liked but did not love this one and think it might be hard to sell to r...more
Seems like there could be a sequel when G. comes to visit next summer...
I still have to break the Calder Code in the illustrations.
Bottom line: I liked but did not love this one and think it might be hard to sell to r...more
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Read in April, 2008
Another great romp into the intellectual world of art and intrigue for the kids! Blue Balliett delivers once again a wonderful mystery that takes Calder and his two friends, Tommy and Petra, away from Chicago and into a small town in England. I was dubious at first, wondering how these characters would fare in a far off country, but it was done superbly! A must read for any kids who enjoy mysteries, but especially those who enjoy art as well.
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Read in July, 2008
Another fun book in this series. The characters continue to age well and realistically and it was lovely to see Petra and Tommy's relationship evolve in this book. The change of scenery was nice as well and I found it intriguing to read about Alexander Calder's art in this context. I've always seen his art as more whimsy than art, so it was good to challenge my own thinking regarding the value of his art.
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Read in June, 2008
I love Blue Balliett so much. I've become a raving fangirl. Her writing is intelligent without becoming overly complicated. It's like having a conversation with a colorful college professor. And the characters! I feel like I could carry Calder around in my pocket the way he carries pentominoes.
'Maybe he had fallen into his name.' What a fantastic concept.
'Maybe he had fallen into his name.' What a fantastic concept.
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Read in June, 2008
Another great book from Blue Balliett. Her books educate while they entertain. I am ashamed I didn't even know who Alexander Calder WAS until I read this book. I hope Balliet continues to write, educating children (and adults like me who love children's books!) about art and art appreciation. This will definitely be on my kids' summer reading list!
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Read in May, 2008
Calder and his dad visit England and happen to stay in a town that has a piece of art done by the famous artist Calder. On the very same day, both disappear. Are they related since they're both Calders? Calder's two friends immediately come over to England to solve the Calder mystery. Good for 4th-5th graders.
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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.
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Read in July, 2008
Great addition to the Chasing Vermeer group of books. This one is fun because the setting changes. I love that Alexander Calder's work is prominent in this book because I really love him. Can't wait to see what Blue Balliet does with Calder, Petra, and Tommy next!
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Read in April, 2008
I definitely enjoyed this book, but it didn't grab me as quickly or hold on to my attention as tightly as either of the first two. I still love all three of the characters, but the plot of this book just seemed weak compared to Chasing Vermeer and The Wright 3.
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I finished this book, yes I did, and now I'm going to take it back to Borders and try to return it. Not because the book was bad--it was delightful! as always--but because I am poor and shouldn't have impulse-bought Blue Balliett's latest in the first place.
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This is the third of three books by this author that I have read. They are really children's books around the level of Harry Potter, but they are really interesting mysteries focused on authors or artists. One is about Vermeer, another Frank Lloyd Wright.
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Read in January, 2008
recommended to Soogat by:
Publisherrecommends it for: Pre-teens
For it's genre this is actually a well written piece of literature. If I were a 12 year old boy I probably would have enjoyed it more. Despite all that it was not predictable or watered down and the characters were reasonably believable.
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book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 3.81 (113 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 3.81 (112 ratings) number of reviews: 38popular shelves
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