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I chose this book for our Mother/Daughter book group at the library based on the reviews and because it's one of this year's Utah Beehive Book Award Nominees for Juvenile fiction. Oh my--I had no idea how much I would LOVE it! Give me realistic/historical fiction about the Metropolitan Museum of Art, World War II, and Renaissance Art that's well researched and well written and I'm going to give it FIVE stars. For 5th grade and above. Tee hee. I don't want to give too much away. You know I love a
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Thirteen-year-old Theodora (Theo) Tenpenny loses her beloved artist grandfather, Jack, in an accident and she becomes the caretaker for her dysfunctional mother who seems to only be interested in solving math equations. Theo also has to take care of the chickens in their NYC home with the $463 her grandfather left. Jack's dying words to Theo are to "Look under the egg. There's a letter." Theo finds nothing under the painting of an egg, painted by Jack,until she accidentally spills turpentine on
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Theo Tenpenny's grandfather taught her the value of hard work and thrifty living, but when an accident cuts short her grandfather's life, she knows it will take more than frugality to keep her family home, especially with her mother spending more and more time lost among the theorems in her own head. If only she could figure out what he meant when in his dying words he spoke of a treasure "under the egg."
Figuring out this puzzle will require all of Theo's cunning, plus the help of a friend or t ...more
Figuring out this puzzle will require all of Theo's cunning, plus the help of a friend or t ...more
Theodora's grandfather lay dying and in his last breath he mumbles something about "it's under the egg...a letter and a treasure". Theo is hopeful that this means that her grandfather left something that would provide for her and her absentminded mother. As she searches, an accidental spill of a bottle of rubbing alcohol over one of her grandfather's paintings reveals what looks to be a Renaissance masterpiece beneath the surface. Knowing that her grandfather worked for The Metro Museum of Art,
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Thirteen year old Theo has learned to be resourceful growing up in NYC with her mother who had withdrawn from the world, as she "preferred the world inside her head to the world outside" and her grandfather, Jack, who taught her about life, art, and how to truly look at things. But now he is gone, and Theo is left with his mysterious last words, "to look under the egg," which leads to research that could result in one of the greatest art finds in history.
I liked this book a great deal, and agree ...more
I liked this book a great deal, and agree ...more
Good mystery and more. Revolves around a painting found by Theo that she thinks her grandfather left for her. After her gpa unexpectedly dies, Theo is left with caring for her mom, and trying to find out if gpa stole this painting, or if she can sell it and solve all the financial problems so that she won't be taken into foster care. Bhodi - a daughter of famous people helps her search and discover all sorts of art related info and info about Theo's gpa. Together they learn that recovered the pa
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Art history mystery in New York City, sign me up! I liked this, a lot, although for a book that I liked a lot, there were also a number of choices that I thought were very weird.
Lizz mentioned that she loved how the main character and her friend never had a fight or falling out or misunderstanding, and a resounding yes on that particular point. Their friendship felt genuine and fun, and also realistically new.
The love story behind the painting melted my cold and withered heart, too. Awww.
I was ...more
Awesome debut! Loved Theo and Bodhi and how their friendship formed. Great information that will hopefully get kids involved in art as well. I thought "Uncle Lydon" would be guilty of more than just wanting to find the painting. Interesting ending....
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Loved this one! A creative and well-written art mystery along the lines of The Mixed Up Files or the books written by Blue Balliett. Perfect summer reading for kids maybe 11 and up.
A wonderful art mystery with Holocaust roots. Perfect for fans of Blue Balliet.
Apr 08, 2014
Ellie
marked it as to-read
Apr 17, 2014
Sylena
marked it as to-read
Jun 22, 2014
Amy
marked it as to-read
Jan 24, 2015
Karen
marked it as to-read
