Book Review
MYRA S. BARNES INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL
24
Rosemarie O’Neill, Principal
CHASING VERMEER
by BLUE BALLIETT: BOOK REVIEW
Mrs. L. Langsner, Art Teacher
“Chasing Vermeer is a puzzle,
wrapped in a mystery, disguised as an adventure, and delivered as a
work of art.”
If you like a good book filled with
wacky characters you will enjoy Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett.
The book is illustrated by Brett Helquist and the illustrations hold
clues to solving the mystery.
Qualities of an Effective Book
Review:
“A book review, a genre that exists
in the real world, invites students to discover their passions and
prejudices as readers and teach others what they find in a book so
engagingly that others will want to look for it too.”
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First-person voice: semiformal,
between a book report and a letter in a reading journal.
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A plot summary that doesn’t reveal
too much (i.e., the ending) and tells just enough for a reader to
decide if it’s the kind of book he or she likes; and invitation or
hint of things to come.
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Quotes from the book that reveal
character, plot, or theme.
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A brief description of the main
characters.
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Where and when the story is set.
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What genre it is.
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Descriptions of good things the
author did (e.g., flashbacks, realistic details, fast pace,
hopeful ending, etc.)
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A description of the problem or
theme.
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How the book fits in a larger
context – political, historical, social.
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A suggestion of who would like the
book and why.
Possible Leads for a Book Review:
Plot synopsis:
This book is about
_________________________________________________________________or
This book tells the story of
____________________________________________________________
Synopsis of the problem or theme:
This book is a powerful look at
_________________________________________________________
Identification of the main character
and his or her problem:
Calder never knew
that________________________________________________________________
Invitation to the reader to engage
with the topic:
Imagine a story about
_______________________and you’ve got ____________________________
Art Connections:
1. While looking for something
Calder thought might be art, he uncovered a box his grandmother had
given him. Discuss the significance of this box.
2. What was Petra’s Halloween
costume? What did it have to do with Vermeer and this story?
3. Ms. Hussey was talking to her
class and mentioned the 1990 art theft at the Isabella Stewart
Gardner Museum in Boston. How is this important to the story?
Math Connections:
Calder carries around pentominoes
in his pocket. What are these and what do they have to do with the
story?