Synopses & Reviews
Marvin lives with his family under the kitchen sink in the Pompadays apartment. He is very much a beetle. James Pompaday lives with his family in New York City. He is very much an eleven-year-old boy.After James gets a pen-and-ink set for his birthday, Marvin surprises him by creating an elaborate miniature drawing. James gets all the credit for the picture and before these unlikely friends know it they are caught up in a staged art heist at the Metropolitan Museum of Art that could help recover a famous drawing by Albrecht Dürer. But James cant go through with the plan without Marvins help. And thats where things get really complicated (and interesting!). This fast-paced mystery will have young readers on the edge of their seats as they root for boy and beetle. In Shakespeares Secret Elise Broach showed her keen ability to weave storytelling with history and suspense, and Masterpiece is yet another example of her talent. This time around its an irresistible miniature world, fascinating art history, all wrapped up in a special friendship— something for everyone to enjoy. Masterpiece is a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.
Review
“Murphys own pen-and-ink spot art reflects the texts sweet insouciance. With suspense, art history, complex family relationships (human and arthropod), and a resonant friendship, this enjoyable outing will satisfy the reserved and adventurous alike.”—
Booklist“With overtones of Chasing Vermeer and The Borrowers, this inventive mystery involves two families that inhabit the same Manhattan apartment . . . Broach packs this fast-moving story with perennially seductive themes: hidden lives and secret friendships, miniature worlds lost to disbelievers.”—Publishers Weekly
“This is a great mystery for young adolescents.”—KLIATT
“Delightful intricacies of beetle life . . . blend seamlessly with the suspenseful caper as well as the sentimental story of a complicated-but-rewarding friendship that requires a great deal of frantic leg-wiggling on Marvins part. Murphys charming pen-and-ink drawings populate the short chapters of this funny, winsome novel.”—Kirkus Reviews
Review
"Inventive ... Broach ... packs this fast-moving story with perennially seductive themes: hidden lives and secret friendships, miniature worlds lost to disbelievers ... Broach and Kelly show readers something new."
--Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) "Delightful intricacies of beetle life ... blend seamlessly with the suspenseful caper as well as the sentimental story of a complicated-but-rewarding friendship ... Murphys charming pen-and-ink drawings populate the short chapters of this funny, winsome novel."
--Kirkus Reviews "This marvelous story is sure to be a hit."
--School Library Journal
Review
and#160;
andquot;A rip-roaring tale; even rodent haters will have to like Malcolm.andquot;andmdash;Kirkus
andquot;Escapades, humor, and romance weave together in this madcap elementary school adventure . . . A first-rate debut.andquot;andmdash;Publishers Weekly
andquot;This creature-feature leavens spookiness with healthy doses of whimsy.andquot;andmdash;Booklist
andquot;Malcolm is thoroughly likable . . . a good choice for younger students who are reading above grade level yet arenand#39;t quite ready for heavier emotional or thematic content.andquot;andmdash;School Library Journal
Synopsis
A New York Times bestselling middle grade mystery novel full of adventure, friendship, and stolen art.
Marvin lives with his family under the kitchen sink in the Pompadays' apartment. He is very much a beetle. James Pompaday lives with his family in New York City. He is very much an eleven-year-old boy. After James gets a pen-and-ink set for his birthday, Marvin surprises him by creating an elaborate miniature drawing. James gets all the credit for the picture and before these unlikely friends know it they are caught up in a staged art heist at the Metropolitan Museum of Art that could help recover a famous drawing by Albrecht D rer. But James can't go through with the plan without Marvin's help. And that's where things get really complicated (and interesting ). This fast-paced mystery will have young readers on the edge of their seats as they root for boy and beetle.
In Shakespeare's Secret Elise Broach showed her keen ability to weave storytelling with history and suspense, and Masterpiece is yet another example of her talent. This time around it's an irresistible miniature world, fascinating art history, all wrapped up in a special friendship-- something for everyone to enjoy.
Masterpiece is a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.
Synopsis
Marvin lives with his family under the kitchen sink in the Pompadays apartment. He is very much a beetle. James lives with his family in New York City. He is very much an eleven year-old boy. After James gets a pen and ink set for his birthday, Marvin surprises him by creating an elaborate miniature drawing. Then James ends up with all the credit, and is expected to do it again. Before they know it, the unlikely friends are caught up in an art heist that could lead them to a long-lost drawing by Albrecht Dürer. Of course, James cant go through with the plan without Marvins help. But can a boy take a beetle to a museum and let him recreate a master work of art without anyone knowing about it? Even more important, can he bring the beetle safely back home?
Synopsis
After 11-year-old James gets a pen-and-ink set for his birthday, Marvin, a beetle, surprises him by creating an elaborate miniature drawing. James gets all the credit for the picture and before these unlikely friends know it they are caught up in a staged art heist at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Illustrations.
Synopsis
A rat must solve the case of a missing iguana with the help of a secret society of classroom pets.and#160;Illustrated by New York Times best-seller Brian Lies!
Synopsis
When Malcolm the rat arrives as the pet at McKenna School, he revels in the attention. He also meets the Midnight Academy, a secret society of classroom pets that keeps the nutters (kids) safe. Thereand#8217;s just one problemand#8230;rats have a terrible reputation! So when the Academyand#8217;s iguana leader is kidnapped, Malcolm must prove his innocenceand#8212;and that even rats can be good guys. Illustrated by Brian Lies of Bats at the Beach, this engaging middle-grade novel will have readers rooting for Malcolm as they try to solve the mystery alongside him.
Synopsis
A rat, a missing iguana, and a mystery all converge in this funny andand#160;heart-warming middle grade novel illustrated by New York Times best-seller Brian Lies.
About the Author
Elise Broach is the New York Times bestselling author of books for children and young adults, including Desert Crossing and Shakespeares Secret, as well as several picture books. Her books have been selected as ALA notable books, Junior Library Guild selections, an E.B. White Read Aloud Award, and nominated for an Edgar Award, among other distinctions. Ms. Broach holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in history from Yale University. She was born in Georgia and lives in the woods of rural Connecticut, walking distance from three farms, a library, a post office and two country stores. Kelly Murphy has illustrated many books for children including Hush Little Dragon. She lives in North Attleboro, Massachusetts.