Synopses & Reviews
Spring semester at the Lab School in Hyde Park finds Petra and Calder drawn into another mystery when unexplainable accidents and ghostly happenings throw a spotlight on Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House, and it's up to the two junior sleuths to piece together the clues. Stir in the return of Calder's friend Tommy (which creates a tense triangle), H.G. Wells's The Invisible Man, 3D pentominoes, and the hunt for a coded message left behind by Wright, and the kids become tangled in a dangerous web in which life and art intermingle with death, deception, and surprise.
Review
"Balliett's atmospheric writing encourages readers to make their own journeys of discovery into art and architecture, creating a mystery subgenre that is as unique as it is compelling." School Library Journal
Review
"[S]ome children may find this second installment more arcane than the first..." Booklist
Review
"Another tour de force blending art, math, philosophy, history and literature." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"This second book with Petra and Calder, and the effort to save another important piece of artwork, will not disappoint readers." Children's Literature
Review
"[A]nother exciting art adventure....This installment is a worthy follow-up and provides a wonderful opportunity for young readers to think about buildings as art." VOYA
Synopsis
Frank Lloyd Wright's famous building, Robie House, is in danger of being destroyed, and Calder, Petra, and Tommy also known as "the Wright 3" must use Calder's geometric brain, Petra's writing and observational skills, and Tommy's research skills to decode the cryptic messages the house seems to be sending out. This exciting Chicago mystery reunites readers with characters from the bestseller Chasing Vermeer.
About the Author
Blue Balliett grew up in New York City. She has always loved museums, always loved mysteries, and always loved hearing about things that can't be explained in the usual ways.