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Masterpiece
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 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.
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.
292 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2008
211 people are currently reading
3799 people want to read
About the author
Elise Broach
32 books148 followersElise Broach is the New York Times bestselling author of children's books including Masterpiece, Shakespeare's Secret, Desert Crossing, Missing on Superstition Mountain (the first book in the Superstition Mountain Trilogy) as well as several picture books. Her books have been selected as ALA notable books, Junior Library Guild selections, a Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book, a New York Public Library Best Book for the Teenage, an IRA Teacher's Choice, 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.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/eliseb...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/eliseb...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 939 reviews
February 16, 2009
I read this book out loud in the car while my friend, and fellow author, Kathy Whitehead and I drove across the Texas plains from Abilene to College Station.
The rhythm of the prose, the pacing, the language all come together to create the perfect read-aloud. I also want to add that there are some small bits of humor throughout that I think might be lost in silent reading. But Kathy and I found ourselves laughing out loud in dozens of subtle spots.
Well done, Ms. Broach! The story is surprising and suspenseful, and readers of all ages will gain a new appreciation for art, art history and beetles, not to mention the most important aspect of the book--friendship.
I feel lucky that in fact I got to share it with a friend. Made it all the more meaningful.
Yes. This book is a keeper.
The rhythm of the prose, the pacing, the language all come together to create the perfect read-aloud. I also want to add that there are some small bits of humor throughout that I think might be lost in silent reading. But Kathy and I found ourselves laughing out loud in dozens of subtle spots.
Well done, Ms. Broach! The story is surprising and suspenseful, and readers of all ages will gain a new appreciation for art, art history and beetles, not to mention the most important aspect of the book--friendship.
I feel lucky that in fact I got to share it with a friend. Made it all the more meaningful.
Yes. This book is a keeper.
January 24, 2020
“The most important things in a friendship didn't have to be said out loud.”
Did you think that beetles were unpleasant little creatures whose only talent was to steal scraps of food, scare your mom and - supposedly - survive a nuclear apocalypse? Well, think again, because Marvin the beetle has one very special talent: he is an illustrator. That's right: he can draw miniatures with incredible talent, and this unusual ability will catapult him and his human friend James into an incredible adventure.
This book was cute and funny, with a wholesome message about the values of respect, justice, friendship and truth. It reminded me very much of the movie Ratatouille, which I love. The story itself was a little dull, and sometimes it felt like the author was dragging it a little bit by inserting some unrelated events just to make it longer. But overall, what made this book so enjoyable for me was the artwork. I absolutely adore the illustrations of this book, and I think the artist, Kelly Murphy, has a great talent. I would love to see some of her other works! This is exactly the kind of illustration I like in children's books, and it made this one three times more interesting for me. I think I wouldn't even read it if it wasn't for the artwork; but I also think that for a child it would definitely be an interesting story, if only a little boring sometimes, but for the rest packed with action. Also Marvin is adorable! :)
Did you think that beetles were unpleasant little creatures whose only talent was to steal scraps of food, scare your mom and - supposedly - survive a nuclear apocalypse? Well, think again, because Marvin the beetle has one very special talent: he is an illustrator. That's right: he can draw miniatures with incredible talent, and this unusual ability will catapult him and his human friend James into an incredible adventure.
This book was cute and funny, with a wholesome message about the values of respect, justice, friendship and truth. It reminded me very much of the movie Ratatouille, which I love. The story itself was a little dull, and sometimes it felt like the author was dragging it a little bit by inserting some unrelated events just to make it longer. But overall, what made this book so enjoyable for me was the artwork. I absolutely adore the illustrations of this book, and I think the artist, Kelly Murphy, has a great talent. I would love to see some of her other works! This is exactly the kind of illustration I like in children's books, and it made this one three times more interesting for me. I think I wouldn't even read it if it wasn't for the artwork; but I also think that for a child it would definitely be an interesting story, if only a little boring sometimes, but for the rest packed with action. Also Marvin is adorable! :)
November 8, 2013
While in Wichita Falls, I finished reading Masterpiece, by Elise Broach. A really fun read. Boy meets beetle. Beetle turns out to be a gifted artist. Boy and beetle help foil a major art heist. It's like a combination of Chasing Vermeer and Cricket in Times Square. Check it out.
August 10, 2022
With her 2008 middle grade novel Masterpiece Elise Broach demonstrates to her young readers the intersection between two very different worlds, how behind a wall in the fancy Upper East Side (NYC) kitchen of the Pompaday family lives a chatty and cheerful insect family, with mother and father Beetle doting on their son Marvin, all of course unbeknownst to the Pompadays, especially the arrogant, status-conscious, real-estate-selling mother and her perpetually grouchy second husband, and where unlike with beetle boy Marvin's nearest and dearest, family love and acceptance is indeed in very short supply. For in and throughout Masterpiece Mrs. Pompaday is depicted by Elise Broach as being totally emotionally distant and massively insensitive to the needs of her lonely 11-year-old son, James, who misses his biological (and artistic) father and wishes his parents had not gotten divorced, and where Marvin, observing James in secret, longs to befriend the boy (although in my opinion, other than a generic sympathy one might feel for an unhappy outsider and stranger, it does feel a trifle strange and rather beggaring belief that Elise Broach never really manages to textually and specifically convey all that well within the pages of Masterpiece why Marvin in fact so desperately wants to befriend the rather undemonstrative and taciturn James, other than the fact that James did actively refrain from stomping on Marvin when they had a chance encounter in the kitchen).
But well, Marvin the beetle does indeed feel the urge to bridge the gap between his (insect) world and James' (human) world, and on the night of James’s birthday party, Marvin leaves a gift for James, but then gets seduced by one of James' birthday gifts, a bottle of ink and some paper (with Marvin dipping his front legs into the ink then creating a perfectly rendered miniature replica of the wintry scene outside). And of course, when Marvin's aesthetically delightful drawing is discovered in the morning, first by James and then by his family, the latter bien sûr assume James to be the artist, hypocritically start oohingly gushing over James' supposed genius and talent, but also and immediately want to sell the drawing (responses that might feel a trifle forced and artificial at first, but are also rather realistic and unsurprising, considering how much in Masterpiece Elise Broach depicts James' mother in particular as absolutely and utterly materialistic and only interesting in making money and selling estate, but yes, said attitude certainly does destroy and subvert the pure joy of creating and making art by causing the artist to become overly aware of the presence of critics and that art is supposedly and sadly first and foremost meant to be sold as a commodity).
And while the art heist and mystery aspect of Masterpiece (which occurs when a museum curator likens Marvin's drawing to those of Albrecht Dürer) certainly makes Masterpiece exciting and increasingly fast moving, any sense that Masterpiece might first and foremost be about the unfolding and the appreciation of Marvin's talent and creative impulses (and the developing friendship between beetle and boy, between Marvin and James) is sadly muddied and majorly diminished by this, leaving Masterpiece at least for me as a story with a number of promising narrative and thematic threads, but as ultimately rather fizzling out with regard to what indeed should be most essential and important here (art for art's sake and that both art and friendship need to be about universality and diversity, that with regard to the creative process, monetary values should not at all count or at least only count for very little).
But well, Marvin the beetle does indeed feel the urge to bridge the gap between his (insect) world and James' (human) world, and on the night of James’s birthday party, Marvin leaves a gift for James, but then gets seduced by one of James' birthday gifts, a bottle of ink and some paper (with Marvin dipping his front legs into the ink then creating a perfectly rendered miniature replica of the wintry scene outside). And of course, when Marvin's aesthetically delightful drawing is discovered in the morning, first by James and then by his family, the latter bien sûr assume James to be the artist, hypocritically start oohingly gushing over James' supposed genius and talent, but also and immediately want to sell the drawing (responses that might feel a trifle forced and artificial at first, but are also rather realistic and unsurprising, considering how much in Masterpiece Elise Broach depicts James' mother in particular as absolutely and utterly materialistic and only interesting in making money and selling estate, but yes, said attitude certainly does destroy and subvert the pure joy of creating and making art by causing the artist to become overly aware of the presence of critics and that art is supposedly and sadly first and foremost meant to be sold as a commodity).
And while the art heist and mystery aspect of Masterpiece (which occurs when a museum curator likens Marvin's drawing to those of Albrecht Dürer) certainly makes Masterpiece exciting and increasingly fast moving, any sense that Masterpiece might first and foremost be about the unfolding and the appreciation of Marvin's talent and creative impulses (and the developing friendship between beetle and boy, between Marvin and James) is sadly muddied and majorly diminished by this, leaving Masterpiece at least for me as a story with a number of promising narrative and thematic threads, but as ultimately rather fizzling out with regard to what indeed should be most essential and important here (art for art's sake and that both art and friendship need to be about universality and diversity, that with regard to the creative process, monetary values should not at all count or at least only count for very little).
July 11, 2017
Приобрела опасную привычку - закупать сыну книги "впрок", а то "вдруг не переиздадут". "Шедевр" подойдёт лет на 9-12, так что ему ждать ещё ой сколько, а я сегодня прочла с превеликим удовольствием. Книгу о дружбе жучка с мальчиком, о рисовании, Дюрере, Метрополитен-музее и коварном арт-преступнике с East 76th street особенно классно прочитать, только что вернувшись из Нью-Йорка, где ты жил на Восемьдесят третьей, в пятнадцати минутах от того самого музея.
June 28, 2013
An engaging story that is part art heist and part The Borrowers with a dash of Metamorphosis. Both boy and beetle here are so sweet and endearing. I read this when I was pregnant with my son and it is one I would definitely like to share with him when he is older. A few parts of the art heist seemed a bit too neat and tidy and sometimes the jump from beetle world to human world was a bit discordant but overall I really enjoyed the story and loved out protagonists. Also has some of the best passages I've ever read about the creative process and muse. And a nice father/ son story, too.
October 10, 2008
The central story of Marvin and Jame's friendship and the art heist are tender/thrilling in turns. There is a problem with the pacing when too much time is spent on tangential details (too many lists of things that the beetles do or eat) or the beetle's lifestyle, for example, that turtle in the tank chapter does not move the plot along, does not come into play later in the story. Some trimming and tightening of the plot would have made this one of the better mysteries for children... but the tension and momentum is often interrupted by the need to preach. I think young readers would have the faculty to deduce some of the messages by the behaviors and thoughts of the participants in the story without being told overtly by the narrator.
I am not sure how I feel about the gray areas regarding the art theft and the whole lying about Marvin's pictures part: especially the resolution of this aspect is that James had to suffer a pretty serious hand/bone injury. On the one hand, I like that the "bad guys" get away: James was never found out and Denny is still at large. This is not all about Justice. It is about the dilemmas that friendship often presents.
I am not sure how I feel about the gray areas regarding the art theft and the whole lying about Marvin's pictures part: especially the resolution of this aspect is that James had to suffer a pretty serious hand/bone injury. On the one hand, I like that the "bad guys" get away: James was never found out and Denny is still at large. This is not all about Justice. It is about the dilemmas that friendship often presents.
December 11, 2010
E.B. White, George Selden. Sophisticated little animals. Manhattanites of yesteryear, with their glib savoir faire and urban obtuseness. Witty, well-chosen language. It’s counterintuitive that it still sells.
‘Stuart Little’ and ‘The Cricket in Times Square’ still do, thankfully. People just won’t give up on literate, if retrograde, children’s literature, because reading it, particularly reading it aloud, remains such a delight.
‘Masterpiece’ could have been published 50 years ago with hardly a raised eyebrow at anachronism. It’s the story of a family of beetles (they wouldn’t be cockroaches, would they, even if that is far more likely) who live under the kitchen sink in the Pompadays’ (love that) apartment.
James Pompaday, an insecure eleven-year-old, forms a secret friendship with the artistic member of the beetle family, Marvin. Because of Marvin’s skill, James’s superficial mother and stepfather, as well as his earnest, estranged father—there’s something that might not have flown in 1960—come to believe that James can use pen and ink as adroitly as, say, Albrecht Durer.
It’s a clever premise that allows Elise Broach to introduce young readers to the world of medieval art curatorship, and more thrillingly, to the history of art theft. It’s up to James, and especially Marvin, to solve a most daring heist—from the New York Museum of Modern Art, no less.
Marvin, James, and the lovely MOMA caretaker Christina Balcony are an engaging trio of lead characters. The Pompadays and Marvin’s family add some nice comic relief. Kelly Murphy’s pen-and-ink illustrations are a perfect thematic match with the text, a mystery that holds onto the necessary suspense and excitement.
Broach’s homage to White and Selden earns her a place on bookshelves next to them.
Recommended for fourth graders on up.
‘Stuart Little’ and ‘The Cricket in Times Square’ still do, thankfully. People just won’t give up on literate, if retrograde, children’s literature, because reading it, particularly reading it aloud, remains such a delight.
‘Masterpiece’ could have been published 50 years ago with hardly a raised eyebrow at anachronism. It’s the story of a family of beetles (they wouldn’t be cockroaches, would they, even if that is far more likely) who live under the kitchen sink in the Pompadays’ (love that) apartment.
James Pompaday, an insecure eleven-year-old, forms a secret friendship with the artistic member of the beetle family, Marvin. Because of Marvin’s skill, James’s superficial mother and stepfather, as well as his earnest, estranged father—there’s something that might not have flown in 1960—come to believe that James can use pen and ink as adroitly as, say, Albrecht Durer.
It’s a clever premise that allows Elise Broach to introduce young readers to the world of medieval art curatorship, and more thrillingly, to the history of art theft. It’s up to James, and especially Marvin, to solve a most daring heist—from the New York Museum of Modern Art, no less.
Marvin, James, and the lovely MOMA caretaker Christina Balcony are an engaging trio of lead characters. The Pompadays and Marvin’s family add some nice comic relief. Kelly Murphy’s pen-and-ink illustrations are a perfect thematic match with the text, a mystery that holds onto the necessary suspense and excitement.
Broach’s homage to White and Selden earns her a place on bookshelves next to them.
Recommended for fourth graders on up.
March 24, 2021
I read this to my son at bedtime and we both really enjoyed it. It had a great plot - I honestly wasn't expecting a book about a bug with art talent who gets caught up in the high stakes world of art forgery through contacts at the Met, but there you go. This just feels a bit more ambitious than some children's books. And suspenseful too! Good climactic action at the end. Kid was on the edge of his bed.
It was fun too...Broach is really good at keeping things to a believable level of action. The beetle never does things a beetle can't do. She doesn't just invent some implausible way for the beetle and kid to communicate. Like the beetle can type or something. I know it is an odd thing to say about a book about a beetle art genius, but everything feels grounded in reality. I appreciated that.
And I liked that the story was based around real art, we looked up all the drawings later.
It was fun too...Broach is really good at keeping things to a believable level of action. The beetle never does things a beetle can't do. She doesn't just invent some implausible way for the beetle and kid to communicate. Like the beetle can type or something. I know it is an odd thing to say about a book about a beetle art genius, but everything feels grounded in reality. I appreciated that.
And I liked that the story was based around real art, we looked up all the drawings later.
November 24, 2019
Middle grade art heist mystery narrated by a beetle that can't talk or write in English (though he can understand English and tell time). I liked this middle grade story better than the derivative chapter book series featuring these same characters, mainly because the author had more room to develop the characters and their relationships. Still, I needed James and Marvin to grapple with James taking credit for Marvin's work and talent, but that was glossed over too quickly and peacefully - a lost opportunity to explore a gray area in a book focused on friendship. Also, the story dragged in places.
March 23, 2009
Cute story from the perspective of a beetle. Imagines his life in the kitchen cabinet of a New York apartment, and his friend with the boy who lives there. Turns out, Marvin (our beetle friend) is a fabulous artist, skillful enough to imitate the greats. Thus begins an art theft adventure, with Marvin venturing further from his home than ever before.
Old-fashioned (includes some illustrations), cool art element, appeals to lovers of the borrowers. Engaging, nonthreatening and sweet. Worth booktalking to the 5th-6th grade crowd.
Old-fashioned (includes some illustrations), cool art element, appeals to lovers of the borrowers. Engaging, nonthreatening and sweet. Worth booktalking to the 5th-6th grade crowd.
March 29, 2022
I grabbed this book off the shelf to read to my students, solely because the plot was so unusual. It didn't disappoint. Featuring a talented beetle, an unassuming boy, and an art robbery, this book was full of twists and turns that kept my students invested.
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March 17, 2024*MH READS 2024*
February 11, 2019
What I liked about the story was the sweet relationship between the boy and the beetle. There were a few parts of the story we got into but a lot of it we read just to get it done.
January 3, 2009
This is a delightful book. The first few chapters were lacking in originality (similar to The Borrowers and Stuart Little), but the author moved beyond that into something creative. I read Terry Pratchett's books about tiny beings, and they were so blatantly derivative of The Borrowers that I couldn't even enjoy them; not the case here. (I also decided that there are some situations that just come naturally when you're talking about tiny creatures in a world of humans. Just as human parents warn kids to look both ways so they don't get run over, tiny parents are going to warn tiny kids about not getting eaten by household pets.)
Almost always when I read fiction about art, especially for kids, there are inaccuracies that really annoy me--like referring to Leonardo da Vinci as "da Vinci", stuff like that--but I found nothing like that here. Durer isn't an artist I really know that much about, but there was nothing obviously wrong that I saw. I did wish that Marvin had been practicing art all along, rather than suddenly producing a masterpiece; that would have been more believable to me, and also got across the point that no one (even Durer) is a master from the beginning. This is brought up with James later, but isn't really strong enough to counteract the sudden-genius thing.
There were moments of genuine suspense--even though I was sure this was going to be an inside job from the beginning, I wasn't sure who was going to be behind it. I don't understand why other reviewers seem to have moral questions about the book. The author makes it clear that art theft is wrong, wrong, wrong. And heartbreaking, too.
The book is a little shallow and obvious for a Newbery, but I think I'm going to nominate it on the Goodreads list anyway for kicks--I thought it was better than some of the other books on there.
(And for the record, I think this is better than Chasing Vermeer--the art history is handled a lot better, and the story arc is clearer; I didn't go for the coincidence storyline in CB--and it's certainly better than the two sequels, and better than The Theft and the Miracle.)
Almost always when I read fiction about art, especially for kids, there are inaccuracies that really annoy me--like referring to Leonardo da Vinci as "da Vinci", stuff like that--but I found nothing like that here. Durer isn't an artist I really know that much about, but there was nothing obviously wrong that I saw. I did wish that Marvin had been practicing art all along, rather than suddenly producing a masterpiece; that would have been more believable to me, and also got across the point that no one (even Durer) is a master from the beginning. This is brought up with James later, but isn't really strong enough to counteract the sudden-genius thing.
There were moments of genuine suspense--even though I was sure this was going to be an inside job from the beginning, I wasn't sure who was going to be behind it. I don't understand why other reviewers seem to have moral questions about the book. The author makes it clear that art theft is wrong, wrong, wrong. And heartbreaking, too.
The book is a little shallow and obvious for a Newbery, but I think I'm going to nominate it on the Goodreads list anyway for kicks--I thought it was better than some of the other books on there.
(And for the record, I think this is better than Chasing Vermeer--the art history is handled a lot better, and the story arc is clearer; I didn't go for the coincidence storyline in CB--and it's certainly better than the two sequels, and better than The Theft and the Miracle.)
July 25, 2013
This book was wonderful in so many ways - we all just loved it. It was fun to read aloud and we couldn't wait to see how it ended. The story takes a very strange turn so it was tough to read it and not stop over and over to say things like "What is going on NOW?" and that made it even more fun. We needed a pause button on my voice, if that were at all possible.
Saying this book is about a boy with a beetle for a friend is really not enough. It has the beauty of Charlotte's Web in it because the insect sacrifices so much to try and make things better for his human friend. One of my daughters felt it reminded her of The Cricket in Times Square and I agree. What better way to describe a book than to compare it to two of the sweetest stories ever written for kids (with Garth William's fantastic illustrations in both). This book is a winner for a family to read out loud or inspire a kid if they read it alone.
I always like books that give a bit of extra to a kid and 'Masterpiece' does that by introducing the world of a famous art gallery, extra background on art theft and how they are solved, Renaissance art (!),plus that always absorbing behind-the-scenes look at what life is like for an insect. All those groovy details like using a cotton ball for a bed, and a bottle cap to hold a salad. Elise Broach takes this element of the book to extreme detail and even has her little beetle hero (Marvin) regularly make life easier for his human family and begins the book with a daredevil dive into the bathroom sink to rescue a contact lens.
We'll be giving this book as a gift and will be passing it on to any kid who walks by me in the biblio. Oh, we're waiting for Broach's Shakespeare's Secret to come to us through the HOLDS list. And, don't miss Elise Broach's web site. It is filled with great stuff about her books. We loved it, too.
Saying this book is about a boy with a beetle for a friend is really not enough. It has the beauty of Charlotte's Web in it because the insect sacrifices so much to try and make things better for his human friend. One of my daughters felt it reminded her of The Cricket in Times Square and I agree. What better way to describe a book than to compare it to two of the sweetest stories ever written for kids (with Garth William's fantastic illustrations in both). This book is a winner for a family to read out loud or inspire a kid if they read it alone.
I always like books that give a bit of extra to a kid and 'Masterpiece' does that by introducing the world of a famous art gallery, extra background on art theft and how they are solved, Renaissance art (!),plus that always absorbing behind-the-scenes look at what life is like for an insect. All those groovy details like using a cotton ball for a bed, and a bottle cap to hold a salad. Elise Broach takes this element of the book to extreme detail and even has her little beetle hero (Marvin) regularly make life easier for his human family and begins the book with a daredevil dive into the bathroom sink to rescue a contact lens.
We'll be giving this book as a gift and will be passing it on to any kid who walks by me in the biblio. Oh, we're waiting for Broach's Shakespeare's Secret to come to us through the HOLDS list. And, don't miss Elise Broach's web site. It is filled with great stuff about her books. We loved it, too.
September 22, 2017
Masterpiece is the story of a boy and his beetle. Eleven year old James lives with his mom, stepdad and baby brother in an apartment on the Upper West Side of NYC; Marvin the beetle lives in the wall behind their kitchen sink. Through remarkable circumstances, James and Marvin end up as friends helping to foil a great art heist. This great read aloud gives us peeks into several worlds: that Roald Dahl world of clever children with adults who don't always pay attention; the beetle world in which we hear how Marvin's family survives (similar to The Borrowers!); the art world in which tiny drawings by Albrecht Durer can be worth a million dollars or more and a tiny slip-up can cause people to lose their jobs and go to jail. There's something in this book for both the youngest reader and the more sophisticated one, and the charming drawings just add to the allure.
This books flirts with a few scary things: Marvin has to outwit a turtle, James must outwit an art thief, but nothing is too scary that a cuddle and a conversation won't fix. I also think this title would appeal to multiple levels of readers. The youngest readers will enjoy being read aloud to or will gain help from the excellent illustrations by Kelly Murphy; older readers will breeze through as they read for the adventure and to solve the mystery.
I highly recommend Masterpiece by Elise Broach because it feels timeless like the best children's books of Blume, Dahl and Norton and yet also teaches us readers about worlds that most of us will never inhabit. The charming friendship between human and beast just provides the icing on the cake.
This books flirts with a few scary things: Marvin has to outwit a turtle, James must outwit an art thief, but nothing is too scary that a cuddle and a conversation won't fix. I also think this title would appeal to multiple levels of readers. The youngest readers will enjoy being read aloud to or will gain help from the excellent illustrations by Kelly Murphy; older readers will breeze through as they read for the adventure and to solve the mystery.
I highly recommend Masterpiece by Elise Broach because it feels timeless like the best children's books of Blume, Dahl and Norton and yet also teaches us readers about worlds that most of us will never inhabit. The charming friendship between human and beast just provides the icing on the cake.
February 12, 2023
Update: It was wonderful to listen to this audiobook with M. during our commutes to and from school. It was as magical and darling as I remembered it, and the storytelling was so well paced, with good shock value and character/relationship development. Loved it so much.
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I enjoyed reading this little book so much that I spread it out over a few days despite it being a typical late elementary school length. So fun.
The characters are sweet (James is darling and Marvin is wonderful too... his little beetle family is also fun) and the story charming. I love the art heist storyline and thought the twists were great for kids. Sure -- they're pretty predictable for adults, but I am excited to read this one aloud to our kids soon. It's a shame that Broach doesn't seem as well known, but I think this book is a lighter, younger version of the other anthropomorphized animal classics. I just discovered that she made a series of these, so I'm curious about those. It'd be fun to read them all aloud in sequence if the subsequent ones are as fun.
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I enjoyed reading this little book so much that I spread it out over a few days despite it being a typical late elementary school length. So fun.
The characters are sweet (James is darling and Marvin is wonderful too... his little beetle family is also fun) and the story charming. I love the art heist storyline and thought the twists were great for kids. Sure -- they're pretty predictable for adults, but I am excited to read this one aloud to our kids soon. It's a shame that Broach doesn't seem as well known, but I think this book is a lighter, younger version of the other anthropomorphized animal classics. I just discovered that she made a series of these, so I'm curious about those. It'd be fun to read them all aloud in sequence if the subsequent ones are as fun.
April 19, 2018
The book had an interesting main character. His name was Marvin and he is a beetle. He is a nice, kind, and helpful little creature. He wanted to help one a boy by painting a picture for him. Little did he know but that picture will lead him to a mystery. It was a pretty fast read and I do recommend it for artist lovers and mystery lovers. But it was not the best mystery book I have read, and I have read a lot.
October 20, 2020
This story was a joy to read. It's so cute and heartwarming and the illustrations are adorable. It's full of action and good messages about friendship. I highly recommend this for a fun read, especially for kids (7-12 give or take). I'm 31 and I enjoyed it!!
July 30, 2009
A sweet story of the unlikely friendship between Marvin, a black beetle, and James, a lonely boy. This would make a great read aloud for 8-10 year olds.
May 11, 2019
Synopsis
Marvin is a beetle. He and his family live behind the kitchen cabinets in the Pompaday's New York City apartment. James Pompaday and Marvin become fast friends when James discovers that Marvin has a fantastic ability to draw intricate, little drawings. Of course, it's this skill and the fact that James' parents think that he is the one that is making the drawings, that James and Marvin are drawn into a scheme to fake the burglary of a famous Albrecht Dürer drawing from the MET art museum. Will James and Marvin be able to recreate the famous drawing? Will Marvin make it safely back home, or will he be lost at the art museum forever?
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Initial Thoughts
I read this book aloud to my kids over the course of about two months, and to be perfectly honest, at first I was bored. The story did not capture my attention, and I think the kids were having a hard time paying attention to it as well. My daughter had already read the book for school, so she already knew what was going to happen. Some of the characters really bothered me, and the story seemed to have a slow start. However, having said all that, if you can stick it out to the end, it's actually a great read. This book presents a fair number of opportunities for you to have some serious life discussions with your kids, especially if you are willing to read the book along with them.
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Quotes and Other Thoughts
Why is forgiveness important to you? Have you been forgiven for something that you did? Have you forgiven someone else for some hurt they brought into your life?
Dürer's four virtues, Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude, and Justice all embody admirable traits that any person would be better for possessing. James recognizes, with wisdom beyond his age, that these aren't the only good traits a person can have. When it is discovered who stole the drawing, James' inclination is to offer forgiveness. I'm proud of the little guy for that. Forgiveness is not something that comes easily to too many of us. Instead, we want justice. We want people to pay for their crimes, no matter how big or small. I'm not suggesting that there shouldn't be consequences for our actions, but anyone who has the courage and strength to offer forgiveness is a better person for it.
How has society changed since you were young? Would you trust your young children to go "exploring" outside without any supervision? Why or why not?
Marvin spends a great deal of time contemplating some heavy topics such as friendship and forgiveness. He is surrounded throughout the story by members of his family, but James is really his only friend. Don't get me wrong, he loves his family, but I think he is feeling a stifled by his family. He wants to learn and explore, but his family is continually reminding him of the dangers he could face. Marvin has to weigh the consequences of putting himself at risk versus choosing not to help his friend in a time of great need. That's a tough decision to make at any age!
When I was young, I remember having a great deal of freedom to go "exploring," but I can't imagine letting my kids go down to the creek at the bottom of the hill to explore on their own. I guess I've just been programmed that there are too many weirdos out there for me to believe that my kids will be safe. It's sad because they are missing out on opportunities to learn on their own and to develop a sense of independence. I believe that it is our job to keep our kids safe, but also to help them learn to operate on their own so that when they grow up and go out on their own, they don't need me to hold their hand through all of life's experiences (good or bad). What are your thoughts on this?
Both James and Marvin are very young (somewhere between 10 and 12 years of age, I think). For most of the story, James and Marvin are with James' father, but there is one part where they venture off on their own, walking 12 blocks in New York City on their adventure to find the stolen Dürer drawing. I can't for a second imagine being OK with letting my young son (or daughter for that matter) walk by themselves anywhere in our neighborhood, let alone a big city. Now granted, James did not get permission to do this, and his father was extremely worried about him while he was missing, so I'm not saying that James' father was in favor of James' actions. Marvin's family was equally distraught when Marvin went missing overnight! This part of the story might give you an excellent opportunity to talk with your kids about how our world is changing and how sometimes you won't let them do certain things because you love them and you want them to be safe.
I appreciated how both James and Marvin were loved by their families and that their families, while perhaps a *tad overprotective*, were only behaving in this way because of their love.
What do you think about this statement?
This is something that I have struggled with for a while. How do you find a balance between taking risks and taking the safe route? Risk, by its definition, means that there is the potential for danger, injury, or loss of something valuable to you. The fear of the unknown can prevent us, and avoid those we love, from genuinely experiencing life the way I believe it was intended to be lived. Why do you think stories of mystery and fantasy and action all appeal so much to us? It's because they are filled with characters who were willing to accept some level of risk, step into the unknown, and yes, they usually experience some pain and some hardship, but at the end of the story, they have grown because of it all.
I really like the way Matt Walker puts it in an article he wrote for Psychology Today about adventure:
From Matt Walker - Psychology Today
Adventure is so important! Sitting on your couch reading a great book about a young person defeating the bad guys against all the odds, or watching YouTube videos of other people traveling to other countries and experiencing interesting new things will only get you so far. These activities are fun, yes, but they aren't real adventures. There's no risk for you. No reward. The only way to really live is it get up, go outside and go somewhere - anywhere. This blog is all about reading great books, but everyone once in a while put the bookmark in the book and seek out your own adventure.
Do you find it easy to make new friends?
I don't, but I think that is in part due to my personality. I'm a very introverted person, happy to keep mostly to myself, so making new connections with people is difficult for me. It takes a lot of work.
I suppose that as a function of the difficulty I have in making new friends, my circle of close friends consists of only a few people that I have known for many years. These are the people I would trust my life with. Marvin and James found this kind of kindred spirit in one another. Although they couldn't speak to each other, they found a way to understand one another.
---
What you will find in this book:
- Language (e.g., cursing): None
- Age-appropriate relationships (e.g., romance, etc.): None
- Tone (how the characters speak to/treat each other): It bothered me the way James' mother spoke. She was always so hard and condescending. Her character was entirely self-serving, always looking for ways that she might benefit from her family, her friends, and even her children. Her first thought when she saw James' drawing was how much she might be able to sell it for.
- Other Sensitive Topics: In this story, James' parents are divorced. The author doesn't dwell on the topic or really discuss how the divorce impacts James, but it is an everpresent reality in James' life. His mother openly displays her disdain for James' father, Karl, but yet she prominently displays his art, which her new husband can't stand.
Overall, I did not find any of the content in the story objectionable or worthy of caution. While it took me a while to get into the story, I thought it made for a good story for young children.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below, or use the information in the following image to contact me via social media or email.
Marvin is a beetle. He and his family live behind the kitchen cabinets in the Pompaday's New York City apartment. James Pompaday and Marvin become fast friends when James discovers that Marvin has a fantastic ability to draw intricate, little drawings. Of course, it's this skill and the fact that James' parents think that he is the one that is making the drawings, that James and Marvin are drawn into a scheme to fake the burglary of a famous Albrecht Dürer drawing from the MET art museum. Will James and Marvin be able to recreate the famous drawing? Will Marvin make it safely back home, or will he be lost at the art museum forever?
---
Initial Thoughts
I read this book aloud to my kids over the course of about two months, and to be perfectly honest, at first I was bored. The story did not capture my attention, and I think the kids were having a hard time paying attention to it as well. My daughter had already read the book for school, so she already knew what was going to happen. Some of the characters really bothered me, and the story seemed to have a slow start. However, having said all that, if you can stick it out to the end, it's actually a great read. This book presents a fair number of opportunities for you to have some serious life discussions with your kids, especially if you are willing to read the book along with them.
---
Quotes and Other Thoughts
[p.263] ...[Forgiveness] was something you offered to another person, rather than something you demanded of yourself.
Why is forgiveness important to you? Have you been forgiven for something that you did? Have you forgiven someone else for some hurt they brought into your life?
Dürer's four virtues, Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude, and Justice all embody admirable traits that any person would be better for possessing. James recognizes, with wisdom beyond his age, that these aren't the only good traits a person can have. When it is discovered who stole the drawing, James' inclination is to offer forgiveness. I'm proud of the little guy for that. Forgiveness is not something that comes easily to too many of us. Instead, we want justice. We want people to pay for their crimes, no matter how big or small. I'm not suggesting that there shouldn't be consequences for our actions, but anyone who has the courage and strength to offer forgiveness is a better person for it.
[p.267] He [Marvin] was beginning to understand that some of the most irritating things his family did stemmed from the depth of their love.
How has society changed since you were young? Would you trust your young children to go "exploring" outside without any supervision? Why or why not?
Marvin spends a great deal of time contemplating some heavy topics such as friendship and forgiveness. He is surrounded throughout the story by members of his family, but James is really his only friend. Don't get me wrong, he loves his family, but I think he is feeling a stifled by his family. He wants to learn and explore, but his family is continually reminding him of the dangers he could face. Marvin has to weigh the consequences of putting himself at risk versus choosing not to help his friend in a time of great need. That's a tough decision to make at any age!
When I was young, I remember having a great deal of freedom to go "exploring," but I can't imagine letting my kids go down to the creek at the bottom of the hill to explore on their own. I guess I've just been programmed that there are too many weirdos out there for me to believe that my kids will be safe. It's sad because they are missing out on opportunities to learn on their own and to develop a sense of independence. I believe that it is our job to keep our kids safe, but also to help them learn to operate on their own so that when they grow up and go out on their own, they don't need me to hold their hand through all of life's experiences (good or bad). What are your thoughts on this?
Both James and Marvin are very young (somewhere between 10 and 12 years of age, I think). For most of the story, James and Marvin are with James' father, but there is one part where they venture off on their own, walking 12 blocks in New York City on their adventure to find the stolen Dürer drawing. I can't for a second imagine being OK with letting my young son (or daughter for that matter) walk by themselves anywhere in our neighborhood, let alone a big city. Now granted, James did not get permission to do this, and his father was extremely worried about him while he was missing, so I'm not saying that James' father was in favor of James' actions. Marvin's family was equally distraught when Marvin went missing overnight! This part of the story might give you an excellent opportunity to talk with your kids about how our world is changing and how sometimes you won't let them do certain things because you love them and you want them to be safe.
I appreciated how both James and Marvin were loved by their families and that their families, while perhaps a *tad overprotective*, were only behaving in this way because of their love.
[p.268] When you saw different parts of the world, you saw different parts of yourself. And when you stayed home, where it was safe, those parts of yourself also stayed hidden.
What do you think about this statement?
This is something that I have struggled with for a while. How do you find a balance between taking risks and taking the safe route? Risk, by its definition, means that there is the potential for danger, injury, or loss of something valuable to you. The fear of the unknown can prevent us, and avoid those we love, from genuinely experiencing life the way I believe it was intended to be lived. Why do you think stories of mystery and fantasy and action all appeal so much to us? It's because they are filled with characters who were willing to accept some level of risk, step into the unknown, and yes, they usually experience some pain and some hardship, but at the end of the story, they have grown because of it all.
I really like the way Matt Walker puts it in an article he wrote for Psychology Today about adventure:
At the core, adventure is the willingness to commit to an uncertain outcome with an open heart and a willingness to learn and engage. It is the ability to take a leap into the unknown with mindfulness and grace.
From Matt Walker - Psychology Today
Adventure is so important! Sitting on your couch reading a great book about a young person defeating the bad guys against all the odds, or watching YouTube videos of other people traveling to other countries and experiencing interesting new things will only get you so far. These activities are fun, yes, but they aren't real adventures. There's no risk for you. No reward. The only way to really live is it get up, go outside and go somewhere - anywhere. This blog is all about reading great books, but everyone once in a while put the bookmark in the book and seek out your own adventure.
[p.287] A great friendship was like a great work of art, he thought. It took time and attention, and a spark of something that was impossible to describe. It was a happy, lucky accident, finding some kindred part of yourself in a total stranger.
Do you find it easy to make new friends?
I don't, but I think that is in part due to my personality. I'm a very introverted person, happy to keep mostly to myself, so making new connections with people is difficult for me. It takes a lot of work.
I suppose that as a function of the difficulty I have in making new friends, my circle of close friends consists of only a few people that I have known for many years. These are the people I would trust my life with. Marvin and James found this kind of kindred spirit in one another. Although they couldn't speak to each other, they found a way to understand one another.
---
What you will find in this book:
- Language (e.g., cursing): None
- Age-appropriate relationships (e.g., romance, etc.): None
- Tone (how the characters speak to/treat each other): It bothered me the way James' mother spoke. She was always so hard and condescending. Her character was entirely self-serving, always looking for ways that she might benefit from her family, her friends, and even her children. Her first thought when she saw James' drawing was how much she might be able to sell it for.
- Other Sensitive Topics: In this story, James' parents are divorced. The author doesn't dwell on the topic or really discuss how the divorce impacts James, but it is an everpresent reality in James' life. His mother openly displays her disdain for James' father, Karl, but yet she prominently displays his art, which her new husband can't stand.
Overall, I did not find any of the content in the story objectionable or worthy of caution. While it took me a while to get into the story, I thought it made for a good story for young children.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below, or use the information in the following image to contact me via social media or email.
December 15, 2022
In Masterpiece, by Elise Broach, a young boy meets a bug named Marvin. Marvin lives in the same apartment as the young boy, James. When James gets a pen and ink set for his birthday, he isn't very interested in it at all, but the next morning, Marvin the bug had left him a beautiful art piece that he made using the pen and ink set. Later on, James' parents find the artwork, and think James made it. From then on, James and Marvin try to keep their “secret” about who actually is making the beautiful artwork, and eventually catch a criminal art thief with James' dad.
I personally loved this book, because it was an easy and light read, but still had interesting aspects to it that kept me interested. Although it was directed towards younger audiences, it still had intrigue and good storytelling throughout.
I think the writer's objective was to provide a heartwarming story about two unlikely friends having fun, and solving problems together. I definitely think the author achieved this, because the book was a nice fun read, that left you feeling happy and content throughout the ups and downs of the story.
I found the book very engaging, because of the simple but yet complex plot line that kept me entertained, and I would recommend this book to others if they want a pleasant light read that will boost their spirits.
I think the intended audience for this book is for young kids/ young adults, but I can see it appealing to adult readers, because of the good plot and interesting story.
My final opinoin on this book is that it should be read more by an older audience, it's an amazing book with beautiful storytelling that I think deserves more attention. 5/5 stars.
I personally loved this book, because it was an easy and light read, but still had interesting aspects to it that kept me interested. Although it was directed towards younger audiences, it still had intrigue and good storytelling throughout.
I think the writer's objective was to provide a heartwarming story about two unlikely friends having fun, and solving problems together. I definitely think the author achieved this, because the book was a nice fun read, that left you feeling happy and content throughout the ups and downs of the story.
I found the book very engaging, because of the simple but yet complex plot line that kept me entertained, and I would recommend this book to others if they want a pleasant light read that will boost their spirits.
I think the intended audience for this book is for young kids/ young adults, but I can see it appealing to adult readers, because of the good plot and interesting story.
My final opinoin on this book is that it should be read more by an older audience, it's an amazing book with beautiful storytelling that I think deserves more attention. 5/5 stars.
January 9, 2024
4.25 out of 5 stars!!!!
NOT ME CRYING AT THE BEETLE ARTIST BOOK
So this was just SO much fun!!!! And also just a wonderful love-letter to the act of creation, and appreciating the work of artists. Sweet, exciting, extremely tense, and comfy, this is definitely a book worth looking into if you’re interested in a Little Bug Guy making Art in order to try and prevent an Art Heist.
Some highlights of this book were the authentic-sounding diatribes about art appreciation, particularly with regard to Albrecht Dürer’s work. It got me looking up Justice myself and being completely blown away by the intricacy of his linework. The level of reverence everyone spoke of his Virtues felt earned, and I was on the edge of my seat when the switcheroo with the forgery and the real deal happened.
I was genuinely surprised by the twists and turns this early-ish middle grade book took! Such a wild and fun ride!! My favorite moments were when Marvin was desperately trying to communicate to James—all of Marvin’s limitations as a bug ramped up the thrills and heightened the stakes with such ease that I couldn’t help but get completely wrapped up in this plot! Good times!!
NOT ME CRYING AT THE BEETLE ARTIST BOOK
So this was just SO much fun!!!! And also just a wonderful love-letter to the act of creation, and appreciating the work of artists. Sweet, exciting, extremely tense, and comfy, this is definitely a book worth looking into if you’re interested in a Little Bug Guy making Art in order to try and prevent an Art Heist.
Some highlights of this book were the authentic-sounding diatribes about art appreciation, particularly with regard to Albrecht Dürer’s work. It got me looking up Justice myself and being completely blown away by the intricacy of his linework. The level of reverence everyone spoke of his Virtues felt earned, and I was on the edge of my seat when the switcheroo with the forgery and the real deal happened.
I was genuinely surprised by the twists and turns this early-ish middle grade book took! Such a wild and fun ride!! My favorite moments were when Marvin was desperately trying to communicate to James—all of Marvin’s limitations as a bug ramped up the thrills and heightened the stakes with such ease that I couldn’t help but get completely wrapped up in this plot! Good times!!
August 5, 2024
Actually DNF'ing at a little over 50%. I think this book would be interesting to its target audience - middle schoolers - although it might have to be a specific group - those interested in art and art history. I just lost interest and didn't want to take time to finish it.
August 22, 2018
Charming, whimsical and fun. Found myself smiling or chuckling over the imagery throughout the book.
January 15, 2021
This is a great fantasy tale for anyone who's ever wondered would happen if animals and bugs could talk.
May 12, 2021
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July 28, 2021read this forever ago
December 13, 2024
this was honestly so fun and sweet!! I loved it. kinda a cross between the borrowers and ‘from the mixed up files…’
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