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Lost Art Mysteries #1
The Van Gogh Deception
When a young boy is discovered in Washington DC’s National Gallery without any recollection of who he is, so begins a high-stakes race to unravel the greatest mystery of all: his identity. As the stakes continue to rise, the boy must piece together the disjointed clues of his origins while using his limited knowledge to stop one of the greatest art frauds ever attempted.
Digitally interactive, this museum mystery offers QR codes woven throughout the book that bring renowned paintings to readers’ fingertips.
Digitally interactive, this museum mystery offers QR codes woven throughout the book that bring renowned paintings to readers’ fingertips.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published August 29, 2017
261 people are currently reading
2636 people want to read
About the author
Deron R. Hicks
7 books168 followersI live in Warm Springs, Georgia with my wife Angela, daughter Meg, and son Parker. I am a proud graduate of the University of Georgia, where I obtained a bachelor of fine arts degree in painting. Having obtained a degree in painting, I took the next logical step in life -- I went to Law school (more specifically, Mercer Law School, which I loved). After years in private practice, I had an idea for a mystery novel that I thought my children would enjoy (and that might teach them a little bit about Shakespeare). That idea turned into THE SECRETS OF SHAKESPEARE"S GRAVE. A second book followed shortly thereafter - TOWER OF THE FIVE ORDERS. And coming in 2017, a new mystery - THE VAN GOGH DECEPTION, published by HMH Books for Children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 440 reviews
November 28, 2021
Fun!
Great characters! I love Art and Camille.
It was a bit confusing at the beginning but the development of the story was done very well.
Amusing.
Suspenseful and intense. It was much more intense and contained more danger to the characters than I’d expected to read in a middle grade mystery.
Great mystery!
The story makes fine use of the Washington, D.C. settings, especially the National Gallery of Art. A not too detailed but useful pictorial map of the National Mall area is included at the front of the book and I bookmarked it and referred to it several times.
In addition to Art and Camille, I also liked Camille’s mother, Mary Sullivan and a couple of others. All the characters are interesting, even though I would say there is not much depth to most of the secondary characters.
I guess this is middle grade but the crimes aspect I wouldn’t recommend for younger middle grade readers. I am not sure but I’d say ages 9-12 most girls and most boys could enjoy this book. I think it would make a great read aloud book for families and for classrooms. It’s also a page-turner and for independent readers could be a one day book or even an in one sitting book.
I appreciated how for the Kindle edition there are QR codes to “follow the codes” and they’re clickable to see the particular art work mentioned in the story on those pages. There is the image and information about the piece and which museum and where in the museum the piece is housed. There is also a website given whose site has most of the artwork that I think can be used for audiobook and paper book readers. It was a pleasure to be able to effortlessly view the artworks as they were mentioned. For this reason this is one time I would always recommend an e-edition over audio or paper book editions.
If you do not like spoilers please do not read reviews that might have them and do not read the description fields for books 2 and 3 or any other books in this series that might be listed online. I read a couple of things before reading the book that I wish I had not seen.
I see that there are already two other books in this mystery series and I’m eager to read them. I have some ideas of what might happen with the adults as well as with the kids in the books’ stories. It will be entertaining to find out if my hunches prove true or not.
Perfect book/series for kids who enjoy mysteries, adventure, art, and museums, or any of the above. This would be a good book for kids who live in or have visited Washington, D.C. and for kids who will move to or will visit Washington, D.C.
Highly recommended!
4-1/2 stars, rounded up because it’s an excellent mystery for children and for older readers too. I enjoyed it immensely.
Great characters! I love Art and Camille.
It was a bit confusing at the beginning but the development of the story was done very well.
Amusing.
Suspenseful and intense. It was much more intense and contained more danger to the characters than I’d expected to read in a middle grade mystery.
Great mystery!
The story makes fine use of the Washington, D.C. settings, especially the National Gallery of Art. A not too detailed but useful pictorial map of the National Mall area is included at the front of the book and I bookmarked it and referred to it several times.
In addition to Art and Camille, I also liked Camille’s mother, Mary Sullivan and a couple of others. All the characters are interesting, even though I would say there is not much depth to most of the secondary characters.
I guess this is middle grade but the crimes aspect I wouldn’t recommend for younger middle grade readers. I am not sure but I’d say ages 9-12 most girls and most boys could enjoy this book. I think it would make a great read aloud book for families and for classrooms. It’s also a page-turner and for independent readers could be a one day book or even an in one sitting book.
I appreciated how for the Kindle edition there are QR codes to “follow the codes” and they’re clickable to see the particular art work mentioned in the story on those pages. There is the image and information about the piece and which museum and where in the museum the piece is housed. There is also a website given whose site has most of the artwork that I think can be used for audiobook and paper book readers. It was a pleasure to be able to effortlessly view the artworks as they were mentioned. For this reason this is one time I would always recommend an e-edition over audio or paper book editions.
If you do not like spoilers please do not read reviews that might have them and do not read the description fields for books 2 and 3 or any other books in this series that might be listed online. I read a couple of things before reading the book that I wish I had not seen.
I see that there are already two other books in this mystery series and I’m eager to read them. I have some ideas of what might happen with the adults as well as with the kids in the books’ stories. It will be entertaining to find out if my hunches prove true or not.
Perfect book/series for kids who enjoy mysteries, adventure, art, and museums, or any of the above. This would be a good book for kids who live in or have visited Washington, D.C. and for kids who will move to or will visit Washington, D.C.
Highly recommended!
4-1/2 stars, rounded up because it’s an excellent mystery for children and for older readers too. I enjoyed it immensely.
January 21, 2021
{3 stars for my personal rating, but I hesitate to give this rating for actual middle grade readers--see my notes below on that.}
Well, this was a fun book.
Think Home Alone meets the art forgery with a dash of The Mysterious Benedict Society. I thought it was really fun and well-done. Before starting, I noticed a couple reviews mentioned being very confused until the ending (which I can see why), so I went in with the mindset that everything was important and store it all on the back burner. This really was so funand I'm looking forward to reading the second book.
Edit to add: I ended up DNFing the second book due to political comments and only focusing/commenting on females with gay or liberal backgrounds. Disappointed, but not surprised.
(I read this book as a e-book from my library and I really liked the QR codes thrown in throughout the book to see the art being discussed. That was a neat feature!)
Content:
I can't quite figure out the age range for this book--I'm assuming middle grade--but there was a few comments/parts that would make me hesitate giving it to a younger middle grade reader. Such as our main characters (ages 12 and 10) are kidnapped and the bad guys aim stun guns at them. Adults are threatened with actual guns. There are also tranquilizer darts aimed and shot at our kiddos. Art also hears a gunshot and his father bleeding (obviously this is traumatic, but not above barely-above-not-detailed);
There's mentioned of TV shows, movies, characters (SpongeBob Squarepants, Adventure Time, Doctor Who, Ocean Eleven, Harry Potter, & Star Wars, etc); A few mentions of Starbucks; A few mentions of tattoos;
For "language", 1 'dang', 1 'for the love of...', 1 'heck', 3 'holy cow', 3 'stupid', 4 'freakin'/friggin'', ; A couple mentions someone cursing & eye rolling as well.
Well, this was a fun book.
Think Home Alone meets the art forgery with a dash of The Mysterious Benedict Society. I thought it was really fun and well-done. Before starting, I noticed a couple reviews mentioned being very confused until the ending (which I can see why), so I went in with the mindset that everything was important and store it all on the back burner. This really was so fun
Edit to add: I ended up DNFing the second book due to political comments and only focusing/commenting on females with gay or liberal backgrounds. Disappointed, but not surprised.
(I read this book as a e-book from my library and I really liked the QR codes thrown in throughout the book to see the art being discussed. That was a neat feature!)
Content:
I can't quite figure out the age range for this book--I'm assuming middle grade--but there was a few comments/parts that would make me hesitate giving it to a younger middle grade reader. Such as our main characters (ages 12 and 10) are kidnapped and the bad guys aim stun guns at them. Adults are threatened with actual guns. There are also tranquilizer darts aimed and shot at our kiddos. Art also hears a gunshot and his father bleeding (obviously this is traumatic, but not above barely-above-not-detailed);
There's mentioned of TV shows, movies, characters (SpongeBob Squarepants, Adventure Time, Doctor Who, Ocean Eleven, Harry Potter, & Star Wars, etc); A few mentions of Starbucks; A few mentions of tattoos;
For "language", 1 'dang', 1 'for the love of...', 1 'heck', 3 'holy cow', 3 'stupid', 4 'freakin'/friggin'', ; A couple mentions someone cursing & eye rolling as well.
Read
February 4, 2021If you want to go on an action packed thrill ride through Washington, D.C. and the world of great art, this is the book for you. Art, a boy with amnesia, and Camille manage to fend off former, highly skilled operatives while trying to recover Art's memory and save the day. This story had me on the edge of my seat right from the start and left me wanting more. It even has QR codes scattered throughout the book so you can see firsthand what the artwork looks like. Definitely, recommend giving this book a spin! – Jen K.
October 19, 2016
This book is like a mini Jason Bourne movie for middle schoolers! It's like a mix of Home Alone and Catch That Thief and basically every great story where the kids are the ones who have to try and outsmart the bad guys. It was super fast-paced and played out exactly like a movie.
June 19, 2021
3,5⭐️
May 31, 2023
Originele recensie: https://bazarow.com/recensie/het-van-...
Wil je kinderen op een hele leuke manier iets over kunst leren? Dan is Het van Gogh-mysterie zeker een aanrader. Via een spannend avontuur over kunstdiefstal wordt je door middel van QR codes geleid naar de website van Uitgeverij de Fontein, waarop je meer informatie vindt over het kunstvoorwerp of schilderij waar je op de betreffende bladzijde over las. Door deze slimme ontwikkeling zijn kinderen dus zowel bezig met het lezen van een spannend boek, als hun kennis op kunstgebied aan het verbreden.
Geheugenverlies
Het van Gogh-mysterie is het eerste deel in de Kunstbende-serie van Deron Hicks. In dit eerste deel lezen we over een jongen die alleen in een museum zit. Hij kan zich niets herinneren – niet wie hij is, waar hij vandaan komt, of waarom hij uitzonderlijk veel van kunst weet. Hij weet zelfs zijn eigen naam niet.
De politie brengt hem tijdelijk onder bij een opvanggezin, waar hij Camille leert kennen. Al snel komen ze erachter dat er gevaarlijke mensen achter de jongen aan zitten, maar waarom is onduidelijk. Camille en de jongen gaan de uitdaging aan om te ontdekken wat het verleden van de jongen is en te onderzoeken wat de gevaarlijke mensen van hem willen. Dit gaat echter niet zonder gevaar voor eigen leven.
Opbouw
Hicks heeft met Het van Gogh-mysterie een spannend verhaal geschreven dat erg goed opgebouwd wordt. Je weet als lezer eigenlijk net zo weinig als de jongen die zijn geheugen kwijt is. Langzaam vergaar je dus steeds meer informatie. Het is een boek dat kinderen mee laat denken over wat er nu precies gebeurd kan zijn, waardoor het lastig weg te leggen is. Daarnaast zit er een mooie vriendschapsontwikkeling in verwerkt en bevat het interessante wendingen waardoor het verhaal zeer vermakelijk is.
Het boek speelt zich gedeeltelijk af in het museum waar de jongen eerder in zijn eentje gevonden werd. Het bevat spannende scènes waarbij kunstdiefstal centraal staat, maar waar ook de waarde van kunst en schilderijen aan bod komt. Kortom, het is een spannend, maar ook leerzaam jeugdboek dat uitermate geschikt is voor zowel kleine detectives als kinderen met interesse in kunst.
Wil je kinderen op een hele leuke manier iets over kunst leren? Dan is Het van Gogh-mysterie zeker een aanrader. Via een spannend avontuur over kunstdiefstal wordt je door middel van QR codes geleid naar de website van Uitgeverij de Fontein, waarop je meer informatie vindt over het kunstvoorwerp of schilderij waar je op de betreffende bladzijde over las. Door deze slimme ontwikkeling zijn kinderen dus zowel bezig met het lezen van een spannend boek, als hun kennis op kunstgebied aan het verbreden.
Geheugenverlies
Het van Gogh-mysterie is het eerste deel in de Kunstbende-serie van Deron Hicks. In dit eerste deel lezen we over een jongen die alleen in een museum zit. Hij kan zich niets herinneren – niet wie hij is, waar hij vandaan komt, of waarom hij uitzonderlijk veel van kunst weet. Hij weet zelfs zijn eigen naam niet.
De politie brengt hem tijdelijk onder bij een opvanggezin, waar hij Camille leert kennen. Al snel komen ze erachter dat er gevaarlijke mensen achter de jongen aan zitten, maar waarom is onduidelijk. Camille en de jongen gaan de uitdaging aan om te ontdekken wat het verleden van de jongen is en te onderzoeken wat de gevaarlijke mensen van hem willen. Dit gaat echter niet zonder gevaar voor eigen leven.
Opbouw
Hicks heeft met Het van Gogh-mysterie een spannend verhaal geschreven dat erg goed opgebouwd wordt. Je weet als lezer eigenlijk net zo weinig als de jongen die zijn geheugen kwijt is. Langzaam vergaar je dus steeds meer informatie. Het is een boek dat kinderen mee laat denken over wat er nu precies gebeurd kan zijn, waardoor het lastig weg te leggen is. Daarnaast zit er een mooie vriendschapsontwikkeling in verwerkt en bevat het interessante wendingen waardoor het verhaal zeer vermakelijk is.
Het boek speelt zich gedeeltelijk af in het museum waar de jongen eerder in zijn eentje gevonden werd. Het bevat spannende scènes waarbij kunstdiefstal centraal staat, maar waar ook de waarde van kunst en schilderijen aan bod komt. Kortom, het is een spannend, maar ook leerzaam jeugdboek dat uitermate geschikt is voor zowel kleine detectives als kinderen met interesse in kunst.
March 4, 2023
I think maybe I was the perfect audience for this book.
More brainy than a lot of MG but less violent and dark than most YA? Sign me up! Also art history and amnesia and really, really clever kids? 👏👏👏
I loved watching the mystery unfold, and the random facts seamlessly fit throughout made me super happy. I also loved the positive foster care situation. But oh my, were the story stakes real! Wowza.
I'll be reading the rest of this series as soon as I get the chance. ;)
CW: intense scenes including violence, children in danger, kidnapping, car accident, loss. The amnesia trope may be distressing to some young readers.
More brainy than a lot of MG but less violent and dark than most YA? Sign me up! Also art history and amnesia and really, really clever kids? 👏👏👏
I loved watching the mystery unfold, and the random facts seamlessly fit throughout made me super happy. I also loved the positive foster care situation. But oh my, were the story stakes real! Wowza.
I'll be reading the rest of this series as soon as I get the chance. ;)
CW: intense scenes including violence, children in danger, kidnapping, car accident, loss. The amnesia trope may be distressing to some young readers.
February 21, 2021
A crisply written and engaging thriller about a high-stakes game of art forgery. It's clean middle-grade fiction, appropriate for kids, but it doesn't talk down to them or dilute the excitement in any way. Highly recommend. (My youngest sister told me to read this, she has good taste ;))
February 15, 2019
"Even though one seeks with the expectation of finding, finding is a complete surprise nonetheless."
- letter from Vincent Van Gogh to his brother Theo, 7 November 1881
The fact that this book has "Van Gogh" in its title and at the very center of the plot made it interesting enough for me to pick it up. That said, the story was immensely engaging, perfectly paced, and almost exactly like reading a Dan Brown novel.
The best thing about the book was the QR codes scattered throughout the pages that the reader can scan to look up the artwork being discussed. It enhanced the whole reading experience in such a fun way!
- letter from Vincent Van Gogh to his brother Theo, 7 November 1881
The fact that this book has "Van Gogh" in its title and at the very center of the plot made it interesting enough for me to pick it up. That said, the story was immensely engaging, perfectly paced, and almost exactly like reading a Dan Brown novel.
The best thing about the book was the QR codes scattered throughout the pages that the reader can scan to look up the artwork being discussed. It enhanced the whole reading experience in such a fun way!
November 15, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. It was a lot of fun and had a very satisfying ending.
He agreed characters that were easy easy to relate to. The pace was very quick, and therefore kept my attention through.
I highly recommend.
He agreed characters that were easy easy to relate to. The pace was very quick, and therefore kept my attention through.
I highly recommend.
April 7, 2022
3,5⭐️ Bardzo ciekawa książka, ale nie wkręciłam się tak mocno, jak np przy przygodach Ruby Redford.
May 28, 2018
I kind of fell in love with this book the moment I first had it in my hands. I loved the cover itself and I adored the deep blue color that the book was without it’s dust jacket, but opening the book and seeing it’s end pages was the best part because they had incredible Van Gogh art on them. I know it’s not the best way to go, but seeing this immediately raised my expectations of the book, because something that’s this beautiful on the outside must be amazing on the inside too, right?
Plus, the fact that this book combined art and middle grade mystery stories, two things I love a lot, didn’t help bring my very high expectations down. I was convinced I was going to absolutely adore this book.
So, the obvious question is probably: “did you end up loving this book?”. Well, the answer to that is yes, and no. I did have a lot of fun reading the book, and I managed to finish it very quickly (which is always a good sign for me), but there were a few things that I didn’t love about it. But let’s start with the good, shall we?
The book was incredibly fun. We follow a boy with amnesia who’s trying to figure out who he is, and a girl who tries to help him, while they’re trying to outsmart some bad guys. It’s very fast-paced and it’s entertaining to see how these kids get themselves out of some tricky situations. Besides this, the fact that this book involved art made it even more fun for me.
The thing I didn’t really love about the book was that it felt like it dragged quite a bit in the middle. There were about 150 pages of the kids just running from the bad guys, and while it was fun, I started getting a bit frustrated about the fact that we weren’t getting any clues as to who this boy was and what he was up to. I kind of wanted to skip ahead a few chapters, and just read how it all played out. I just wish that the author had given us a few more clues in the middle part of the book, instead of drop everything on us at the end.
Overall, the book was very entertaining and I would definitely recommend it, but there were a few things that kept this from being the perfect book for me.
Trigger warnings: kidnapping, death of parent, (gun-) violence
Plus, the fact that this book combined art and middle grade mystery stories, two things I love a lot, didn’t help bring my very high expectations down. I was convinced I was going to absolutely adore this book.
So, the obvious question is probably: “did you end up loving this book?”. Well, the answer to that is yes, and no. I did have a lot of fun reading the book, and I managed to finish it very quickly (which is always a good sign for me), but there were a few things that I didn’t love about it. But let’s start with the good, shall we?
The book was incredibly fun. We follow a boy with amnesia who’s trying to figure out who he is, and a girl who tries to help him, while they’re trying to outsmart some bad guys. It’s very fast-paced and it’s entertaining to see how these kids get themselves out of some tricky situations. Besides this, the fact that this book involved art made it even more fun for me.
The thing I didn’t really love about the book was that it felt like it dragged quite a bit in the middle. There were about 150 pages of the kids just running from the bad guys, and while it was fun, I started getting a bit frustrated about the fact that we weren’t getting any clues as to who this boy was and what he was up to. I kind of wanted to skip ahead a few chapters, and just read how it all played out. I just wish that the author had given us a few more clues in the middle part of the book, instead of drop everything on us at the end.
Overall, the book was very entertaining and I would definitely recommend it, but there were a few things that kept this from being the perfect book for me.
Trigger warnings: kidnapping, death of parent, (gun-) violence
October 23, 2024
I was delightfully surprised by this book. I love a good amnesia story and this definitely fit the bill. Art was a very lovable character, and I enjoyed finding his background with him. The mystery was compelling but not to scarey. There was nothing truly incredibly in this story, but it was enjoyable.
2023: I enjoyed my re-read of this so much! The whole book is just fun, and intriguing. My only complaint is that most of the police officers are pretty dumb or lazy, and I found that anoying, and not true to life.
2023: I enjoyed my re-read of this so much! The whole book is just fun, and intriguing. My only complaint is that most of the police officers are pretty dumb or lazy, and I found that anoying, and not true to life.
January 22, 2021
Have you ever read a book that makes you want to take a deep dive into a genre you previously didn't read much of? This book did that for me. I now want to read more mystery and detective stories, maybe even books with spies! Just imagine the possibilities!
The mystery here: Who is the boy that appears out of thin air at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.? And why does he know so much about fine works of art? If only he knew. As the clues start falling into place, the stakes get higher for our friend Art (yes, that's really his name) and his new friend and partner in adventure, Camille. This book reminded me a bit about From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigburg. And an extra bonus with this book are the QR codes that are interspersed throughout, directing the reader to images of art being discussed. What a fun book! I hope you like this 2021 Bluestem Award (Illinois Children's Choice) nominee as much as I did.
Reviewed by: Lisa Coleman, Youth and School Services, Vernon Area Public Library
The mystery here: Who is the boy that appears out of thin air at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.? And why does he know so much about fine works of art? If only he knew. As the clues start falling into place, the stakes get higher for our friend Art (yes, that's really his name) and his new friend and partner in adventure, Camille. This book reminded me a bit about From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigburg. And an extra bonus with this book are the QR codes that are interspersed throughout, directing the reader to images of art being discussed. What a fun book! I hope you like this 2021 Bluestem Award (Illinois Children's Choice) nominee as much as I did.
Reviewed by: Lisa Coleman, Youth and School Services, Vernon Area Public Library
January 22, 2021
Have you ever read a book that makes you want to take a deep dive into a genre you previously didn't read much of? This book did that for me. I now want to read more mystery and detective stories, maybe even books with spies! Just imagine the possibilities!
The mystery here: Who is the boy that appears out of thin air at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.? And why does he know so much about fine works of art? If only he knew. As the clues start falling into place, the stakes get higher for our friend Art (yes, that's really his name) and his new friend and partner in adventure, Camille. This book reminded me a bit about From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigburg. And an extra bonus with this book are the QR codes that are interspersed throughout, directing the reader to images of art being discussed. What a fun book! I hope you like this 2021 Bluestem Award (Illinois Children's Choice) nominee as much as I did.
The mystery here: Who is the boy that appears out of thin air at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.? And why does he know so much about fine works of art? If only he knew. As the clues start falling into place, the stakes get higher for our friend Art (yes, that's really his name) and his new friend and partner in adventure, Camille. This book reminded me a bit about From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigburg. And an extra bonus with this book are the QR codes that are interspersed throughout, directing the reader to images of art being discussed. What a fun book! I hope you like this 2021 Bluestem Award (Illinois Children's Choice) nominee as much as I did.
June 9, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. I loved how there was suspense on every page and that the story came together so well at the end. This was a mystery, and an incredibly well written one, for that matter. I would recommend this to anyone who likes mystery, art, or suspense. I do think that this book is best for 4th graders and up, though, because the “bad guys” are aiming to hurt the characters. This was a great book.
November 4, 2021
Quite frankly was one of the most confusing books I have ever read. It bounced around so much that it was hard to keep up and for like the first five chapters no one had names so that just made it even more confusing. There were way too many POV characters brought in and so the heart of the story was just lost in the confusion of trying to keep up with who's head you were in now.
The story concept seemed good, but the POV characters needed to be narrowed down. Just my thoughts.
~Kayti
The story concept seemed good, but the POV characters needed to be narrowed down. Just my thoughts.
~Kayti
August 27, 2025
Adventure in an art museum with lots of art history, famous literature and world history references? Yes, please.
This is a middle grade read, but I really enjoyed it as an adult. It had a young Jason Bourne feel to it. I didn’t love that the kids did a fair amount of lying and several of the adults did boneheaded things as well, but overall this was great! The amnesia trope might be distressing to some young readers so take that into consideration but the mystery of it all was part of what kept me turning pages and I found this to be a very clever and captivating story.
This is a middle grade read, but I really enjoyed it as an adult. It had a young Jason Bourne feel to it. I didn’t love that the kids did a fair amount of lying and several of the adults did boneheaded things as well, but overall this was great! The amnesia trope might be distressing to some young readers so take that into consideration but the mystery of it all was part of what kept me turning pages and I found this to be a very clever and captivating story.
January 1, 2022
Reread in 2021
Such a fun and fast-paced mystery. Art heist, nameless evil villains, temporary amnesia….this is a clear recipe for success with middle grade readers. I didn’t give it 5 stars because the beginning was a little too disorienting and jumbled for me personally, but my students have loved it.
Such a fun and fast-paced mystery. Art heist, nameless evil villains, temporary amnesia….this is a clear recipe for success with middle grade readers. I didn’t give it 5 stars because the beginning was a little too disorienting and jumbled for me personally, but my students have loved it.
January 4, 2021
tbh I was sold when I read the description, because I love anything heist related. And for the most part, the book itself did not disappoint.
As you can probably tell by the name, this book has a lot to do with art. Whenever the book mentions an art piece, there's an actual link (for the ebook) and QR code that takes you to the museum website where you can see the art. I LOVE IT SO MUCH??? I think it's so creative and plus I just like looking at art lol
Story-wise, I really enjoyed how all the different characters and plot points came together. The formatting was cool too; with the time and date stamps it felt very cinematic. I was a bit disappointed by the resolution to the mystery, however. It made sense, I was just expecting more, but it's not a big deal in the context of my overall enjoyment.
Another note is that for the majority of the story, the main character Art is missing most of his memories, which was good for the plot but not so much for characterization. It was impossible for me to figure out what he was like. And since the other MC, Camille, had a lot more personality than him, he seemed like more of a background character. He got his memories back at the end, though, so I don't think this will be a big issue in the sequel.
As you can probably tell by the name, this book has a lot to do with art. Whenever the book mentions an art piece, there's an actual link (for the ebook) and QR code that takes you to the museum website where you can see the art. I LOVE IT SO MUCH??? I think it's so creative and plus I just like looking at art lol
Story-wise, I really enjoyed how all the different characters and plot points came together. The formatting was cool too; with the time and date stamps it felt very cinematic. I was a bit disappointed by the resolution to the mystery, however. It made sense, I was just expecting more, but it's not a big deal in the context of my overall enjoyment.
Another note is that for the majority of the story, the main character Art is missing most of his memories, which was good for the plot but not so much for characterization. It was impossible for me to figure out what he was like. And since the other MC, Camille, had a lot more personality than him, he seemed like more of a background character. He got his memories back at the end, though, so I don't think this will be a big issue in the sequel.
Read
July 15, 2023Reading this book, there was this ultimate adventure/mystery movie playing in my head that I would have loved to see as a kid. It's a bit like Da Vinci Code-ish meets National Treasure-ish, but then for kids.
It is definitely a fast read. Never a dull moment. The main character is found in a museum hall, not remembering who he is or how he got there. He is placed with a foster (mom and daughter) family and together they are trying to find triggers to get him his memory back. We soon learn that there are people looking for him, which are not his family. So who are they, why are they looking for him and how are they related to the whole amnesia situation?
Combine that mystery with art and museums and you get a wonderful suspenseful children's book.
I loved the fact that each time an artwork is mentioned, there is a QR code in the book, trough which you are shown a photo of said artwork and a bit of background knowledge. But also in the story itself there is a lot of art knowledge passed on to the reader.
Definitely a book that I wished I could have read when I had the appropriate age for it.
It is definitely a fast read. Never a dull moment. The main character is found in a museum hall, not remembering who he is or how he got there. He is placed with a foster (mom and daughter) family and together they are trying to find triggers to get him his memory back. We soon learn that there are people looking for him, which are not his family. So who are they, why are they looking for him and how are they related to the whole amnesia situation?
Combine that mystery with art and museums and you get a wonderful suspenseful children's book.
I loved the fact that each time an artwork is mentioned, there is a QR code in the book, trough which you are shown a photo of said artwork and a bit of background knowledge. But also in the story itself there is a lot of art knowledge passed on to the reader.
Definitely a book that I wished I could have read when I had the appropriate age for it.
November 27, 2021
THE VAN GOGH DECEPTION
By Deron Hicks
Get thee hence to the your local independent bookstore or library and pick up a copy of this not-to-be-put-down middle grade YA thriller right now! A fun heart-stopping fast-paced adventure of a 12-year-old boy with amnesia sitting in the Impressionist gallery at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. staring at a Van Gogh painting! Who is this boy? Where are his parents? Why is he here at the National Gallery? This clean, well-researched YA mystery was particularly fun for me as I recently attended the Van Gogh Immersion experience in downtown Cleveland! Another entertaining aspect of this book are the QR codes sprinkled throughout the narrative engaging readers in learning a little art history as they follow the characters on the run for their lives from dangerous art thieves through the museum and surrounding hotels and university buildings. I dare not say another word! Time to get to the bookstore to look for another book by this author!
By Deron Hicks
Get thee hence to the your local independent bookstore or library and pick up a copy of this not-to-be-put-down middle grade YA thriller right now! A fun heart-stopping fast-paced adventure of a 12-year-old boy with amnesia sitting in the Impressionist gallery at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. staring at a Van Gogh painting! Who is this boy? Where are his parents? Why is he here at the National Gallery? This clean, well-researched YA mystery was particularly fun for me as I recently attended the Van Gogh Immersion experience in downtown Cleveland! Another entertaining aspect of this book are the QR codes sprinkled throughout the narrative engaging readers in learning a little art history as they follow the characters on the run for their lives from dangerous art thieves through the museum and surrounding hotels and university buildings. I dare not say another word! Time to get to the bookstore to look for another book by this author!
October 27, 2025
A Rick Bene recommendation that did not disappoint.
April 4, 2022
idk what to rate this, so imma just say it's 3 ⭐️. Man i would've loved this book if i had read it a couple years ago when i was younger, or if it had been a ya book. But sadly I didn't love it, the characters were vague, could've just been better. The plot was pretty good tho. Maybe read? I'd say between the 8-12 age range
edit: the more i think about this, the less i like it so imma give it 3 stars
edit: the more i think about this, the less i like it so imma give it 3 stars
November 22, 2019
I've been to the National Gallery of Art and seen the double-sided Da Vinci! It is a wonder. And so was this tale. I enjoyed the precocious protagonist and his wild-haired friend. Art museums sooth my soul so this romp was an especially fun read.
September 10, 2017
Very clever use of QR codes. I enjoyed this book so much that I will be checking out other books by Deron Hicks.
April 30, 2023
Lost Art Mysteries #1
“Even though one seeks with the expectation of finding, finding is a complete surprise nonetheless.” — letter from Vincent van Gogh to his brother Theo, 7 November 1881
Genres: Mystery - Middle Grade - Adventure - Art - Fiction - Childrens - Young Adult - Juvenile - Realistic Fiction - Action
Dates read: 18/4/23-30/4/23 - 13 days to listen
Published: Aug 29, 2017 - Clarion Books
Amount of time: 7h 10min - 320 pages
Word Count: c. 60,160
Format: Audiobook - Hoopla
Pace: Fast
Perspective: Third-person
This was my first audiobook of the year and I really enjoyed it! I actually listened! I feel that it’s best to listen to crime/mystery books as a audiobook as it just keeps you hooked and you just want to keep listening!
Setting:
This book was set in Washington D.C, which was cool as it referenced the landmarks there such as the art gallery. But the book also mentioned places such as Arles in France. From this, it helped give us knowledge about Van Gogh himself!
Writing:
Even though I was listening to it, the writing still seemed really good especially for a middle grade book. The writing style made it easy to listen to as well.
Plot:
The plot was way too good for a children’s book! It was so much bigger than that! I was utterly impressed with it to be honest. The author also kept us guessing and he didn’t tell us everything which I believe it a smart thing to do with a novel like this.
Vibe/aesthetic:
Art heist are amazing, any heists are really. But once it has art in it, you learn things you didn’t know before and you know it’s just got to be true too. The action was phenomenal, just running away.
‘The Van Gogh Deception’ reminded me a lot of ‘The Da Vinci Code’, like this book was a junior version of the well-known Da Vinci Code.
Overall Rating: 4/5
Quality of writing: 3/5
Ease of reading: 5/5
Plot Development: 5/5
Book Cover: 4/5
Characters: 3/5
Characters:
Arthur (Art) and Camille, who are the main characters, have heaps of potential for the next books. I know they are quite young in this one so that does change things. The “villains” in this story were all very different to each other and all very smart, almost as smart as Art. And his father.
I am so curious what the rest of the series will bring and also how Arthur and Camille will change and evolve through age.
This book taught me to never underestimate someone. Ever.
“Even though one seeks with the expectation of finding, finding is a complete surprise nonetheless.” — letter from Vincent van Gogh to his brother Theo, 7 November 1881
Genres: Mystery - Middle Grade - Adventure - Art - Fiction - Childrens - Young Adult - Juvenile - Realistic Fiction - Action
Dates read: 18/4/23-30/4/23 - 13 days to listen
Published: Aug 29, 2017 - Clarion Books
Amount of time: 7h 10min - 320 pages
Word Count: c. 60,160
Format: Audiobook - Hoopla
Pace: Fast
Perspective: Third-person
This was my first audiobook of the year and I really enjoyed it! I actually listened! I feel that it’s best to listen to crime/mystery books as a audiobook as it just keeps you hooked and you just want to keep listening!
Setting:
This book was set in Washington D.C, which was cool as it referenced the landmarks there such as the art gallery. But the book also mentioned places such as Arles in France. From this, it helped give us knowledge about Van Gogh himself!
Writing:
Even though I was listening to it, the writing still seemed really good especially for a middle grade book. The writing style made it easy to listen to as well.
Plot:
The plot was way too good for a children’s book! It was so much bigger than that! I was utterly impressed with it to be honest. The author also kept us guessing and he didn’t tell us everything which I believe it a smart thing to do with a novel like this.
Vibe/aesthetic:
Art heist are amazing, any heists are really. But once it has art in it, you learn things you didn’t know before and you know it’s just got to be true too. The action was phenomenal, just running away.
‘The Van Gogh Deception’ reminded me a lot of ‘The Da Vinci Code’, like this book was a junior version of the well-known Da Vinci Code.
Overall Rating: 4/5
Quality of writing: 3/5
Ease of reading: 5/5
Plot Development: 5/5
Book Cover: 4/5
Characters: 3/5
Characters:
Arthur (Art) and Camille, who are the main characters, have heaps of potential for the next books. I know they are quite young in this one so that does change things. The “villains” in this story were all very different to each other and all very smart, almost as smart as Art. And his father.
I am so curious what the rest of the series will bring and also how Arthur and Camille will change and evolve through age.
This book taught me to never underestimate someone. Ever.
June 6, 2023
This book was a solid 4 stars until the last quarter when we started ramping up for the finale. It had some problems but it was generally quite good and then suddenly I hated all of it. It really had a lot of potential I think if it just was wrapped up more sufficiently.
Some random thoughts that I can’t be bothered to organize cause I’m annoyed:
1. I am so sick of “it happened so fast” or “I’m not sure how it happened but…” I’m convinced this author doesn’t know how Art does anything and that’s why it always switches to another pov before Art saves the day and that person can’t tell how he did it cause it happened so fast.
2. The technology in this story is somehow scifi and archaic at the same time, and I would bet the author knows very little about how most technology works. The way two kids who grew up on the internet find a high def picture of a painting to be so novel that they dedicate a paragraph to how clear it is is frankly stupid. The fancy “tracking software” that somehow duplicated Mary’s phone contents including all of her apps which isn’t actually related to tracking a phone and is never actually explained how it works and is brushed over as just filler information to make you realize just how advanced these guys tech is even though it’s actually not that advanced is just downright weird. I don’t know what generation the author is but there were easier less technology dependent ways to advance this plot that wouldn’t have been as cringy to read.
3. Only give this book to children if you spend ten minutes disclaiming to them to never do anything these children do if you are in a situation where you’re being kidnapped or threatened. At every possible decision making opportunity these two kids chose the option that pointed them TOWARDS being murdered. And not in a bravely facing danger sort of way. Putting the dumb in sheer dumb luck sort of way. It was luck they lived because they were being stupid sort of way.
4. I was taking notes on this as I went and I had notes about how I actually really appreciated Camille as a female sidekick in this story, but then I got about 75% of the way through the book when Camille goes on her speculative accusation rant that was unnecessary, tedious, and just trite. And even if Art didn’t turn on her and get defensive, I still reminded me that a man wrote this female character.
5. The interactiveness of this book is actually really cool and a really nice touch that I could really see being a good way to expose kids to art. It doesn’t change the text of the book. It’s not a substitute for reading the story. It’s just there to visualize and make it more interactive for kids and I think that’s great.
6. I love an art heist.
7. Most of the info in this about art forgery and art movements and artists is true and it’s surprisingly educational.
8. “Change of plans. We have to save my dad.” Shut up and call the cops Art. You are a child with no information and no skills. I don’t know how you’ve lived this long other than plot armor because you have nothing to indicate genius iq or combat skills. This isn’t a spy novel. That kid is not a spy. Or an assassin. He’s a kid. You’ve given him no skills. Stop this Deron.
9. No child on earth has ever said “I have to do this my way” threateningly. No child Deron Hicks. Stop it. Why does every children’s author on earth insist on making unprepared kids do physical fights and rescues that make no sense to the plot.
Some random thoughts that I can’t be bothered to organize cause I’m annoyed:
1. I am so sick of “it happened so fast” or “I’m not sure how it happened but…” I’m convinced this author doesn’t know how Art does anything and that’s why it always switches to another pov before Art saves the day and that person can’t tell how he did it cause it happened so fast.
2. The technology in this story is somehow scifi and archaic at the same time, and I would bet the author knows very little about how most technology works. The way two kids who grew up on the internet find a high def picture of a painting to be so novel that they dedicate a paragraph to how clear it is is frankly stupid. The fancy “tracking software” that somehow duplicated Mary’s phone contents including all of her apps which isn’t actually related to tracking a phone and is never actually explained how it works and is brushed over as just filler information to make you realize just how advanced these guys tech is even though it’s actually not that advanced is just downright weird. I don’t know what generation the author is but there were easier less technology dependent ways to advance this plot that wouldn’t have been as cringy to read.
3. Only give this book to children if you spend ten minutes disclaiming to them to never do anything these children do if you are in a situation where you’re being kidnapped or threatened. At every possible decision making opportunity these two kids chose the option that pointed them TOWARDS being murdered. And not in a bravely facing danger sort of way. Putting the dumb in sheer dumb luck sort of way. It was luck they lived because they were being stupid sort of way.
4. I was taking notes on this as I went and I had notes about how I actually really appreciated Camille as a female sidekick in this story, but then I got about 75% of the way through the book when Camille goes on her speculative accusation rant that was unnecessary, tedious, and just trite. And even if Art didn’t turn on her and get defensive, I still reminded me that a man wrote this female character.
5. The interactiveness of this book is actually really cool and a really nice touch that I could really see being a good way to expose kids to art. It doesn’t change the text of the book. It’s not a substitute for reading the story. It’s just there to visualize and make it more interactive for kids and I think that’s great.
6. I love an art heist.
7. Most of the info in this about art forgery and art movements and artists is true and it’s surprisingly educational.
8. “Change of plans. We have to save my dad.” Shut up and call the cops Art. You are a child with no information and no skills. I don’t know how you’ve lived this long other than plot armor because you have nothing to indicate genius iq or combat skills. This isn’t a spy novel. That kid is not a spy. Or an assassin. He’s a kid. You’ve given him no skills. Stop this Deron.
9. No child on earth has ever said “I have to do this my way” threateningly. No child Deron Hicks. Stop it. Why does every children’s author on earth insist on making unprepared kids do physical fights and rescues that make no sense to the plot.
June 24, 2024
This story by Deron Hicks is all the things I love about historical Middle Grade fiction. It is also all the things I hate about it. Upon starting, I was instantly annoyed by the QR codes scattered throughout the book & the inclusion of things which will forever date this read: Spongebob Squarepants, Starbucks, and Jar Jar Binks. I feel utterly frustrated when authors feel the need to be "relevant" to their modern readers by naming things that only this present generation are likely to be aware of. (Please God, let Spongebob become a thing of the distant past. And I think we all agree that Jar Jar was a big mistake we're working hard to forget.)
Normally, I would toss a book like this to the side for all of its particular cultural references. I find them jarring because I find them unnecessary. I do not believe it is possible for an author to avoid all mention of modern items. However, I do think there are workarounds to preserve a timeless feel for a read. For instance, Hicks could have referenced a television & I would have given him a pass. Perhaps mentioning a television was crucial. By becoming very specific and naming Jar Jar though, he dated his read.
On the flip side, Hicks is brilliant when it comes to weaving a historical mystery. He has a clear gift for writing & story-telling and that's what kept me going. I learned things about Van Gogh in this read. I enjoyed the mystery which was unfolding about his main character. It's what I've attempted to do with Island of Stars. I wanted to write a story that slowly unfolds, leaving the reader guessing and learning as they go. Hicks wrote my favorite type of story and I would definitely read his others. But in my opinion, the better stories are the ones that commit to staying out of the modern age as best as possible.
I thought this story was great fun, but it catered to the idea that kids will only read books if they integrate pop culture. I believe we ALL read, in part, because we want to escape. I can't escape if you tell me we're going to Starbucks. But if you invited your character and I to go to a "coffee shop" I think the journey would be far more immersive.
For buying into what the book publishers say the trends are, I give this book three stars. For having a fantastic idea and taking me on adventure, I'd give it four.
Normally, I would toss a book like this to the side for all of its particular cultural references. I find them jarring because I find them unnecessary. I do not believe it is possible for an author to avoid all mention of modern items. However, I do think there are workarounds to preserve a timeless feel for a read. For instance, Hicks could have referenced a television & I would have given him a pass. Perhaps mentioning a television was crucial. By becoming very specific and naming Jar Jar though, he dated his read.
On the flip side, Hicks is brilliant when it comes to weaving a historical mystery. He has a clear gift for writing & story-telling and that's what kept me going. I learned things about Van Gogh in this read. I enjoyed the mystery which was unfolding about his main character. It's what I've attempted to do with Island of Stars. I wanted to write a story that slowly unfolds, leaving the reader guessing and learning as they go. Hicks wrote my favorite type of story and I would definitely read his others. But in my opinion, the better stories are the ones that commit to staying out of the modern age as best as possible.
I thought this story was great fun, but it catered to the idea that kids will only read books if they integrate pop culture. I believe we ALL read, in part, because we want to escape. I can't escape if you tell me we're going to Starbucks. But if you invited your character and I to go to a "coffee shop" I think the journey would be far more immersive.
For buying into what the book publishers say the trends are, I give this book three stars. For having a fantastic idea and taking me on adventure, I'd give it four.
May 24, 2025
Pre-read this one to try and find a new series for my 11 year old daughter and I think I landed on a good one! It helps that we were just at the NGA last month and I can picture exactly where the book took place. Quick and easy read with adventure and suspense. Hoping my daughter will give it a try! Off to the second book in the series!
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