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Chasing Vermeer #2
The Wright Three
4 Hours and 30 Minutes
In this intricate, magnificently imagined sequel to Blue Balliett's international bestseller, Chasing Vermeer, supersleuths Petra and Calder, along with Calder's old friend, Tommy, are cryptically drawn into another art mystery–this time involving a Frank Lloyd Wright architectural masterpiece, the Robie House.
When the kids' sixth-grade class attempts to save the Hyde Park landmark from demolition, eerie events are reported: voices float out from within, shadows shift behind the art-glass windows, even the roof moves! Suddenly, a well-meaning art restoration project turns into a frightening search for ghosts, hidden treasure, and a coded message left behind by Wright. In this tangled web where life and art intermingle with death and danger, can the kids pursue justice and escape with their lives?
In this intricate, magnificently imagined sequel to Blue Balliett's international bestseller, Chasing Vermeer, supersleuths Petra and Calder, along with Calder's old friend, Tommy, are cryptically drawn into another art mystery–this time involving a Frank Lloyd Wright architectural masterpiece, the Robie House.
When the kids' sixth-grade class attempts to save the Hyde Park landmark from demolition, eerie events are reported: voices float out from within, shadows shift behind the art-glass windows, even the roof moves! Suddenly, a well-meaning art restoration project turns into a frightening search for ghosts, hidden treasure, and a coded message left behind by Wright. In this tangled web where life and art intermingle with death and danger, can the kids pursue justice and escape with their lives?
Audio CD
First published April 1, 2006
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About the author
Blue Balliett
16 books520 followersI was born in New York City and grew up playing in Central Park, getting my share of scraped knees, and riding many public buses and subways. By the time I was a teenager, I sometimes stopped at the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Frick Museum after school, just to wander and look and think. The Met has five Vermeer paintings and the Frick three, so Vermeer and I have been friends for many years.
After studying art history in college, I moved to Nantucket Island, in Massachusetts, in order to write. I surprised myself by writing two books of ghost stories, stories collected by interviewing people. My husband and I met and were married on Nantucket, lived there year-round for another 10 years, and had our two children there.
When our kids started school, we moved to Chicago. I began teaching 3rd grade at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. One year my class and I decided to figure out what art was about. We asked many questions, visited many museums in the city, and set off a number of alarms — by mistake, of course.
In writing Chasing Vermeer, I wanted to explore the ways kids perceive connections between supposedly unrelated events and situations, connections that grown-ups often miss. Given the opportunity, kids can ask questions that help them to think their way through tough problems that adults haven’t been able to figure out — problems like the theft of a Vermeer painting!
In The Wright 3, I play with questions about architecture as art, the preservation of old buildings, and Frank Lloyd Wright’s legacy. I wanted to continue exploring controversial ideas within the three-dimensional art world. We need kids to develop into powerful, out-of-the-box thinkers, now more than ever. I believe in making trouble — of the right kind.
My third book, The Calder Game, takes place in a small community in England, a 1,000-year-old town that I visited while on a book tour. I had a wonderful time writing this book. I had to do lots of eavesdropping, poking around, tiptoeing through graveyards, and climbing walls, and then there was all the Cadbury chocolate I had to eat. Alexander Calder's work is art for any age. I first saw his sculpture when I was 9 years old, in a show at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. It was art but it was magic, and it left me hungry for more. This, I'm sure, was the beginning of my belief that art is about adventure.
Blue Balliett grew up in New York City and attended Brown University. She and her family now live in Chicago, within walking distance of Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House. Balliett's books have now appeared in 34 languages. Warner Bros. Pictures has acquired the film rights to Chasing Vermeer.
After studying art history in college, I moved to Nantucket Island, in Massachusetts, in order to write. I surprised myself by writing two books of ghost stories, stories collected by interviewing people. My husband and I met and were married on Nantucket, lived there year-round for another 10 years, and had our two children there.
When our kids started school, we moved to Chicago. I began teaching 3rd grade at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. One year my class and I decided to figure out what art was about. We asked many questions, visited many museums in the city, and set off a number of alarms — by mistake, of course.
In writing Chasing Vermeer, I wanted to explore the ways kids perceive connections between supposedly unrelated events and situations, connections that grown-ups often miss. Given the opportunity, kids can ask questions that help them to think their way through tough problems that adults haven’t been able to figure out — problems like the theft of a Vermeer painting!
In The Wright 3, I play with questions about architecture as art, the preservation of old buildings, and Frank Lloyd Wright’s legacy. I wanted to continue exploring controversial ideas within the three-dimensional art world. We need kids to develop into powerful, out-of-the-box thinkers, now more than ever. I believe in making trouble — of the right kind.
My third book, The Calder Game, takes place in a small community in England, a 1,000-year-old town that I visited while on a book tour. I had a wonderful time writing this book. I had to do lots of eavesdropping, poking around, tiptoeing through graveyards, and climbing walls, and then there was all the Cadbury chocolate I had to eat. Alexander Calder's work is art for any age. I first saw his sculpture when I was 9 years old, in a show at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. It was art but it was magic, and it left me hungry for more. This, I'm sure, was the beginning of my belief that art is about adventure.
Blue Balliett grew up in New York City and attended Brown University. She and her family now live in Chicago, within walking distance of Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House. Balliett's books have now appeared in 34 languages. Warner Bros. Pictures has acquired the film rights to Chasing Vermeer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 675 reviews
January 10, 2022
Rating: 4.5
Among the small number of you who read this, there may be an even smaller group of individuals who know me personally—and among this group of utmost puniness the following questions may arise: "What’s with all the kids’ books? Don’t you read content your age?" In short, my retort:
Walking along the quad of my local university a few weeks ago, my eye caught upon a blue tent with brown boxes stacked on a portable white table. Upon drawing near enough to make out the sign, I realized the 'boxes' were in fact books wrapped in brown paper, waiting to be matched in 'blind book dates.' Intrigued, I approached the table and began surfing through the mystery books, looking for one of appealing size and heft. After much internal debate, I settled on a package, paid the $3, and ripped open the brown paper to reveal the very cover you see above.
Though I had just finished a Young Adult novel and wasn't exactly planning on a second one, I had silently promised myself that, regardless of its content, I would read the mystery book to completion over the holidays. The value I find in committing myself to little things here and there outweighed both handing over three Georges and my initial intent to alter my genre of reading.
And I'm thrilled to say I do not regret my decision in the least! I must tip my hat to Ms. Balliett—this YA novel is a quite impressive work that achieves a number of admirable goals artfully. Imagine a brainchild of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events and the timeless Hardy Boys novels… with a touch of Balliett's own flair, The Wright 3 is what results. Despite the fact that I failed to realize it is a sequel until adding it to my 'currently reading' tab, I found The Wright 3's plot compelling, playful, and thoroughly enjoyable, as well as laden with clever easter eggs. Balliett's writing is more than appropriate for a youth audience, blending accessible storytelling with more advanced language and ideas.
The plot is well-constructed, not unlike an architectural masterpiece, with a driving central mystery surrounded by numerous overlapping coincidences that ornament the story nicely, both challenging the reader’s understanding of the mystery and developing characters through small side plots. Though I personally found aspects of Tommy, Petra, and Calder’s growth overly simple, it makes Balliett’s writing more digestible, and though somewhat overt, the fact that it is there at all is pleasing. I will not spoil the mystery, but I will say that the ending of the novel brings together various details of the plot nicely; that said, it does leave a few ideas floating in the reader’s imagination, almost begging the question of whether this novel is more realistic fiction or realistic fantasy… Reminiscent of Hardy Boys style, the mystery rides an exponential rising action to an extreme climax that is followed by rapid resolution—a fast-paced rollercoaster well-tailored to younger audiences.
What differentiates this novel from its contemporaries is the myriad of goals it achieves simultaneously. First and foremost, the novel entertains; however, it also subtly educates young readers on such topics as the history of American architecture, classic literature, and of course, pentominoes (if you’re like me and have never heard of these, look ‘em up, or, alternatively, read the book); additionally, it stresses important formative values, including imagination, curiosity and independent thinking, collaboration, and tolerance. Though most of my time spent reading other Young Adult literature was as a young adult, I can think of few novels of such high class.
And then there are the easter eggs. It seems like nearly each chapter is connected to another in some hidden way, whether it is through subtle plot details or the cleverly drawn illustrations that consistently suggest the happenings of something fishy. Though I gave up on playing the hidden game embedded in each of the Very Fun Drawings, little more needs to be said than the illustrator’s name: Brett Helquist. If you spend a little time searching, you may find that he is somewhat inscrutable—a word which here means there is much more to him than meets the eye…
As a child I loved reading, and time spent with good books is often a major part of my personal nostalgia. This may be an underlying reason for my recent pleasure in revisiting the realm of YA lit, but I can safely say that it is far from just my personal bias that made The Wright 3 a fantastic read; Balliett’s authorship truly stands up to all but the legends of her genre in only her second ever YA novel.
If you’re feeling adventurous, curious, or just ready for some light fun, The Wright 3 may be just the Wright book for you…
Among the small number of you who read this, there may be an even smaller group of individuals who know me personally—and among this group of utmost puniness the following questions may arise: "What’s with all the kids’ books? Don’t you read content your age?" In short, my retort:
Walking along the quad of my local university a few weeks ago, my eye caught upon a blue tent with brown boxes stacked on a portable white table. Upon drawing near enough to make out the sign, I realized the 'boxes' were in fact books wrapped in brown paper, waiting to be matched in 'blind book dates.' Intrigued, I approached the table and began surfing through the mystery books, looking for one of appealing size and heft. After much internal debate, I settled on a package, paid the $3, and ripped open the brown paper to reveal the very cover you see above.
Though I had just finished a Young Adult novel and wasn't exactly planning on a second one, I had silently promised myself that, regardless of its content, I would read the mystery book to completion over the holidays. The value I find in committing myself to little things here and there outweighed both handing over three Georges and my initial intent to alter my genre of reading.
And I'm thrilled to say I do not regret my decision in the least! I must tip my hat to Ms. Balliett—this YA novel is a quite impressive work that achieves a number of admirable goals artfully. Imagine a brainchild of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events and the timeless Hardy Boys novels… with a touch of Balliett's own flair, The Wright 3 is what results. Despite the fact that I failed to realize it is a sequel until adding it to my 'currently reading' tab, I found The Wright 3's plot compelling, playful, and thoroughly enjoyable, as well as laden with clever easter eggs. Balliett's writing is more than appropriate for a youth audience, blending accessible storytelling with more advanced language and ideas.
The plot is well-constructed, not unlike an architectural masterpiece, with a driving central mystery surrounded by numerous overlapping coincidences that ornament the story nicely, both challenging the reader’s understanding of the mystery and developing characters through small side plots. Though I personally found aspects of Tommy, Petra, and Calder’s growth overly simple, it makes Balliett’s writing more digestible, and though somewhat overt, the fact that it is there at all is pleasing. I will not spoil the mystery, but I will say that the ending of the novel brings together various details of the plot nicely; that said, it does leave a few ideas floating in the reader’s imagination, almost begging the question of whether this novel is more realistic fiction or realistic fantasy… Reminiscent of Hardy Boys style, the mystery rides an exponential rising action to an extreme climax that is followed by rapid resolution—a fast-paced rollercoaster well-tailored to younger audiences.
What differentiates this novel from its contemporaries is the myriad of goals it achieves simultaneously. First and foremost, the novel entertains; however, it also subtly educates young readers on such topics as the history of American architecture, classic literature, and of course, pentominoes (if you’re like me and have never heard of these, look ‘em up, or, alternatively, read the book); additionally, it stresses important formative values, including imagination, curiosity and independent thinking, collaboration, and tolerance. Though most of my time spent reading other Young Adult literature was as a young adult, I can think of few novels of such high class.
And then there are the easter eggs. It seems like nearly each chapter is connected to another in some hidden way, whether it is through subtle plot details or the cleverly drawn illustrations that consistently suggest the happenings of something fishy. Though I gave up on playing the hidden game embedded in each of the Very Fun Drawings, little more needs to be said than the illustrator’s name: Brett Helquist. If you spend a little time searching, you may find that he is somewhat inscrutable—a word which here means there is much more to him than meets the eye…
As a child I loved reading, and time spent with good books is often a major part of my personal nostalgia. This may be an underlying reason for my recent pleasure in revisiting the realm of YA lit, but I can safely say that it is far from just my personal bias that made The Wright 3 a fantastic read; Balliett’s authorship truly stands up to all but the legends of her genre in only her second ever YA novel.
If you’re feeling adventurous, curious, or just ready for some light fun, The Wright 3 may be just the Wright book for you…
February 9, 2017
Calder and Petra form an (at first) uneasy alliance with Tommy Segovia, who was a minor character in the first book, to solve another mystery involving art. The sympathetic school teacher and the crusty but wise old lady put in appearances, and we get the usual overdone magical realism, as well as some rather one-dimensional villains. But, as in the first book, there are some enjoyable illustrations, and some historical facts which show a love of history and art.
February 4, 2011
Blue Balliett's mystery books featuring the three amateur kid sleuths are just excellent! In The Wright 3, she deftly blends the art of Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture, math, and mystery into a compelling tale of suspense. And, she does it with no dead bodies. Very smooth indeed. As with Balliett's other two books I've read in this series, Chasing Vermeer and The Calder Game, she revs up my interest in the featured artist and leads me to even further reading. Now isn't that exactly what a great read should do? I highly recommend this book and the other two for young adults/children and adults alike.
October 10, 2025
A Fun and Nostalgic Art Mystery
I’ve been loving the chance to revisit some of my childhood favorites, and the Chasing Vermeer series has always held a special place in my heart. The Wright 3, the second book in the series, may not reach the same spectacular heights as the first, but it’s still such a fun and clever read.
Even knowing how the story would unfold, I thoroughly enjoyed re-reading it. The blend of puzzles, art, and mystery makes it feel timeless, and it reminded me exactly why I’ve always been fascinated by art heists and thefts. While it might not be as flawless as its predecessor, it’s still a wonderful installment that kept me entertained and brought back all the nostalgia.
I’ve been loving the chance to revisit some of my childhood favorites, and the Chasing Vermeer series has always held a special place in my heart. The Wright 3, the second book in the series, may not reach the same spectacular heights as the first, but it’s still such a fun and clever read.
Even knowing how the story would unfold, I thoroughly enjoyed re-reading it. The blend of puzzles, art, and mystery makes it feel timeless, and it reminded me exactly why I’ve always been fascinated by art heists and thefts. While it might not be as flawless as its predecessor, it’s still a wonderful installment that kept me entertained and brought back all the nostalgia.
January 14, 2021
This book is a good mystery for middle grade readers, and a plus for this Chicago teacher is that it is set in Chicago! I think it would be even more powerful if the students lived in Hyde Park, but this would be a great book to pair with learning about Frank Lloyd Wright. This book did take a little bit to get into, so it’s a slow burn mystery, but it’s also about friendship. Also a great way to introduce students/young readers to magical realism. Don’t mind having it in my classroom library, I don’t think.
May 14, 2019
The theme of this book is that there is always room for one more friend. Like how when Petra and Calder where friends and then Tommy Calder´s old friend moved back from his other house and wanted to be friends with Calder . Tommy was not being very nice to Petra and they did not like each other. This broke Calder´s heart and when they made up everyone was happy and they worked together and solved the mystery. They could not have solved the mystery without each other.
October 20, 2024
Once I finished the first book while out of town, I plowed right through to the second one! I like this one just as good as the first, I love the recurring theme throughout the series that the mystery/heist revolves around a famous artist. And the occasional illustrations with clues to the plot hidden inside and the codes to decipher are just wholesome and fun! Another great read if you need a palette cleanser!
August 13, 2023
ANOTHER CHILDHOOD FAVORITE! Super fun and intriguing. Also appreciate the references to real places in Chicago 😌 Petra is a wonderful heroine and role model for young girls. I admired her a lot growing up and still do.
February 10, 2024
them: your review better not just be the lyrics to Simon & Garfunkel’s “So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright”
me:
So long, Frank Lloyd Wright
I can't believe your song is gone so soon
I barely learned the tune
So soon, so soon
I'll remember Frank Lloyd Wright
All of the nights we'd harmonize 'til dawn
I never laughed so long
So long, so long
Architects may come, and architects may go
And never change your point of view
When I run dry
I'll stop awhile and think of you
Architects may come and architects may go
And never change your point of view
So long, Frank Lloyd Wright
All of the nights we'd harmonize 'til dawn
I never laughed so long
So long, so long
So long, so long
So long, so long
So long
(So long already, Artie!)
So long
me:
So long, Frank Lloyd Wright
I can't believe your song is gone so soon
I barely learned the tune
So soon, so soon
I'll remember Frank Lloyd Wright
All of the nights we'd harmonize 'til dawn
I never laughed so long
So long, so long
Architects may come, and architects may go
And never change your point of view
When I run dry
I'll stop awhile and think of you
Architects may come and architects may go
And never change your point of view
So long, Frank Lloyd Wright
All of the nights we'd harmonize 'til dawn
I never laughed so long
So long, so long
So long, so long
So long, so long
So long
(So long already, Artie!)
So long
May 14, 2019
When I saw "middle-grade novel" on one of the reading challenges I'm doing this year, this book immediately came to mind. I had seen it many years ago at the Robie House gift shop, but felt like I'm too old to read it. This was a cute mystery that's great for Chicagoans and architecture nerds (both of which I am). I'd highly recommend this series to any of my friends with kids.
September 5, 2024
There is no way a criminal who is fully planning on burning three children alive, would untie one of them to let them use the bathroom right before. Otherwise, a fun story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2017
I remember reading this years ago, and it was just as exciting now. It was maybe a bit too scary for me though, haha, I thought someone was gonna come kill me in the middle of the night.
October 24, 2021
A well-written page turner, especially for fans of kid-lit and Frank Lloyd Wright. I couldn’t put it down!
March 11, 2024
This book, like its predecessor, was a great cozy read. The characters and world are always engaging and I also learn a lot of new and interesting things. I would put it a notch below Chasing Vermeer only because I felt that the mystery was less defined, although I can see that being a plus for some other people. Overall, would read again and looking forward to picking up the next one.
December 8, 2014
I haven’t read a children’s book for eight years, but when duty calls, we don’t say no. This is an entertaining book too, especially if you’re game for a lightweight mystery and don’t mind hastily tied ends. You don’t even have to have read the first one in the series.
It did help me to have read The Invisible Man because I’d hate to have incomplete knowledge of such an integral allusion. Yet I’m pretty sure very few young readers would have read Wells’s book before picking up (or being assigned) this one – Wells wrote for older readers than Balliett does. So most won’t recognize the excerpts quoted at length from that book. Are they mainly for this book’s parent (or teacher) audience? I suppose so, since Wells’s story itself is less important than its title and its atmospheric images: the cape, the bandaged face, the spooky shenanigans. Maybe the progression will go the other way: young readers of this book will be intrigued by that book.
That’s obviously the kind of gateway good kids’ fiction can function as, and this one introduces its target audience to an intriguing bundle of general knowledge: the Robie House and Frank Lloyd Wright; Fibonacci numbers and the golden spiral; Monet’s haystacks and Van Gogh’s bedroom (no Vermeer this time); and pentominoes, which I learned about for the first time myself. As Balliett says in her Goodreads profile, we need to encourage kids to be able to see connections between seemingly unrelated concepts, which they do find great fun. They need to balance with lateral thinking all the linear reasoning we teach them in school.
The house at the center of the mystery was interesting to read about, but because it famously defies easy description, and because I have scant spatial intelligence (thanks to a lack of pentomino exposure in my youth), I found it hard to visualize where the sleuths were climbing or which side they escaped the bad guys on. I kept wishing I had seen the building before – online pictures and Brett Helquist’s otherwise terrific illustrations could only go so far. The neighborhood map was very helpful, though, not to mention the video on the author’s website.
Searching for hidden images in Helquist’s distinctive pictures should also keep minds busy, not to mention taking sides in the pre-angsty drama within the friendship triangle. (And an ethnically diverse triangle it is too!) The fun in books like this is, after all, more in the thrilling clues and answers along the way than in the solution to the mystery. Once everything had been cleared up at the end, I saw only one loose end: Was the caped man on the train just a coincidence??
In this book, surely not. Or maybe that’s answered in Book 3?
It did help me to have read The Invisible Man because I’d hate to have incomplete knowledge of such an integral allusion. Yet I’m pretty sure very few young readers would have read Wells’s book before picking up (or being assigned) this one – Wells wrote for older readers than Balliett does. So most won’t recognize the excerpts quoted at length from that book. Are they mainly for this book’s parent (or teacher) audience? I suppose so, since Wells’s story itself is less important than its title and its atmospheric images: the cape, the bandaged face, the spooky shenanigans. Maybe the progression will go the other way: young readers of this book will be intrigued by that book.
That’s obviously the kind of gateway good kids’ fiction can function as, and this one introduces its target audience to an intriguing bundle of general knowledge: the Robie House and Frank Lloyd Wright; Fibonacci numbers and the golden spiral; Monet’s haystacks and Van Gogh’s bedroom (no Vermeer this time); and pentominoes, which I learned about for the first time myself. As Balliett says in her Goodreads profile, we need to encourage kids to be able to see connections between seemingly unrelated concepts, which they do find great fun. They need to balance with lateral thinking all the linear reasoning we teach them in school.
The house at the center of the mystery was interesting to read about, but because it famously defies easy description, and because I have scant spatial intelligence (thanks to a lack of pentomino exposure in my youth), I found it hard to visualize where the sleuths were climbing or which side they escaped the bad guys on. I kept wishing I had seen the building before – online pictures and Brett Helquist’s otherwise terrific illustrations could only go so far. The neighborhood map was very helpful, though, not to mention the video on the author’s website.
Searching for hidden images in Helquist’s distinctive pictures should also keep minds busy, not to mention taking sides in the pre-angsty drama within the friendship triangle. (And an ethnically diverse triangle it is too!) The fun in books like this is, after all, more in the thrilling clues and answers along the way than in the solution to the mystery. Once everything had been cleared up at the end, I saw only one loose end: Was the caped man on the train just a coincidence??
In this book, surely not. Or maybe that’s answered in Book 3?
May 17, 2012
Secret codes. Invisible men. Pentominoes. Fibonacci numbers. Hidden Pictures. Geometry. Red herrings. Murder. The Wright 3, a middle grade mystery for boys and girls by Blue Balliett, has all of these PLUS a plot that captures the reader’s attention and refuses to let go.
When 6th-graders Tommy, Calder, and Petra hear that the Robie House, a 1910 Frank Lloyd Wright house in their Chicago neighborhood, is to be cut into sections and donated to four museums, they band together to try and rescue this unique architectural jewel from destruction.
Following Chasing Vermeer, which featured Petra and Calder, this second book begins with Tommy moving back to Chicago with hopes of rekindling his friendship with Calder. But since Petra and Calder are a team, the first obstacle the three overcome is figuring out if and how they can be a threesome. Using multiple points-of-view, Balliett shows how the Wright 3 (as they name themselves) conquer their initial misunderstandings, pool their talents, solve several mysteries, and eventually save the Robie House.
Balliett does an incredible job of integrating math concepts into this fun, fast-paced book. In addition, each chapter includes intriguing illustrations by Brett Helquist adding another dimension to the story. Each illustration is a mystery: can the reader find the hidden pictures and patterns in each one? As I read it I was faced with a dilemma—should I stay and try to figure out the picture or keep on reading?
The Wright 3 would make a great classroom read as students would vie with one another to figure out the subtle nuances hidden in the black and white drawings. If so, they should listen to the advice of the children’s wise neighbor, “Coincidence reminds me of the repetitions in the Robie House. The more you look, the more you see.” (p. 310)
When 6th-graders Tommy, Calder, and Petra hear that the Robie House, a 1910 Frank Lloyd Wright house in their Chicago neighborhood, is to be cut into sections and donated to four museums, they band together to try and rescue this unique architectural jewel from destruction.
Following Chasing Vermeer, which featured Petra and Calder, this second book begins with Tommy moving back to Chicago with hopes of rekindling his friendship with Calder. But since Petra and Calder are a team, the first obstacle the three overcome is figuring out if and how they can be a threesome. Using multiple points-of-view, Balliett shows how the Wright 3 (as they name themselves) conquer their initial misunderstandings, pool their talents, solve several mysteries, and eventually save the Robie House.
Balliett does an incredible job of integrating math concepts into this fun, fast-paced book. In addition, each chapter includes intriguing illustrations by Brett Helquist adding another dimension to the story. Each illustration is a mystery: can the reader find the hidden pictures and patterns in each one? As I read it I was faced with a dilemma—should I stay and try to figure out the picture or keep on reading?
The Wright 3 would make a great classroom read as students would vie with one another to figure out the subtle nuances hidden in the black and white drawings. If so, they should listen to the advice of the children’s wise neighbor, “Coincidence reminds me of the repetitions in the Robie House. The more you look, the more you see.” (p. 310)
January 29, 2017
Being familiar with Hyde Park, the University of Chicago and being intimately familiar with Robie House and other Wright buildings, I was a little worried. The author did a great job with this book. You can tell she understands children and her ability to spin a yarn while keeping it from getting maudlin or trite is greatly appreciated.
In the story, Robie House is once more being threatened by the wrecking ball. The university has been saddled with it for a lot of years and never did much in the way of maintenance. (Just because a structure was designed by FLLW doesn't mean it doesn't require upkeep, for Pete's sake.) In the 1970s, I visited it with Dr. Sprague, then a professor of architectural history, and we examined the nooks and crannies. It was in rough shape at that point, and the university was weighing its options.
The truth is that during the time frame of the book, the jewel was not being threatened - it was being restored, so that's the good news. The story however, focuses on some very plausible what-ifs and she developed a lovely parallel set of circumstances that probably only kids who attend the Lab School would have the background to understand!
The story focuses on friendship and how the notion of two's company, three's a crowd could come into play. Instead, the 3 characters often form triangles. The fish motif was fun to find in the artwork, and the idea of seeing a human figure in FLLW's art glass design was just plain neat!
The amount of Robie house history she wove in, and architectural terms she defined so deftly, were very well integrated in the story line.
All in all, I highly recommend this book, especially for kids who live in Chicagoland. My Virginia students might be unable to make any of these connections, but that won't stop me from trying it out with them.
In the story, Robie House is once more being threatened by the wrecking ball. The university has been saddled with it for a lot of years and never did much in the way of maintenance. (Just because a structure was designed by FLLW doesn't mean it doesn't require upkeep, for Pete's sake.) In the 1970s, I visited it with Dr. Sprague, then a professor of architectural history, and we examined the nooks and crannies. It was in rough shape at that point, and the university was weighing its options.
The truth is that during the time frame of the book, the jewel was not being threatened - it was being restored, so that's the good news. The story however, focuses on some very plausible what-ifs and she developed a lovely parallel set of circumstances that probably only kids who attend the Lab School would have the background to understand!
The story focuses on friendship and how the notion of two's company, three's a crowd could come into play. Instead, the 3 characters often form triangles. The fish motif was fun to find in the artwork, and the idea of seeing a human figure in FLLW's art glass design was just plain neat!
The amount of Robie house history she wove in, and architectural terms she defined so deftly, were very well integrated in the story line.
All in all, I highly recommend this book, especially for kids who live in Chicagoland. My Virginia students might be unable to make any of these connections, but that won't stop me from trying it out with them.
October 31, 2025
One of my favorites from childhood that still holds magic as an adult
June 16, 2017
This book is better than Chasing Vermeer like 100x!
February 26, 2009
I needed a break from the heavy fantasy of JRR Tolkien and this was in the free pile at work. Balliet's inspiration (From the Mixed-Up Files...) is one of my favorite YA reads and I love Helquist's illustrations, so I thought I'd give it a shot.
The story is a bit far-fetched (natch), and there are too many loose ends (did the house REALLY come alive? Who was saying "stay and play?" Who was the man in the cape on the train?) and too many supernatural elements which were sort of brushed aside in the resolution. It also seemed a bit like Balliet wanted to include a number of references (Invisible Man, Rear Window, etc.) and wrote this story specifically so she could fit them all together.
This is a niggling point, but if Petra's so bookish, and she's pictured with a dictionary next to her as she reads, why doesn't she look up any of the words that confuse her as she tears through the Invisible Man? GRAGH.
Still, a fun read and it got me interested in a building I've never really thought about (and a book I've never read -- I ordered the Invisible Man), so I suppose the book has done at least as much as it set out to do.
The story is a bit far-fetched (natch), and there are too many loose ends (did the house REALLY come alive? Who was saying "stay and play?" Who was the man in the cape on the train?) and too many supernatural elements which were sort of brushed aside in the resolution. It also seemed a bit like Balliet wanted to include a number of references (Invisible Man, Rear Window, etc.) and wrote this story specifically so she could fit them all together.
This is a niggling point, but if Petra's so bookish, and she's pictured with a dictionary next to her as she reads, why doesn't she look up any of the words that confuse her as she tears through the Invisible Man? GRAGH.
Still, a fun read and it got me interested in a building I've never really thought about (and a book I've never read -- I ordered the Invisible Man), so I suppose the book has done at least as much as it set out to do.
August 3, 2012
Ah. Another forcefed book by Blue Balliet.
After reading Chasing Vermeer(and wanting to slit my throat throughout), I had no intention of reading the sequel, seeing as most sequels are never as good as the original anyway. But, my teacher just absolutely had to choose it for some required reading. I almost died.
Following the previous awful plot of Chasing Vermeer, these Chicago kids decide that since they solved the painting mystery, they must be able to do anything. So they decide to form some kiddie cult, The Wright 3. Another fail from Blue Balliet.
I'm beginning to think that Blue Balliet has just chosen the wrong profession. He/She (i honestly have no idea) is just doing the totally wrong thing. These books have tortured my thoughts.
Oh, and just so you know, there are still little "decoding" paragraphs. Annoying. As. Hell!!!!
So, once again I do not recommend this Balliet monster, or any of the other ones. That is all.
Love and Rockets,
Nick With The Dragon Tattoo
After reading Chasing Vermeer(and wanting to slit my throat throughout), I had no intention of reading the sequel, seeing as most sequels are never as good as the original anyway. But, my teacher just absolutely had to choose it for some required reading. I almost died.
Following the previous awful plot of Chasing Vermeer, these Chicago kids decide that since they solved the painting mystery, they must be able to do anything. So they decide to form some kiddie cult, The Wright 3. Another fail from Blue Balliet.
I'm beginning to think that Blue Balliet has just chosen the wrong profession. He/She (i honestly have no idea) is just doing the totally wrong thing. These books have tortured my thoughts.
Oh, and just so you know, there are still little "decoding" paragraphs. Annoying. As. Hell!!!!
So, once again I do not recommend this Balliet monster, or any of the other ones. That is all.
Love and Rockets,
Nick With The Dragon Tattoo
December 30, 2016
This book was very interesting and always kept me turning the page. There are three main characters. These are, a girl named Petra Andalee, a boy named Calder Pillay, and another boy named Tommy Segovia. The minor characters are, a teacher named Ms. Hussey, Goldman the goldfish, Zelda Segovia, Black Glasses, and Thin Head. The book is about saving a important piece of art in Chicago, Illinois. This art piece is The Robie House. The children and their classmates are trying to save the house from being torn down and distributed to museums around the world. this book has lots of plot twists and is very secretive. This book has a genre of historical fiction mixed with a tad of mystery. The underlying plot elements include 3-D pentominoes, Frank Lloyd Wright, the Robie House Fibonacci numbers, The Invisible Man, and other mysterious occurrences. I hope you decided to pick up the great piece of literature, The Wright 3. P.S. The meaning of the name "The Wright 3" will pop up in the story later :). This book has also won the award of the Annual Pentomino Excellence Award for its use of incorporating this element.
June 5, 2008
The timing for reading this book couldn't have been better. It's a young adult book set in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood. The Robie House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, plays a key role in the book and after reading this, we've decided to visit the Robie House while we are in Chicago with Anna and Bekah this weekend. They even have a Wright 3 Tour, so it will be age appropriate for the girls.
As with Chasing Vermeer, this book is clever and well-written. I love that the characters (who are 12) act their ages, complete with awkward moments and uncomfortable friendship situations. I also love seeing two boys and a girl represented as having a completely platonic relationship. Each of the main characters (Petra, Tommy and Calder) have unique personalities and skills that they bring to the "Wright 3" as they investigate the mysterious happenings surrounding the Robie House.
This is a quick, enjoyable read and a great way to get younger readers interested in (or just thinking about!) architecture.
As with Chasing Vermeer, this book is clever and well-written. I love that the characters (who are 12) act their ages, complete with awkward moments and uncomfortable friendship situations. I also love seeing two boys and a girl represented as having a completely platonic relationship. Each of the main characters (Petra, Tommy and Calder) have unique personalities and skills that they bring to the "Wright 3" as they investigate the mysterious happenings surrounding the Robie House.
This is a quick, enjoyable read and a great way to get younger readers interested in (or just thinking about!) architecture.
October 6, 2016
This book was so different compared to the other books I read.
From the lights flickering to seeing imprints of feet in puddles, it was super creepy.
I do most of my reading at night and it played games with my mind, big time.
I dont recall who it was, but one of the reviews for the novel was "Da'Vinci code for teens" and I agree 100% with it. it's so weird and sketchy.
From the drawings to the Pentominoes and Fibonacci numbers creating a picture of a buddha woman in the stain glass windows of Wright's house.
They referenced "The Invisible Man" by H.G.Wells in the novel. They quoted lines from the book and also had an invisible man supposedly in the house and walking about. Hence the reason Petra seen foot prints under and around cars.
I dont want to say too much and possibly ruin the novel for you, so all I can say is, go read it. The novel is written so beautifully and you won't want to put it down.
From the lights flickering to seeing imprints of feet in puddles, it was super creepy.
I do most of my reading at night and it played games with my mind, big time.
I dont recall who it was, but one of the reviews for the novel was "Da'Vinci code for teens" and I agree 100% with it. it's so weird and sketchy.
From the drawings to the Pentominoes and Fibonacci numbers creating a picture of a buddha woman in the stain glass windows of Wright's house.
They referenced "The Invisible Man" by H.G.Wells in the novel. They quoted lines from the book and also had an invisible man supposedly in the house and walking about. Hence the reason Petra seen foot prints under and around cars.
I dont want to say too much and possibly ruin the novel for you, so all I can say is, go read it. The novel is written so beautifully and you won't want to put it down.
October 30, 2015
I'm giving this book a heavily biased four stars. I say biased because this book centers around Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture, which I absolutely adore. Take away the Wright buildings, and this book would probably get a three star rating instead. My major complaint is that Calder and Petra have started to grate on me. I could tolerate their idiosyncrasies at first, but now they're extremely irritating. I swear, if I see the words "pentomino" or "coincidence" one more time...
The series still captivates me, though. Despite Calder's weird fixation on pentominoes, he's still a likeable character. I'm positively psyched about him being the subject of The Calder Game.
The series still captivates me, though. Despite Calder's weird fixation on pentominoes, he's still a likeable character. I'm positively psyched about him being the subject of The Calder Game.
October 17, 2014
This book was great! A wonderful kids' mystery, lots of fun, but enough to keep me interested as an adult. My friend got me to go to the Robie house this past summer ... now I understand why she was so excited about it. I would love to go again now that I've read the book. I'd like to check out some of the things I just read about. I have to admit, it is a very amazing house! And this book was such fun, the attempt to save the house (as it was, in reality, saved from demolition several times!)
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March 26, 2010I am at the part where Tommy's house gets robbed! Following they find that the important fish charm that can save the robbie house has been stolen.
I think this book so far i kind of scary and mystours becasue...... There are people who are willing to risk lives to get this house "murders"... Now here are 3 kids up against who knows what! But because of these parts it makes you want to read on, not put the book down! This book is really exciting
I think this book so far i kind of scary and mystours becasue...... There are people who are willing to risk lives to get this house "murders"... Now here are 3 kids up against who knows what! But because of these parts it makes you want to read on, not put the book down! This book is really exciting
December 11, 2017
I did not like this book at all. One of the things that angered me the most was how many strange details were immediately assumed to relate to the mystery of the Robie House. It was almost like the author just wanted to get the book over with as soon as possible! It took me a while to finish because I kept stalling, which is a pretty bad sign. I would not recommend it to anyone older than 12.
December 21, 2011
Enough with the pentominoes. Enough with Tommy sucking in his cheeks. Enough with the lectures about Frank Lloyd Wright. Who was the man on the train? What did Mrs. Sharp really know? Did the roof really move? These questions weren't answered, so why bring them up? Ugh. I was so happy to be done with this book.
October 1, 2015
This book was amazing! I love how Blue Balliett wrote the amazing adventure of three kids out to save the Robie House, one of Frank Lloyd Wright's spectacular buildings. The artwork tells its own story, perhaps in more ways than one... Balliett is the Alfred Hitchcock of the modern world. This book is suspenseful and intriguing and the illustrations are breathtaking.
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