Pieces and Players

About this book

THE PIECES
Thirteen extremely valuable pieces of art have been stolen from one of the most secretive museums in the world. A Vermeer has vanished. A Manet is missing. And nobody has any idea where they and the other eleven artworks might be . . . or who might have stolen them.

THE PLAYERS
Calder, Petra, and Tommy are no strangers to heists and puzzles. Now they've been matched with two new sleuths -- Zoomy, a very small boy with very thick glasses, and Early, a girl who treasures words . . . and has a word or two to say about the missing treasure.

The kids have been drawn in by the very mysterious Mrs. Sharpe, who may be playing her own kind of game with the clues. And it's not just Mrs. Sharpe who's acting suspiciously -- there's a ghost who mingles with the guards in the museum, a cat who acts like a spy, and bystanders in black jackets who keep popping up.

With pieces and players, you have all the ingredients for a fantastic mystery from the amazing Blue Balliett.

Reviews

Advance Praise for Pieces and Players:

"Balliett again deftly merges mystery, art and friendship into another perplexing puzzler." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Fun and engaging." -- School Library Journal


Praise for Chasing Vermeer:

"Balliett is an original . . . Thick with devilish red herrings, this smart, playful story never stops challenging (and exhilarating) the audience." -- Publishers Weekly

"Puzzles, codes, letters, number and wordplay, a bit of danger, a vivid sense of place, and a wealth of quirky characters enrich the exciting, fast-paced story that's sure to be relished by mystery lovers." -- School Library Journal


Praise for The Wright Three:

* "Another tour de force." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review


Praise for The Calder Game:

* "Balliett outdoes herself with this ambitious novel." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "Balliett again offers readers new ways to think." -- Booklist, starred review


Praise for The Danger Box:

* "This highly satisfying story will enlighten readers even as it inspires them to think." -- School Library Journal, starred review

"A spine-tingling tale . . . kids are in for an adventure." -- Chicago Sun Times


Praise for Hold Fast:

"[Blue Balliett's] latest and most heart-rending novel . . . [The] multi-faceted Early Pearl, ever observant and always pondering, shines as bright as any diamond." -- New York Times Book Review

* "Wonderful . . . will pierce all readers" -- Booklist, starred review

* "A moving story of homelessness, family, and the love of words and books . . . Enthralling and satisfying." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "Balliett paints a vivid picture, a literary composition reminiscent of an Impressionist painting . . . Excellent." -- School Library Journal, starred review

"This novel abounds in heart, shining a spotlight on the gritty truths about homelessness." -- Publishers Weekly

"Vivid and compelling." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

A 2013 Parents' Choice Gold Award Winner

Extras

Discussion Guide: Novels of Blue Balliet