If You Liked Chasing Vermeer

This article originally appeared in SLJ’s Extra Helping. Sign up now!

-- School Library Journal, 5/28/2008 1:13:00 PM

Readers who like mysteries, puzzles, and lots of twists and turns in interesting locales will dig these titles.

GROSSMAN, David. Duel. tr. from Hebrew by Betsy Rosenberg. Bloomsbury. 2004. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-1-58234-930-5. 
Gr 4-7–When 12-year-old David signs up to volunteer at the local seniors’ home, he becomes fast friends with Mr. Rosenthal, who is 70 years young. When a rival from the past accuses Mr. Rosenthal of stealing part of a portrait and challenges him to a duel, David jumps into action to find the missing art and keep his friend out of danger. With its quick pace and mystery twist, this is a great choice for reluctant readers.

LAFEVERS, R. L. Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos. Houghton. 2007. Tr $16. ISBN 978-0-618-75638-4; pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-618-99976-7.
Gr 4-7–While Theo’s parents research and recover ancient artifacts, her unacknowledged role is to diffuse all the black magic these objects bring to her home, which happens to be the Museum of Legends and Antiquities in London. Part Name of the Rose with a dash of Indiana Jones, this fast-paced and smart story has villains readers will love to hate, and a lovable young heroine who is smarter than the adults around her.

DE TREVIÑO, Elizabeth Borton. I, Juan de Pareja. Farrar. 1965. Tr $17. ISBN 978-0-374-33531-1. 
Gr 5-10–Readers will be transported to early-17th-century Spain and the studio of the Spanish painter Velázquez in this fictional account of the life of Juan de Pareja, a black slave who becomes the artist’s most trusted friend and coworker. There is a different type of mystery in this book—how two men can be equal, yet one owns the other. Rich in historical detail and sure to stimulate discussion.

Remarkable Reads are produced by the editors at NoveList, the leader in readers' advisory electronic resources. For more information, visit NoveList.