Masterpiece

Masterpiece

By Elise Broach

11 ratings 15 reviews 24 followers
Interest LevelReading LevelReading A-ZATOSWord Count
Grades 4 - 8Grades 3 - 5U4.851897

Marvin lives with his family under the kitchen sink in the Pompadays' apartment. He is very much a beetle. James Pompaday lives with his family in New York City. He is very much an eleven-year-old boy.After James gets a pen-and-ink set for his birthday, Marvin surprises him by creating an elaborate miniature drawing. James gets all the credit for the picture and before these unlikely friends know it they are caught up in a staged art heist at the Metropolitan Museum of Art that could help recover a famous drawing by Albrecht Dürer. But James can't go through with the plan without Marvin's help. And that's where things get really complicated (and interesting!). This fast-paced mystery will have young readers on the edge of their seats as they root for boy and beetle.

In Shakespeare's Secret Elise Broach showed her keen ability to weave storytelling with history and suspense, and Masterpiece is yet another example of her talent. This time around it's an irresistible miniature world, fascinating art history, all wrapped up in a special friendship― something for everyone to enjoy.

Masterpiece is a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Publisher: Square Fish
ISBN-13: 9780312608705
ISBN-10: 0312608705
Published on 3/30/2010
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 320

Book Reviews (16)

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masterpice is a real masterpice! I never expected a beetle to be best friends with a boy. James became a real crime solver at the end.I love this book!

I loved the friendship between Marvin (beetle) and James (human boy) as they learned about art and how to do the right thing.

i love masterpiece its about this kid who has no artistic talent but his dads and artest so he gives the kid ( james ) a pen and ink set so a little beetle uses this ink and paints whats out side the window and his parents think its his oh how i adore that book

this is an amazing book read it in 4grade i love mysteries and bob0615y1 don't give away the story never give away such a great book

This such an amazing book. It is a great Mystery. And if you like plans and stolen drawings then you will like this.

This is a great book full of mystery and plot twists I loved it. It is one of my favorite books