Chasing Vermeer

On a warm October night in Chicago, three strangers receive identical, unsigned letters hinting at a centuries-old crime involving a great painter. The letters invite their recipients to help right a historical wrong, warning of danger if they involve the authorities. This mysterious correspondence sets off a chain of events that will draw together two sixth-graders, Calder and Petra , and their unconventional teacher, Ms. Hussey , into a web of art, secrets, and puzzles. The stage is set for a mystery that will challenge their perceptions and test their courage. Calder , a boy obsessed with p

Theme 1: Three Mysterious Letters

This thread running through Chasing Vermeer gives the story its emotional weight. Blue Balliett weaves it into the narrative with skill, ensuring that the reader feels the stakes as deeply as the characters do.

Theme 2: Patterns and Pentominoes

This thread running through Chasing Vermeer gives the story its emotional weight. Blue Balliett weaves it into the narrative with skill, ensuring that the reader feels the stakes as deeply as the characters do.

Theme 3: Unlikely Partners

This thread running through Chasing Vermeer gives the story its emotional weight. Blue Balliett weaves it into the narrative with skill, ensuring that the reader feels the stakes as deeply as the characters do.

What Readers Say About Chasing Vermeer

Chasing Vermeer has resonated with readers for its emotional honesty and vivid storytelling. Many describe finishing it in a single sitting — drawn forward by Blue Balliett's prose and an almost desperate need to know how it ends.

A Passage Worth Sitting With

"Three Mysterious Letters" — Blue Balliett, Chasing Vermeer

About the Author

Blue Balliett is the author of Chasing Vermeer. Known for emotionally resonant storytelling, their work has found devoted readers across the globe.