A New York Times bestselling middle grade mystery novel full of
adventure, friendship, and stolen art.
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.