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.
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"I chose this book out of a Scholastic catalog just because it sounded cute. I read it out loud to my 2 boys, 10 and 7 years old. The chapters were short, which meant we could still read one if we were cutting it close to bedtime. Or I could get one read while they ate breakfast. Most of the time they would beg for more chapters, especially at the end. It's a story of a beetle and a boy and their adventures involving some drawings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art after a crime. I thought it was great for reading aloud and enjoyed it as much as the kids." — Lara (5 out of 5 stars)
"I chose this book out of a Scholastic catalog just because it sounded cute. I read it out loud to my 2 boys, 10 and 7 years old. The chapters were short, which meant we could still read one if we were cutting it close to bedtime. Or I could get one read while they ate breakfast. Most of the time they would beg for more chapters, especially at the end. It's a story of a beetle and a boy and their adventures involving some drawings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art after a crime. I thought it was great for reading aloud and enjoyed it as much as the kids."
" Loved it! I'm not generally a bug fan, but Marvin was so endearing. This book could be just as influential as The Borrowers and the Littles. "
" Realistic fiction, mystery, art, friendship. Very quick read and would be a fabulous read aloud for grades 2-4. James receives a pen and ink set for his birthday from his artist father. Marvin (a beetle living in James's house) draws a picture using the ink set as a gift to James. James's parents mistakenly think he has drawn this amazing picture and show it to some art historians which begins an art heist. This book kind of reminds me of The littles but with beetles. I can see elementary boys loving this book. "
" The story was very slowly paced and only got interesting towards the end "
" Fun read! Nice mystery and loved the story from the cockroach's point of view. That was different although I still do not like cockroaches...I recently book talked this one to a group of home schoolers and several of them had already read it. "
" Due to a cold, I stopped reading and ordered the audio version from the library. My 7 year old is now listening while following along in the book. The audio version is great and very easy to listen to. "
" Good Cricket in Timesquare read alike. "
" A combination art heist/ animal story I would suggest this to both fans of Chasing Vermeer and A cricket in Times Square. The delightful writing made this a treat. "
" Good choice for kids who like art. Charming illustrations. Main character - a beetle - draws, and art is central to the plot. "
" Loved the relationship b/w a beetle and an eleven-year-old boy. Just as good as Shakespeare's Secret! "
" Cute book about an unlikely friendship and loyalty. "
" I liked this little mystery. You learn a bit about art, which is always good to introduce kids to. It does go off on a wasted word tangent about the turtles but other than that, I thought it was fun. Will recommend to kids at school. "
" This was a really cute story about Marvin the beetle. It's so strange; I don't know how the author thought of such a crazy idea for this book, but I still liked it. I'm going to have to read it again because I can't really remember what happens in the end. Definitely a good read. "
" Son picked this off the bookstore shelf. Just finished reading to him out loud. It was wonderful. "
" It's is by the same person that wrote Shakespere's Secret. "
" This book was a delightful surprise. It's a touching story of an unusual friendship. "
" I have read this book 4 times "
" Great little story, just loved it "
" Great book for anyone that liked Chasing Vermeer series "
" This book is probably the best book I have ever read! It's a very inspiaring book about a bug that can actully draw pictures! "
" This was a very cute story. It is about a human boy and a beetle who become friends and help solve a crime together. I love the art references, though I am an art lover so it might just be me but I thought it made the story a whole lot more interesting. "
" easy quick-read but really good, just like elise broach's Shakespeare's Secret "
" Read this with Ethan for his Buzz Books work in school. Super cute story about art and friendship. "
" This little book started off kind of slow - and I don't like bugs - but it quickly drew me in and it turned out to be a real page-turner with twists and turns and lots of suspense. "
" What a crack up. This was so cute. "
" Great book club book! Fun, interesting, enjoyable! "
" Great book to read with my 6 year old son. The story really highlights the importance of testing your limits and having the courage to explore the unknown. "
" This is a fun 4-5th grade read, but I still can't get over the fact that our hero was a beetle, living behind a wall, in a family's kitchen - ew. "
" Has some good historical fiction. Great for teaching kids about art and artists. Very entertaining. "
" Like a Cricket in Times Square, the Mouse and the Motorcycle, and many others, this story will click with any kid who needs a friend, and finds one hiding in his or her room! The sketches are fantastic and it's an enjoyable read. "
" I'm a huge Durer fan and that didn't even make this an interesting read. "
" Very cute & sweet story about a beetle who discovers an artistic talent, and how he and a human boy named James help to foil an art theft. "
" Very good book about friendship. "
" Again for BOB... I still have a problem with books about cockroaches (she calls them "beetles" but we all know what she really means), but still a fun little story. "
" A great book, giving kids insight into how the art world does (and doesn't) work; the importance of loyalty and honesty and of stretching yourself beyond your comfort zone for a good reason. "
" Masterpiece was a masterpiece.It was a great story about a boy a bug and stolen artwork. "
" I think that the bug is really talented because not all bugs can draw pictures. AND I can't believe that they can communicate. "
Elise Broach is the author of the acclaimed novel Shakespeare’s Secret, as well as several picture books. She lives in Easton, Connecticut, with her family.
Eli Brown lives on an experimental urban farm in Alameda, California. His writing has appeared in The Cortland Review and Homewrecker: An Adultery Reader. His first novel, The Great Days, won the Fabri Literary Prize.
James Langton, an Earphones Award–winning narrator, trained as an actor at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and later as a musician at the Guildhall School in London. He has worked in radio, film, and television, also appearing in theater in England and on Broadway. He is also a professional musician who led the internationally renowned Pasadena Roof Orchestra from 1996 to 2002.
Jeremy Davidson played the role of Master Sergeant Chase Moran for five seasons in the television series Army Wives, and has guest-starred on numerous shows, including Brothers & Sisters, Cold Case, Without a Trace, and Boston Legal. He has appeared extensively onstage, including opposite John Goodman and Brenda Fricker in the Geffen Playhouse production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. An Earphones Award–winning narrator, he has also given voice to a number of bestselling audiobooks.
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