Under the Egg
by Laura Marx Fitzgerald
Meet Theodora Tenpenny, a 13 year old living in New York with her unstable mother and kindly grandfather, Jack. In this mystery-filled novel, the reader learns that Jack is a painter and security guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The family is poor and money is always an issue. Her mother spends her days working on theories of logic which become illogical.
Tragedy strikes as her grandfather dies after being struck by a taxi. Lying in the street, Theo hears his last words, “Look under the egg.”
While in her grandfather’s art studio, Theo mulls over the meaning of her grandfather’s words when a mouse crawls up her leg causing rubbing alcohol to spill on one of Jack’s paintings. As Theo scrambles to clean the chemical off, she discovers another painting is underneath! It looks like it could be a painting by famous artist, Raphael.
Did her grandfather steal the painting?! This prospect is very troubling. Theo decides that her grandfather wants her to trace the painting and find the origin of this myster-ious work of art. She meets Bodhi, the daughter of famous actors, who quickly becomes Theo’s friend and fellow detective! Together they travel all over the city tracking clues through an exploration of art history and world war.
A fast read with historically-based details which may be a surprise to many readers unfamiliar with WWII and art history. 6th – 8th grades. Great read-a-loud for teachers!
by Laura Marx Fitzgerald
Meet Theodora Tenpenny, a 13 year old living in New York with her unstable mother and kindly grandfather, Jack. In this mystery-filled novel, the reader learns that Jack is a painter and security guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The family is poor and money is always an issue. Her mother spends her days working on theories of logic which become illogical.
Tragedy strikes as her grandfather dies after being struck by a taxi. Lying in the street, Theo hears his last words, “Look under the egg.”
While in her grandfather’s art studio, Theo mulls over the meaning of her grandfather’s words when a mouse crawls up her leg causing rubbing alcohol to spill on one of Jack’s paintings. As Theo scrambles to clean the chemical off, she discovers another painting is underneath! It looks like it could be a painting by famous artist, Raphael.
Did her grandfather steal the painting?! This prospect is very troubling. Theo decides that her grandfather wants her to trace the painting and find the origin of this myster-ious work of art. She meets Bodhi, the daughter of famous actors, who quickly becomes Theo’s friend and fellow detective! Together they travel all over the city tracking clues through an exploration of art history and world war.
A fast read with historically-based details which may be a surprise to many readers unfamiliar with WWII and art history. 6th – 8th grades. Great read-a-loud for teachers!