the calder game. blue balliett. brett heloquist. (228)

while at the albany park library, when subbing, the book spine for the calder game caught my eye.  was it about the artist, alexander calder? i amazoned it and was, so i put in a request at the library.

the lacma had a calder exhibit a while back and i remember being in awe of the mobiles.  just like the characters in the novel, i was impressed by their balance and the movement.  there was not too much movement with all the pieces though in its little own little pocket, a slight flow of air moved the mobile, "snow flurry" which i thought was magical and my favorite!!  so i was excited to see what the novel had to offer.

i have to say that right off the back the bat, the epigraphs were a quote from alexander calder and banksy!!!

the calder game is actually the third in a series that center around a preteen boy named calder and his bests friends petra and tommy.  they are like a mini mystery solving team and a little reminiscent of harry potter and his gang down to petra and hermione both having hair issues.  calder is name for alexander calder, (which i thought i was adorable and i might steal if i ever have a boy) his parents loved alexander calder's work around chicago, where they live.  i have been to chicago but was unaware of the massive calders that are there.  i would like a trip back to see them especially universe in the sears tower.  i think i went to the sears tower but i do not recall universe. oh well.  i have been to the mca which is where the calder exhibit takes place in the novel.

the calder game opens with the calder and his friends on a class trip to visit the exhibit.  they are with a strict teacher and so are unable to fully enjoy it.  i have to add that these kids were also some serious deep things for their age.  however, i hope that their love and insight about the art would inspire kids that read this work to visiti museums.  calder discovered a room in which guest were invited to create their own mobiles as part of the calder game.  sadly, their strict teacher does not allow them.

then, calder received exciting news that he is going to england with his father.  his father is going for work and calder to gets to tag-a-long.  they are both in shocked when they arrive because in the square of the small english village they are staying in is a calder sculpture, the minatour (which the author made up).  calder explored the village on his own,  which i found shocking because he was only twelve but it was a small town.  in his defense, he is very bright for his age though he can not spell for the life of him which i found out of character.  but i guess the author wanted him to seem his age.  as calder explored he began to learn that the village is not friendly toward americans and hate the calder sculpture which was donated by an anonymous donor.

then one day, calder and the minatour go missing.  they are two events seem unrelated.  it should be added that there is suspension banksy might be behind the missing sculpture. sadly calder's mother became injured on while packing for her trip over there so unable to come.  due to this, mrs. sharpe, a friend from previous adventures (aka books) decided to go to england and bring tommy and petra.  due to this mrs. sharpe reminded me of mrs. basil e. frankweiler.  however, mrs. sharpe is a bit uptight which is odd because she suggested taking the kids.

once in england, they all set on their ways to find calder.  i assumed that with the name game in it there would be sort of game that kids solved but there wasn't.  what caused the sculpture and calder to go missing was simply a series of random events.  in the end, calder is saved and the sculpture recovered.  i won't ruined the surprise.  but if you are anticipating something like the westing game look elsewhere.

i have to add the illustrations in the novel have calder code (a code the kids made up) hidden in it but i couldn't find them so gave up, so there is that for kids.

all in all, i think this is great book to hopefully get kids excited about art! i think it's great that it is filled with so much information on calder.  it is also filled with the history of that area of england.  i hope the other novels are like this and plan on reading those soon.