Recommendations based on Chasing Vermeerby Blue Balliett

* statistically, based on millions of data-points provided by fellow humans

  1. Half-Moon Investigations

    by Eoin Colfer
    Fletcher Moon, a twelve-year-old private detective, investigates a crime at his school and uncovers a web of lies and deceit.

    Fletcher Moon (often called "Half-Moon" due to his short stature) is a natural born investigator. Knowing this, April, a girl from his school comes to him for help in finding a lock of hair that she ... (Wikipedia)

  2. The Maze of Bones

    by Rick Riordan
    An adventure to uncover the truth behind the mysterious Cahill family, and save the world from destruction.

    Many of the well-known names in history are said to be part of the real-life Cahill family, making it "the most powerful family in the world." Amy and Dan, the main protagonists, currently live in ... (Wikipedia)

  3. When You Reach Me

    by Rebecca Stead
    A young girl in 1970s New York City receives mysterious notes that seem to predict the future. She must unravel the mystery before it's too late.

    Miranda is an ordinary sixth grader, until she starts receiving mysterious messages from somebody who knows all about her, including things that have not even happened yet. Each message brings her ... (Goodreads)

  4. The Name of This Book Is Secret

    by Pseudonymous Bosch
    Two kids embark on a dangerous adventure to uncover the secrets of a mysterious magician's hidden legacy.

    Warning: this description has not been authorized by Pseudonymous Bosch. As much as he'd love to sing the praises of his book (he is very vain), he wouldn't want you to hear about his brave 11-year ... (Goodreads)

  5. Gossamer

    by Lois Lowry
    A young girl's journey to discover the power of hope in her world of sorrow and despair.

    The book's omniscient point of view, Littlest One, affectionately called Littlest, is out on a dark night. As she and her mentor, Fastidious, stealthily sneak into a woman and her dog's home and ... (Wikipedia)

  6. Messenger

    by Lois Lowry
    A young boy's mission to save his community, using his bravery and ingenuity.

    Matty, who was introduced in Gathering Blue as "Matt", now lives with Seer, who was originally named Christopher and is a blind man rescued by the people of the Village years earlier. Outside the ... (Wikipedia)

  7. Rodrick Rules

    by Jeff Kinney
    Greg's older brother Rodrick torments him while their parents are away, leading to hilarious mishaps and sibling rivalry.

    At the start of the book, Greg Heffley explains how bad his summer vacation was in which after being signed up with the swim team without his consent, he had to deal with practice at 7:00 AM, being ... (Wikipedia)

  8. The Westing Game

    by Ellen Raskin
    A mysterious game of wit and skill, with a fortune as the prize.

    BE CLASSIC with, The Westing Game, introduced by, New York Times, bestselling author Mac Barnett. A highly inventive mystery begins when sixteen unlikely people gather for the reading of the very ... (Barnes & Noble)

  9. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

    by Kate DiCamillo
    Edward, a china rabbit, embarks on a journey of self-discovery, learning the power of love.

    Edward Tulane is a china rabbit given to a ten-year-old girl named Abilene , by her grandmother in the 1930s. He enjoys a pleasant but vain life with his young mistress, who treats him with the ... (Wikipedia)

  10. Son

    by Lois Lowry
    A young boy's journey of personal growth as he discovers the truth about his past and his family.

    Son is written in three parts, each with a subtitle: Before , Between , and Beyond . Before takes place in the same location, "The Community," and at the different time as The Giver . Claire's ... (Wikipedia)

  11. Savvy

    by Ingrid Law
    A family discovers the power of their special inherited magical gifts.

    For generations, the Beaumont family has harbored a magical secret. They each possess a "savvy" -a special supernatural power that strikes when they turn thirteen. Grandpa Bomba moves mountains, her ... (Goodreads)

  12. The Julian Chapter

    by R.J. Palacio
    A young boy learns to confront his fears by talking to an imaginary figure of his enemy.

    Over 1 million people have read Wonder and have fallen in love with Auggie Pullman, an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face. Now readers will have a chance to hear from the book's most ... (Goodreads)

  13. Peter and the Starcatchers

    by Dave Barry
    A prequel to Peter Pan, following Peter and Molly as they protect a magical substance from pirates.

    In 19th century London, an orphaned boy named Peter and fellow orphans James, Thomas, Prentiss, and Tubby Ted are shipped out on the decrepit Never Land , under the command of First Mate Slank and ... (Wikipedia)

  14. The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey

    by Trenton Lee Stewart
    Four gifted children embark on a dangerous mission to save the world from a mysterious villain.

    After the events of the previous book, Mr. Benedict, and the children's parents, plan to bring the children back together for another adventure using their teamwork, skills, and intelligence. When ... (Wikipedia)

  15. A Crooked Kind of Perfect

    by Linda Urban
    Zoe dreams of playing piano at Carnegie Hall, but instead gets an organ and competes in the Perform-O-Rama.

    Ten-year-old Zoe Elias has perfect piano dreams. She can practically feel the keys under her flying fingers; she can hear the audience's applause. All she needs is a baby grand so she can start her ... (Goodreads)

  16. Maniac Magee

    by Jerry Spinelli
    A young orphan boy, Jeffrey Lionel Magee, becomes a legend in a racially divided town by bringing people together through his incredible feats of athleticism and kindness.

    Jeffrey Lionel Magee's parents were killed in a trolley accident when a drunk driver crashed and sunk it into the river in Bridgeport, Pennsylvania , orphaning him at age three. After living with his ... (Wikipedia)

  17. Midnight for Charlie Bone

    by Jenny Nimmo
    A young boy discovers he has magical powers, as he embarks on a mission to rescue a kidnapped friend.

    A magical fantasy that is fast-paced and easy-to-read. Charlie Bone has a special gift- he can hear people in photographs talking!,The fabulous powers of the Red King were passed down through his ... (Goodreads)

  18. The Thief Lord

    by Cornelia Funke
    Two orphaned brothers navigate a magical world in Venice, searching for a way to be reunited with their mother.

    The Thief Lord follows the story of two brothers, Prosper and Boniface (Bo), who run away to Venice, Italy. They are taken in by a group of street children who live in an abandoned movie theater, the ... (Wikipedia)

  19. Because of Winn-Dixie

    by Kate DiCamillo
    A girl's journey of self-discovery and healing, as she finds friendship in an unlikely companion.

    Kate DiCamillo's beloved, best-selling debut novel is now available in a paperback digest edition. Kate DiCamillo's first published novel, like Winn-Dixie himself, immediately proved to be a keeper—a ... (Goodreads)

  20. The Arctic Incident

    by Eoin Colfer
    A daring mission to save a kidnapped friend, uncovering a dastardly plot.

    The story opens at the Bay of Kola , just after the Russian Mafia have sunk the Fowl Star. Two low-ranking Mafia members discover the body of the former Irish crime lord Artemis Fowl I, who has ... (Wikipedia)

  21. Gregor the Overlander

    by Suzanne Collins
    A young boy's heroic quest to save his family and the world of Underland.

    Eleven-year-old Gregor is left home alone in his family's New York City apartment to watch his sister and grandmother. When Gregor's baby sister Boots falls through an old air duct grate in the ... (Wikipedia)

  22. Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life

    by Wendy Mass
    Jeremy Fink receives a box from his deceased father with four keys, leading him on a journey to discover the meaning of life.

    In one month Jeremy Fink will turn thirteen. But does he have what it takes to be a teenager? He collects mutant candy, he won't venture more than four blocks from his apartment if he can help it, ... (Barnes & Noble)

  23. Scat

    by Carl Hiaasen
    A mystery-adventure story set in the Florida Everglades, where a group of middle school students try to solve a crime and save endangered species.

    Bestselling author and columnist Carl Hiaasen returns with another hysterical mystery for kids set in Florida's Everglades. Bunny Starch, the most feared biology teacher ever, is missing. She ... (Goodreads)

  24. Every Soul a Star

    by Wendy Mass
    Three kids from different backgrounds converge at a campground to witness a total solar eclipse, discovering themselves and each other in the process.

    Almost 13-year-old Ally lives at a campsite called The Moon Shadow where she is homeschooled by her parents along with her 10-year-old brother Kenny. Although they don't have phone reception and have ... (Wikipedia)

  25. The Opal Deception

    by Eoin Colfer
    Artful master criminal Artemis Fowl must save a passenger spaceship and its passengers from a dangerous criminal.

    The book begins with the pixie Opal Koboi faking a coma inside a hospital to avoid incarceration by the Lower Elements Police (LEP) after her failed rebellion and attempt of world domination (which ... (Wikipedia)

  26. The Sword Thief

    by Peter Lerangis
    Dan and Amy Cahill race against time to find a stolen sword that could change history. The fate of the world is at stake.

    Ian and Natalie Kabra steal Amy and Dan Cahill's boarding pass in Venice airport, their au pair, Nellie Gomez, is already on the plane. Amy and Dan are then forced to team up with Alistair Oh, their ... (Wikipedia)

  27. One False Note

    by Gordon Korman
    Young sleuths solve a centuries-old mystery of a missing musical masterpiece.

    Dan, Amy, and their au pair Nellie, found music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in the end of The Maze of Bones, leading them to Vienna, Austria, to learn about him and find a related clue. In Vienna, Amy ... (Wikipedia)

  28. Beyond the Grave

    by Jude Watson
    A group of teens with psychic abilities must solve a mystery involving a haunted house and a missing fortune.

    Amy and Dan head for Cairo , Egypt , with their au pair Nellie Gomez, to find a clue, hidden by Ekaterina founder, Katherine Cahill. They were tailed by Irina Spasky , but escape to a store with an ... (Wikipedia)

  29. Flush

    by Carl Hiaasen
    A humorous tale of a dog named Flush, who helps his owner, a girl named Noah, seek revenge on a polluting casino boat owner.

    The narrator of the story is a teenage boy named Noah Underwood. Noah's father, Paine, a passionate environmentalist, has been arrested for sinking the Coral Queen , a casino boat operated by "Dusty" ... (Wikipedia)

  30. Shiver

    by Maggie Stiefvater
    A teenage girl falls in love with a werewolf, but their romance is threatened by the dangers of his transformation.

    For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In ... (Goodreads)