Parents' Guide to

The Calder Game

By Matt Berman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Third in the series is the weakest of all.

Book Blue Balliett Mystery 2008
The Calder Game Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 10+

Based on 2 parent reviews

KatKat555
KatKat555 Adult
September 2, 2019
age 11+

This is a great book!

I loved this! I definitely do not agree with the two stars! This book is filled with interesting facts and many interesting twists! I love that it is about a real artist and place! My son and I learned some new things about art, math, and history! I highly recommend!

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
bballgirl47
bballgirl47 Parent of 12 and 14-year-old
September 28, 2009
age 8+

Good for tweens and older but not younger.

I love it i Think that as long as your kids understand that they should never talk to a stranger not tell you about it and not go with them somewhere alone, it is great. It got my 12 year old interested in art.

This title has:

Educational value
Great role models
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

After a class trip to see an exhibition of the works of Alexander Calder in Chicago, Calder Pillay travels to a small village in England with his father, who is attending a conference. There they discover another work of Calder in the town square, but soon after they arrive both the artwork and the boy disappear. Hearing this, Calder's friends, Tommy, Petra, and Mrs. Sharpe, arrive to help with the investigation.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (4 ):

Chasing Vermeer was a tightly woven, and the sequel, The Wright 3, was entertaining, but THE CALDER GAME makes it clear that the author went one book too far.

Codes are still here, but have nothing to do with the plot. Pentominoes have become little more than something for Calder to fiddle with. The mystery is bogus, and the kids, after much lurking around, don't even solve it. There's really nothing left except for the author's fascination with art, which she tries to pound into her readers at tedious length. Even the story sags; The author lamely tries to gin up some tacked-on suspense with foreboding chapter endings that lead nowhere and are about nothing -- "a sense of something hovering" (there isn't anything), watching eyes (which are never connected to anyone), strange sounds, and the like. Balliett writes well enough, but it's time for her to move on to a new idea.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Alexander Calder and his amazing art. Why does it have the effect on us that it does? In what way is it art? To learn more about Calder, start with the links below, and look to see if there is any of his art near you that you can visit. Also, there are many books on how to make mobiles, and your kids may enjoy trying their hands at it.

Book Details

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