Common Sense Media Review
By Lucinda Dyer
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Riveting story of art, mental illness, brotherly devotion.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
VINCENT AND THEO were best friends from childhood, brothers with a bond that was sometimes shaken but never broken. Raised in the Netherlands by parents who loved nature, the arts, and books, both left home in their middle teens to begin working for their uncles, who owned prestigious art galleries in several European cities. While Theo was set on a career as an art dealer, Vincent struggled. Fired from his uncle's gallery, he had a religious reawakening, taught at a boy's boarding school in England, and attended theology school in Amsterdam and an evangelical training school in Brussels. Finally he decided to become an artist. Unable to support himself, he spent the rest of his life largely depending on Theo to send him money for food, shelter, and painting supplies. Both brothers had chaotic love lives, falling in love with women who either didn't return their affections or were "unsuitable," and both had mental breakdowns. Throughout it all, Theo tried to find recognition for Vincent's work. The brothers died within six months of each other, Vincent from suicide and Theo from syphilis.
Is It Any Good?
This biography reads like the very best fiction: vivid, colorful, and dramatic. It's full of complex characters, rich backdrops, and unexpected plot twists. Because the chapters are short "snapshots" from their lives -- an event, a conversation, a day with the family, a love affair gone wrong, or Vincent working on a painting -- the book never overwhelms readers who may know nothing about the Van Goghs or the art world in which they lived. It can be read and enjoyed by readers with a wide range of interests -- as a biography of one of the world's most acclaimed painters, as a dramatic family saga, or the story of friendship and brotherly bonds. A detailed timeline at the end of the book helps readers keep track of Vincent and Theo from childhood until their deaths. Websites listed in the bibliography (including the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and the Metropolitan Museum in New York) will allow interested readers easy viewing access to many of Van Gogh's finest works. Vincent and Theo is an exceptional reading experience for both teens and parents.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Vincent and Theo deals with mental illness. How do you think the Van Gogh family could help Vincent if he lived in 2017 instead of the 1880s and '90s? How can you tell if someone is just wildly eccentric or has mental health issues?
Have you ever visited an art museum or art gallery? How different was the experience from looking at a famous painting online?
Are you especially close with your sister or brother? How is the bond between siblings different from the bond between friends?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Biography
- Topics : Arts , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , History
- Book type : Non-Fiction
- Publisher : Henry Holt & Company, Inc.
- Publication date : April 18, 2017
- Number of pages : 454
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : ALA Best and Notable Books
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate