Masterpiece

By Elise Broach and Kelly Murphy

Marvin lives with his family under the kitchen sink in the Pompadays' apartment. He is very much a beetle. James Pompaday lives with his family in New York City. He is very much an eleven-year-old boy.After James gets a pen-and-ink set for his birthday, Marvin surprises him by creating an elaborate miniature drawing. James gets all the credit for the picture and before these unlikely friends know it they are caught up in a staged art heist at the Metropolitan Museum of Art that could help recover a famous drawing by Albrecht Dürer. But James can't go through with the plan without Marvin's help. And that's where things get really complicated (and interesting!). This fast-paced mystery will have young readers on the edge of their seats as they root for boy and beetle.

In Shakespeare's Secret Elise Broach showed her keen ability to weave storytelling with history and suspense, and Masterpiece is yet another example of her talent. This time around it's an irresistible miniature world, fascinating art history, all wrapped up in a special friendship— something for everyone to enjoy.

Masterpiece is a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Publishers
• Release date: Sep 30, 2008
• ISBN: 9781429985086

Elise Broach

Elise Broach is the New York Times bestselling author of Masterpiece, Shakespeare’s Secret and Desert Crossing, Missing on Superstition Mountain, the first book in the Superstition Mountain Trilogy, as well as several picture books. Her books have been selected as ALA notable books, Junior Library Guild selections, a Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Book, a New York Public Library Best Book for the Teenage, an IRA Teacher’s Choice, an E.B. White Read Aloud Award, and nominated for an Edgar Award, among other distinctions. Ms. Broach holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in history from Yale University. She was born in Georgia and lives in the woods of rural Connecticut, walking distance from three farms, a library, a post office and two country stores.

Book preview

ch01

A Family Emergency

Home, for Marvin’s family, was a damp corner of the cupboard beneath the kitchen sink. Here, a leaking pipe had softened the plaster and caused it to crumble away. Just behind the wall, Marvin’s family had hollowed out three spacious rooms, and, as his parents often remarked, it was a perfect location. It was warm, because of the hot-water pipes embedded in the wall; moist, to make burrowing easy; and dark and musty, like all the other homes the family had lived in. Best of all, the white plastic wastebasket that loomed on one side offered a constant litter of apple cores, bread crumbs, onion skins, and candy wrappers, making the cupboard an ideal foraging ground.

Marvin and his relatives were beetles. They had shiny black shells, six legs, and excellent night vision. They were medium-sized, as beetles go, not much bigger than a raisin. But they were very agile: good at climbing walls, scurrying across countertops, and slipping under closed doors. They lived in the large apartment of a human family, the Pompadays, in New York City.

One morning, Marvin awoke to find the household in an uproar. Usually the first sounds of the day were the gentle rustlings of his parents in the next room and, in the distance, the clank of pots in the Pompaday kitchen sink. But today he heard the frantic clicking of Mrs. Pompaday’s high heels, and her voice, anxious and shrill. Just as he was beginning to wonder what had happened, his mother came looking for him in a great hurry.

Marvin! she cried. Come quickly, darling! We have an emergency.

Marvin crawled out of the soft cotton ball that was his bed and, still only half-awake, followed her into the living room. There, his father, his uncle Albert, and his cousin Elaine were deep in conversation. Elaine ran to him and grabbed one of his legs.

f0002-01

"Mrs. Pompaday has lost her contact lens! Down the bathroom sink! And since you’re the only one who knows how to swim, we need you to fish it out!"

Marvin drew back in surprise, but his cousin continued happily. Oh! What if you drown?

Marvin was not nearly as thrilled at this prospect as Elaine. I won’t drown, he said firmly. I’m a good swimmer.

He’d practiced swimming for almost a month now, in an old juice bottle cap filled with water. He was the only member of his entire family who could swim, a skill his parents both marveled at and took credit for.

Marvin has exceptional coordination, such fine control over his legs, Mama often remarked. It reminds me of my days in the ballet.

When he sets his mind to something, there’s no stopping him, Papa would add smugly. He’s a chip off the old block.

But right now, these words were little comfort to Marvin. Swimming in a bottle cap was one thing—it was half an inch deep. Swimming inside a drainpipe was something else altogether. He paced the room nervously.

Mama was talking to Uncle Albert, looking mad. Well, I should think not! she exclaimed. He’s just a child. I say let the Pompadays call a plumber.

Papa shook his head. It’s too risky. If a plumber goes poking around in there, he’ll see that the wall is rotting away. He’ll say they need to replace it, and that’ll be the end of Albert and Edith’s home.

f0004-01

Uncle Albert nodded vigorously and beckoned to Marvin. Marvin, my boy, what do you say? You’ll have to go down the bathroom pipe and find that contact lens. Think you can handle it?

Marvin hesitated. Mama and Papa were still arguing. Now Papa looked at him unhappily. I’d go myself, son—you know I would—if I could swim.

No one can swim like Marvin, Elaine declared. But even Marvin may not be able to swim well enough. There’s probably a lot of water in that pipe by now. Who knows how far down he’ll have to go? She paused dramatically. Maybe he’ll never make it back up to the surface.

Hush, Elaine, said Uncle Albert.

Marvin grabbed the fragment of peanut shell that he used as a float when he swam in his own pool at home. He took a deep breath.

I can try, at least, he said to his parents. I’ll be careful.

Then I’m going with you, Mama decided, to make sure you aren’t foolhardy. And if it looks the least bit dangerous, we won’t risk it.

And so they set off for the Pompadays’ bathroom, with Uncle Albert leading the way. Marvin followed close behind his mother, the peanut shell tucked awkwardly under one of his legs.

ch02

Down the Drain

It took them a fair bit of time to reach the bathroom. First they had to crawl out of the cupboard into the bright morning light of the Pompadays’ kitchen. There, baby William was banging on his high chair with a spoon, scattering Cheerios all over the floor. Ordinarily, the beetles might have waited in the shadows to snatch one and carry it off for lunch, but today there were more important tasks ahead. They scuttled along the baseboard to the living room, and then began the exhausting journey over the Oriental rug, which at least was dark blue, so they didn’t have to worry about being seen.

All the way to the bathroom, Marvin could hear Mr. and Mrs. Pompaday yelling at each other.

I don’t understand why you can’t just take the pipe apart and find it, Mrs. Pompaday complained. That’s what Karl would have done. Karl was Mrs. Pompaday’s first husband.

"You take the pipe apart and find it. And flood the bathroom. Then we’ll have to replace more than your contact lens, Mr. Pompaday fumed. He stomped to the phone. I’m calling a plumber."

f0007-01

Oh, fine, said Mrs. Pompaday. He’ll take all day to get here. I have to leave for work in twenty minutes, and I won’t be able to find my way to the door without my contact lenses.

James, Mrs. Pompaday’s son from her first marriage, stood in the doorway. He was ten years old, a thin boy with big feet, serious gray eyes, and a scattering of freckles across his cheeks. He would be eleven tomorrow, and Marvin and his family had been trying to think of something nice to do for his birthday, since they infinitely preferred him to the rest of the Pompaday family. He was quiet and reasonable, unlikely to make sudden movements or raise his voice.

Seeing him now, Marvin remembered how James had caught sight of him once, a few weeks ago, when Marvin was dragging home an M&M he’d found for the family dessert. Marvin had been so excited about his good luck that he’d forgotten to stay close to the baseboard. There he was, out in the open sea of cream-colored tile in the kitchen, when James’s blue sneaker stopped alongside him. Marvin panicked, dropped the M&M, and ran for his life. But James only crouched down and watched him, never saying a word.

Marvin hadn’t told his parents about that particular close call. He’d vowed to himself that he’d be more careful in the future.

Now James shifted thoughtfully on those same blue sneakers. You could wear your glasses, Mom, he said.

Oh, fine, said Mrs. Pompaday. Wear my glasses. Fine. I guess it doesn’t matter what I look like when I meet clients. Maybe I should just go to work in my bathrobe.

By this time, Uncle Albert, Marvin, and his mother had reached the door of the bedroom, and the bathroom lay just beyond. Unfortunately, the three humans were effectively blocking the route. Three jittery pairs of feet—one in sneakers, one in high heels, and one in loafers—made it hard to find a safe path.

Stay close to me, Mama told Marvin. She hurried along the door frame. Dodging the spikes of Mrs. Pompaday’s heels, Marvin and Uncle Albert followed.

They made it up the bathroom wall to the sink without mishap. Normally, the light tile would have made them easy targets for a rolled-up newspaper or the bottom of a slipper. But the Pompadays were so engrossed in their argument that they didn’t notice three shiny black beetles scrambling onto the sink.

I’ll keep a lookout, Uncle Albert said. You two go ahead.

Marvin and his mother tumbled and slid down the smooth side of the sink to the drain. They ducked under the silver stopper and stood on the edge of the open pipe, staring into blackness.

Marvin could hear a distant trickling sound. As his eyes adjusted, he saw water, murky and uninviting, a few inches below. He thought of Cousin Elaine’s grim prediction and shuddered. Why hadn’t his mother taken a firmer stand against this?

Well . . . here I go, he said to Mama, who promptly grabbed his leg and held fast.

Now don’t do anything rash, darling, she told him. Go slowly, and come right back to me if it seems dangerous.

Okay, Marvin promised. He clutched his peanut-shell float and took a deep breath. Then he launched himself into the void.

He barely remembered to shut his eyes before the cold water closed over his head. Pedaling his legs frantically, he came bobbing back up to the surface. The cloudy water tasted vaguely of toothpaste. It smelled horrible.

Marvin? Marvin, are you all right? Mama’s voice echoed thinly in the pipe.

I’m fine, he called back.

He swam through the scummy water, which was littered with every nasty thing that might wash down a human’s drain: bits of food, hair, slivers of soap. He wanted to throw up.

Do you see it yet? his mother called.

No, Marvin answered. He suddenly realized he had no idea what a contact lens looked like.

Then, as he was about to turn back, he did see something: a thin plastic disc, stuck to the side of the pipe. It looked just like the fruit bowl Mama used at home. Out of breath, he shot back up to the surface.

I found it, Mama! he yelled.

Oh, good, darling. His mother breathed a sigh of relief. Now we’d better hurry, before someone turns on the faucet and washes us both away.

Marvin discovered he couldn’t hold on to the contact lens and the peanut shell at the same time. Reluctantly, he let go of his float, took a deep breath, and plunged under the water again.

In the distance, he heard his mother cry, Marvin! Your float! But he moved his legs swiftly, unburdened by the peanut shell, and glided down through the dark water. He swam straight to the contact lens and clasped it with his front two legs. Pulling it away from the side of the pipe, he shot quickly back to the surface. Through the lens, he could see his mother, wavy and distorted, looming above him. She’d crawled down the side of the pipe to the water’s edge, beckoning to him.

f0011-01

Oh, Marvin, thank heavens. You are a wonder, darling. What leg control. I wish my old ballet crowd could see you. She took the lens from him. Whew! The water smells positively vile. And what a fuss over this little thing! Why, it looks exactly like my fruit bowl.

Holding it gingerly on her back, Mama crawled up the pipe. She scooted under the stopper, with Marvin close behind her, and together they dragged the lens up the side of the sink.

Uncle Albert rushed down to meet them. By George, you’ve done it! he cried. Marvin, my boy, you’re a hero! A hero! Wait till I tell your aunt Edith!

Marvin beamed modestly. He flexed his legs and shook them dry.

Let’s see, where shall we put it? Mama asked.

They looked around. By the faucet, maybe, Marvin suggested. That way, it won’t get washed down the drain again.

They placed the lens near the hot-water handle and dashed behind a green water glass just as James walked into the bathroom.

After all this trouble, they’d better find it, Mama whispered grimly. Marvin kept his eyes on the contact lens. It glistened in the morning light, a faint blue color.

They could hear Mr. Pompaday on the phone with the plumber. What’s that? Oh, okay, I’ll look. He bellowed, James! Are you in the bathroom? Make yourself useful. Are the pipes in there copper or galvanized steel?

James stood at the sink. I don’t know, he said. But, Mom, I found your contact lens. It’s right here by the faucet.

And then what a commotion: Mrs. Pompaday rushing into the bathroom in disbelief, Mr. Pompaday loudly apologizing to the plumber, and James lifting the contact lens in his outstretched palm.

Well, I guess that’s that, Mama said to Marvin as soon as the bathroom emptied. We’d better head back and let your father know you’re all right.

So Mama, Uncle Albert, and Marvin ambled home, where everyone greeted them joyfully. Papa, Aunt Edith, and Elaine all patted Marvin on his shell, but nobody wanted to hug him. He was wet and slimy, and smelled overpoweringly of the drain water.

I think I need a bath, Marvin said.

And then Mama and Papa fussed over him, filling the bottle cap with warm water and adding a single grain of turquoise dishwashing detergent. Marvin sank into the bubbles and floated in the pool to his heart’s content, until he was shiny and clean again.

ch03

The Birthday Party

The next day was Saturday, James’s birthday. There was to be a party, a large one, and the Pompadays’ dining room was festooned with streamers and balloons. As Marvin and his parents foraged for breakfast under the kitchen table, they listened to the plans.

I don’t want those boys eating in the living room, Mrs. Pompaday told James. "Make sure they stay at the table when it’s time for the

Reviews for Masterpiece

[abbylibrarian_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

From jacket flap: "Marvin lives with his family under the kitchen sink in the Pompadays' apartment. He is very much a beetle. James lives with his mother, stepfather, and baby brother in New York City. He is very much an eleven-year-old boy. After James gets a pen-and-ink set for his birthday, Marvin surprises him by creating an elaborate miniature drawing. James gets all the credit for the picture, and before these unlikely friends know it, they're caught up in an art heist at the Metropolitan Museum of Art..." This is a funny, quirky mystery story. Elise Broach has created a very endearing family of beetles and, to be honest, I found the beetle characters much more interesting than the mystery. It all wraps up a little too neatly and quickly for my taste. Though parts of the mystery were intriguing, there was never a real show-down at the end, never a real sense of danger or urgency. That said, it's an unusual story and one I will hand to kids looking for a mystery. The art heist in the book will appeal to fans of Chasing Vermeer and I think the quirky tone and animated beetle family will appeal to fans of Roald Dahl.

[librarybird08 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A beetle who discovers he can draw with his antennae makes friends with a boy and the two set out to solve an art heist mystery together at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. Great for book club at school and we invite the art teacher to join us.

[ohioyalibrarian · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Eleven year old James is friends with Marvin, a beetle living in his house. Marvin is an artist and makes wonderful drawings that James' parents wrongly attribute to him. When a famous drawing by Durer is stolen from a museum, James and Marvin find themselves caught in the middle of this mystery. Marvin knows who the thief is but can't talk or write to let James know. Does Marvin manage to communicate and help James solve the mystery? Read Masterpiece to find out. I loved this book until the afternotes when I realized that the famous Durer drawings in the book were fictional. I'm a bit confused about why the author took a real artist, yet made up drawings by that artist. The book made me want to see and find out more about the drawings. I was disappointed when I found out that they did not exist. Still, fans of Chasing Vermeer will love this book.

[amoore1_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

James gets into a sticky situation when his mother, Ms. Pompaday, finds a beautiful tiny drawing on his desk. Ms. Pompaday thinks that James has created it when in fact it is the work of a beetle, Marvin, who lives with his family within the Pompaday's walls. Later, when James is asked to recreate a famous Druer drawing he knows that he cannot do it with out the help of his new bug friend Marvin. Marvin agrees to help him go into the dangerous outside world of New York City despite his family's wishes. In the end, Marvin is safe and helps lead to the discovery of who stole the Druer. Themes of this novel include unexpected friendships and family. I did not really love this book but I do think that most students would enjoy it. I would possibly use "Masterpiece" as a "chapter a day book" because every chapter ends in a way that makes readers want to know what is going to happen next.

[ccbell · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Marvin is a beetle that lives in a little boys house. One night while the boy is asleep Marvin draws a beautiful portrait with the boys new ink set. Marvin and the boy become friends and Marvin begins to draw masterpieces for the boys parents, while they think it's really their boy drawing them. The boy and Marvin go on adventures and do many different things all in the name of art and friendship. This book would be great for 4th grade and up. Even though it is a fantasy novel, because beetles could never talk. It shows a great example of friendship.

[bethdalton · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Masterpiece is the charming story of a lonely, overlooked boy, James Pompaday and a young, well-loved beetle, Marvin. On James’ birthday his father gives him a pen-and-ink set. This birthday gift is initially as unwanted as the other carelessly chosen gifts of James’ birthday party guests. Marvin decides to create a drawing as a gift for James and Marvin finds that he can create a wonderfully delicate drawing with his legs. Of course, the humans assume that James has created this museum quality drawing, and James now receives the attention that he has craved. His father takes him to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and shows the drawing to the museum curator and to an old friend of his from the Getty Museum in Los Angeles. James and Marvin are drawn into a plot to solve a mystery involving the theft of several Albrecht Dürer drawings. This book weaves mystery, art history, and a story of a unlikely friendship together to create a wonderful tale. Masterpiece has won multiple awards including the E.B. White Read Aloud Award, Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year Award, and it appears on the 2009 American Library Association Notable Children's Books list. This book will appeal to mystery lovers from the ages of 9 to 13.

[mburgess_58 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A beetle family lives underneath the sink in James' house. James and the beetle become friends and help a museum catch a picture thief. I loved this story. I think that children need to read stories likes this so that it can build their imagination.

[jesouhaite · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A very artistic beetle named Marvin and a boy, James, get caught up in a mystery of stolen artwork, forgery, and a lasting friendship that is unusual to say the least. A fun light romp of a story. Great for fans of Blue Balliett’s Chasing Vermeer, The Wright 3, or The Calder Game.Ages 9-12

[katitefft · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Masterpiece is a good example of modern fantasy because it tells the impossible story of how a friendship forms between a boy and beetle. This friendship develops as a result of a piece of art, which invites the reader into the world of art history, and more specifically, the famous artist Albrecht Durer. The information presented in thes book about Durer makes it a good piece of historical fiction as well. Readers will find the friendship to be sweet and likeable, but the mystery element is not nearly as captivating. It took a long time for the height of the mystery to be reached, and by that point the resolution was fairly predictable, While older readers might benefit more from the art history and extensive vocabulary present in this book, the plot may not be strong enough to adequately hold their attention. For younger readers, the plot will be engaging, but the vocabulary and historical information may be far too advanced.

[mad0_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book was cute and had some really intresting things about art and art forgeries. The whole art thing was very clever but the idea of a beetle and his mini paintings wasn't as good. Overall I liked her other book "Shakespeare's Secret" better.

[ambourg7 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a great read! The story is about a boy who befriends a beetle. Together they overcome personal weaknesses. This fantasy novel is a great read for elementary students. This story features friendship, art, communication, and family value. Great read!

[sammarocco · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A story about friendship, art and family values. Marvin is a beetle who lives in James' house. They end up becoming friends. James received an ink set for his birthday, which Marvin use to make him a drawing for his birthday. This drawing lead to many adventures and bonded the two together. This book would be great to talk to students about friendship, family, values, and art.

[krguarisco · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Masterpiece is a masterpiece! Such a great little book following a beetle who lives in a boys house and the adventures they go on. The book includes theft, forgery, and adventure. Definitely a page turner. I also really liked the fact that although it is a fantasy book the artist that the book revolves around is an actual person. I thought Broach did a great job of creating a fantasy book that also has characteristics of actual things. I also found it very cute that a beetle and a boy could be friends.

[fvalle89 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

read for Battle of the Books lit circle. Liked the book and I think that students could definitely get into it. It was nice having a specific role for things to look for. I was the connector and connected it a lot with The Invention of Hugo Cabret and more so Ratatouille. It's very similar in that the beetle is the artist but everyone thinks the boy is the artist. There is a huge mystery set up with a stolen painting. It's a fun read.

[melissadorish · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Marvin is an amazing artist and suddenly a lot of attention is lavished on his art work. The thing is, he's a beetle! Marvin lives with his family under a sink in a New York City apartment. James, 11, leaves his pen and ink set out one day and Marvin goes to work. James ends up getting the credit. On thing leads to another and pretty soon they are in the middle of a staged art heistMarvin lives with his family under the kitchen sink in the Pompadays’ apartment. He is very much a beetle. James Pompaday lives with his family in New York City. He is very much an eleven-year-old boy.After James gets a pen-and-ink set for his birthday, Marvin surprises him by creating an elaborate miniature drawing. James gets all the credit for the picture and before these unlikely friends know it they are caught up in a staged art heist at the Metropolitan Museum of Art that could help recover a famous drawing by Albrecht Durer. However, James can’t go through with the plan without Marvin’s help.

[leov_81 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

James is given a pen and ink set by his artist father. When Marvin, a beetle, sees James and his unhappy life he decides to draw him a picture to cheer him up. The result is astonishing. When Marvin asks 'Who did this?', Marvin reveals himself to James, and so begins a great friendship. When James' father sees the quality of the picture, which James takes the credit for, he takes James to the art gallery and unwittingly involves both James and Marvin in a dangerous art theft mystery. A well written and gripping story about a lonely boy and his little friend, for children aged 7 years up.

[abarnes012892 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

While first reading this story, I thought it wasn't going to be very interesting. But it turns out its actually a cute little book. Marvin the beetle can draw exceptionally well, and the parents of the boy think its him who can draw when he can't even draw a stick person. This is a fantasy book as well as a little mystery.

[59square · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Broach does a great job of making art theft accessible to young children in this book, through the eyes of a beetle. The beetle, Marvin, is an artist, and the young boy James that he befriends acts like the drawings are his – causing unforeseen circumstances when they go to the Met to see Durer’s miniatures which resemble Marvin’s. The theft is explained clearly, and there is no blood and guts ,which is good. Sometimes, though, I wondered if the author was putting too much on a beetle, who was smart, brave, and could communicate without words. Interesting, but a little flawed.

[vwhitt_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Masterpiece is the story of an unlikely friendship between James the little boy and Marvin the Beetle. The friendship came about when Marvin found himself in James’ room. He across drawing items and decided to leave James a picture. The picture was absolutely amazing! When James meets to creator of the masterpiece, they become best friends. When everyone thinks that James was the one to create the picture, they decided to keep up with the lie. Throughout the book, we meet several other characters and go on a fun adventure of finding a thief. This would be an interesting book for children because it’s an exciting fantasy tale with friendship and adventure. Details: This book was written to interest children in grades 5-8 and is on a 5.4 reading level.

[mparis_31 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Marvin is a beetle who lives with his family in the Pompaday's home. Marvin befriends one of the human children when he does an amazing, elaborate drawing for him as a birthday gift. The drawing is museum quality, and James, the human boy, has to take credit for doing the drawing to protect his little friend. There's more in store for this little drawing and its little artist, including thievery and master works of art. We also learn a lot about the famous painter, Durer.I loved this book. Ms. Broach makes little Marvin so humanistic and empathetic, and downright likable. This is a really exciting and educational book that I know I would have loved reading as a kid, and still enjoyed as an adult.Classroom connection: Art, the old masters

[klefort_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Masterpiece is the story of a little beetle named Marvin who lives with his family inside of James' house. James is a little boy who lives with his mother and step father. It turns out that Marvin can draw exceptionally well and together, he and James uncover stolen masterpieces for the museum. James and Marvin can understand each other without speaking verbally to one another. At first I didn't the story would be that interesting to me, but it turned out to be a very cute story! I love how we get a point of view from the beetles. Who knew beetles could be interesting?! When I was little, I used to always talk to bugs and animals as if they could actually understand me, so this book made me realize that the child version of me wasn't insane after all. It's only crazy if the animal talks back...

[akrause_22 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

James is a young boy who starts an unlikely friendship with a small beetle named Marvin who lives underneath the kitchen sink in his home. The odd pair end up going on an adventure that ultimately solves the mystery behind an art heist. The book involves everything from friendship, family, art, theft, and honesty. This book by Elise Broach would be great for young readers because it requires them to use their imagination and believe in the impossible.

[dbcollin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a nice story of a boy and a beetle that form an unlikely team in creating artwork that is comparable to art masters. Together the solve the mystery of the stolen Druer drawings from museum. This would be a good book to capture the interest of younger children. It would also be a nice lead into the world of art appreciation.

[karenball_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Delightfully fun! Marvin is a young beetle, living in the Pompaday's New York apartment kitchen cabinet with his family. Marvin dreams of leaving the apartment and seeing the larger world that is outside the windows, but that terrifies his family. Marvin befriends James, Mrs. Pompaday's older son, on his birthday, and gives him the gift of a tiny ink drawing of the scene out James's window. When the drawing is discovered by the adults, James takes credit for it, not quite knowing how to tell that it was a bug that created it! James goes to the Metropolitan Museum with his father to see some very famous drawings like his, and James is asked to create a copy of one to assist in an international art theft sting. Marvin works on the copy, but things don't quite go as planned, and James and Marvin get caught up in all kinds of twists and turns! This is a wonderful story about finding your own talents, trusting your friends, and forgiving their mistakes. The illustrations are as much fun as the story! Mystery, for 6th grade and up.

[christianr_899499 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Who knew that beetles were artistic? Marvin is a beetle who lives by the kitchen trash can in James' house. James is lonely, and Marvin befriends him and helps him to foil a plot to steal Albrecht Durer's drawings from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Marvin even helps by creating an amazingly close copy of one of Durer's pen and ink drawings. A fun mystery with deeper underlying themes.

[katec9999 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I picked up this book because I had just finished Elise Broach’s other book, Shakespeare’s Secret, and really enjoyed it. I enjoyed this book just as much, if not more, although it’s quite different from Shakespeare’s Secret. This story is about Marvin, a beetle who lives in the apartment of a boy named James in New York City. James is a quiet boy, kind of overwhelmed by his career-driven mother and step-father, and his artist father. Marvin is an adventurous beetle, who loves to explore James’ apartment and swim in his pool, a bottle cap filled with water. One day while exploring, he discovers a pen-and-ink set in James' room. He dips his front legs in the open ink, and starts to draw the scene that he sees out the window. The picture Marvin creates is beautiful, but James’ family thinks that he was the one who drew it. James discovers Marvin’s talent, and they even figure out how to communicate with each other. Their friendship grows as they become involved with helping to solve an art theft at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and during the adventure they both learn the value of honesty.This is an adorable book. The friendship between James and Marvin is one of the most touching ones I’ve ever read about. Kelly Murphy’s illustrations of Marvin and the pictures he creates are one of my favorite parts of this book. If you like mysteries about art like Chasing Vermeer and the sequels, or books about animals, you’ll love Masterpiece!

[smdorr · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a cute book where James, a young boy, meets a very unlikely friend who takes him on a once in a lifetime adventure. This friend is named Marvin, a beetle, who lives under the kitchen sink in James's home. However, Marvin and James weave a web of lies that they can't seem to get out of where James is posing as a brilliant artist when really it is Marvin. Ultimately, Marvin and James solve and prevent a major art heist from happening. This story is a fun adventure book that teaches the foundations of a friendship in a very simplistic fashion. This may have been a simple book, but I love a good mystery with a bit of adventure!

[bethany1221 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This novel is a fantasy packed novel about a young boy and a beetle. Marvin, a beetle, forms a friendship with James, a young eleven year old boy. One day, Marvin paints a very beautiful picture for James and everyone seem to believe James is the artist. Farther in the book James is asked to make a forged copy of a painting in order to save a piece of art. James is terrified because he can't really paint. This is an exciting book about the power of family and friendship and also adventures.

[knielsen83 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Unexpectedly, I found myself enjoying this book, whose main character is a beetle who learns that he is an artist. Leaving his drawing out, the human boy living in the house he is in gets credit for the drawing and in turn the pair becomes involved in what seems to be a fake art heist.

[refpenny · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When James is given a pen and ink set for his birthday by his artist father he isn’t particularly impressed. Marvin the beetle also lives in James’s house and wants to give James a present too. When Marvin delivers his present he sees the pen and ink set and is inspired to draw a picture. James finds it in the morning and soon Marvin can’t resist revealing himself. This is the start of an unusual friendship and a fantastic adventure involving forgery and art theft.This is a lovely story of friendship with plenty of mystery, adventure and suspense thrown in. Both the beetle family and the human family are well depicted and serve as contrasts for each other. The detailed pen and ink drawings fit the story well. Recommended for readers 8 and up but would make a great read aloud for younger children.