The DaVinci Code for Kids?

Some have nicknamed Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett The DaVinci Code for kids. I don't know that it applies. This book is about art, sure, and it has mystery, but I don't know that that alone qualifies it to be called The DaVinci Code for kids. I had better start at the beginning, because right now I am just ranting and you most likely have no idea what I am talking about. Maybe you do, but I doubt it. This isn't a super popular book... Sorry, ranting again. Let's start from where you might understand.Chasing Vermeer is about 2 fifth graders named Calder and Petra. They are in the same class, but don't know each other. Each kid is odd in their own way. Petra is obsessed with reading, and knows just about everything, and Calder has an obsession with pentagrams, shapes that fit together to form rectangles. Calder and Petra are suddenly brought together after an incident at a museum field trip. They discover their mutual love of art, love of their fantastic teacher, and love of little blue M&M's. This small connection is strengthened greatly when a painting by Vermeer is stolen in their home town en route to another museum. The thief has put clues in the newspaper, and apparently some people have received special letters with clues inside them to help locate the missing painting. Petra and Calder are on the hunt! With the help of Calder's pentagrams and a special book about art, can these kids solve a mystery no one else seems to be able to put together?
This book was... fine. It wasn't my favorite. The characters were nice enough, and I liked the idea of the story, and I even enjoyed solving a few puzzles throughout the book, but the problem was, the book was simply forgettable. It held no special charm, and it didn't catch my interest in any real way. Plus, books where the kids involved get off on crazy stunts that are utterly impossible and then get no consequences bother me. It always makes me want to yell, "Where are the parents in all of this?" Some of the lack of parental presence was explained, but I wasn't satisfied with it. Overall, it was a fine book, but it belongs nowhere near the nickname The DaVinci Code for kids.

Rating: 3/5

P.S. For those of you who don't know, the shapes that appear in the artwork on the front cover of this books are some of the shapes of pentagrams. Each pentagram represents a specific letter, which is actually a major plotpoint in this book. There should also be sequel, I believe, called The Wright Three.