Book Group to Discuss YA Mystery Chasing Vermeer

October 2014 Book Group Meeting at the library. Photo provided by the Manchester District Library

by Anne Buckalew

Manchester District Library hosts a Book Discussion on the fourth Wednesday of every month. Whether you have been faithfully attending discussions for years, drop in occasionally or only come to one meeting because the book is something you need to share with others, everyone is welcome to participate.

The November choice, Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett, is an intriguing mystery. Sixth-grade sleuths solve an art theft and learn about Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer along the way. The book discussion will take place in the Village Room on Monday, November 24, at 7 pm. (Note that because of Thanksgiving, this is not the typical meeting time.). Light refreshments will be served.

Readers who enjoy The Da Vinci Code, E. L. Konigsburg, and Agatha Christie, will feel at home with this YA novel. The main characters are new friends Petra and Calder who piece together seemingly disconnected events to locate Vermeer’s painting The Lady Writing.

If you know a young person who may like to participate, please encourage him or her to read this month’s choice, and read the book along with them. Students are strongly encouraged to attend this meeting of the Book Group both for their own experience and because the adults who are reading want to hear the opinions of younger readers. In unexpected ways, sharing a book allows readers to see what they perhaps missed, consider elements of a story differently, and learn something because everyone comes to a book with unique knowledge. Sharing leads to amazing discussions.

Among the titles every year are both familiar books and brand new books and include authors that participants may not have chosen on their own. In a dual effort to connect with young people and introduce them to book-group activity, a Young Adult novel has been chosen the past two years. This year’s YA novel was suggested by Manchester High School student Amelia Herron.

A year’s worth of books is chosen each summer by meeting attendees with input from Library staff. This selection process is a collaborative effort and everyone’s opinion matters. The Library then ensures multiple copies of each book are available for interested patrons to borrow. For a complete list for MDL’s 2014-2015 choices, visit the Book Group page on Goodreads.com.

Vermeer’s “The Lady Writing”

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.