Masterpiece

Marvin lives under the kitchen sink. Life as a beetle can be dangerous, and his family has to make sure that the humans who live in the apartment don't discover them or they will be exterminated. One night, after the human boy James goes to sleep, Marvin uses James’s ink set to draw a beautiful picture. When James discovers Marvin, instead of squashing him he befriends him.  But when Marvin's parents see the drawing, he can’t tell them who really drew it.  This white lie soon turns into a plot to catch an art thief that puts both Marvin and James in danger.

I love that the story is told from the perspective of a beetle and the plot of the art theft is engrossing. My favorite part of the story, though, was the friendship between James and Marvin. This kind of light-hearted mystery could be enjoyed by anyone, but I especially recommend it to anyone with an interest in art. 

Masterpiece by Elise Broach
Erica's Picks
3rd-5th
Tags: Animals, Character Driven, Contemporary Fiction, Family Life, Friendship, Mystery

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