Blue Balliett Books In Order

Publication Order of Chasing Vermeer Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

About Blue Balliett

An award-winning author of children’s novels, Blue Balliett is well known for creating innovative and intelligent books for younger readers. Really reaching and relating to her audience through her words, she manages to set herself apart from other writers within her field. This unique approach of hers is something that she’s clearly refined over the years, really making it her own, giving her writing a clear, distinct style. Knowing her audience well, she manages to lend her writing a real sense of immediacy, giving it an unmistakable and direct voice.

Offering a clear and distinct message through her work, she lets her writing speak for itself, knowing what it is that she wants to say. Her writing is almost lyrical, giving her audience a clear passion for reading, allowing them to get lost in her intricate stories. Gaining critical acclaim as well as public popularity, she really has become successful on several different fronts throughout her career. Making a name for herself, she’s appreciated all around the world, becoming a highly sought-after household name for many.

Not just creating highly entertaining stories, she’s also gone on to develop well-written characters too, with many iconic protagonists coming alive on the page. With intricate illustrations, too, she creates vibrant visuals that really flourish, instantly grabbing the eye of the reader. Her success can be seen reflected within her book sales, too, as she sets herself apart by becoming a bestselling author both nationally and internationally. With so much more to come still, she definitely won’t be stopping anytime soon either, as her writing career carries on growing onwards and upwards.

Early and Personal Life

Born in 1955 in New York City, Elizabeth Balliett would grow up in the city playing in Central Park there, being called Blue by her friends and family. Often visiting the Frick Museum, along with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, she would she an interest in the arts throughout her adolescence. Later she would continue this interest by moving to Nantucket Island and studying art history in college there in Massachusetts.

Focusing on writing, she would begin to develop her voice as an author while meeting her husband and living in Nantucket for a decade, having two children. Later going on to work at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, she would teach third grade, finding her own vocation in the process. Now living with her husband in Chicago with her family, she continues to write regularly on a consistent basis.

Writing Career

Starting out writing non-fiction ghost stories, Blue Balliett would write stories and local legends from in and around Nantucket. The first book would be titled ‘The Ghosts of Nantucket,’ which was published in 1984, and she would release another two similar titles later on with ‘Nantucket Hauntings’ and ‘Nantucket Ghosts.’ Her first fictional title would be ‘Chasing Vermeer,’ and this would come out in 2003, with it also being the first in a series of the same name.

This book series would go on to become massively popular, gaining an Edgar Award in 2005 for her much loved story. Reaching readers from far and wide, her books have gone on to be translated into thirty-four different languages and counting. There is still so much more planned on the horizon, too, as she continues to keep writing for a long time to come.

The Calder Game

Originally brought out through the Scholastic Press publishing label, this would first come out back in 2008 on the 1st of May. It would also mark the third book in the ongoing and extremely popular ‘Chasing Vermeer’ series of children’s mystery novels. Providing another stand-alone and self-contained mystery novel, it features the characters of the previous two books whilst telling its own mystery story.

Traveling to England, Calder Pillay comes across a remote village where there’s a combination of both mystery and mazes. Drawn to a statue of Alexander Calder located within the town square there, he relates to it being out of place, while other people have mixed feelings about it. That’s when Calder and the statue disappear, leaving his friends, Tommy and Petra, to come looking for them. Will they be able to find what happened to Calder and the statue, what secrets is the town hiding, and what will become of the Calder Game?

An artistic and compelling story, this book shows a writer who’s clearly a master of her craft, writing in an engaging and direct manner. Instantly grabbing the reader, it’s sure to keep younger readers hooked, continually turning the page for more twists and turns. There’s a lot happening in the story too, yet it’s deceptively simple, making it easy for its audience to keep following.

Hold Fast

Once again published through the Scholastic Press publishing imprint, this would be a completely stand-alone title. Not being a part of any series, it would still feature much of Balliet’s penchant for mystery, with it also being aimed at young readers. First released on the 1st of March in 2013, it would be entirely self-contained and hugely popular all around the world.

Leaving Early, her mother and her brother behind, Early’s father disappears without a trace, as they then must flee their apartment fast. Heading to a shelter in the city, Early then decides to start investigating what happened, as she begins to ask questions. With her father being in a tough place, they must track him down and discover what actually happened to him before it’s too late. Where did he go, though, can they ever hope to find him and bring him home once again, and will they be able to hold fast?

There’s so much character development here, as each of the characters resonates strongly throughout every step of the way. Making the reader really empathize with their plight, Balliet ensures her story works on a number of different levels. The mystery itself is an intricate one once again, too, as it keeps the reader constantly guessing whilst also simultaneously remaining accessible to its younger audience.