The Picasso Curse by Dan Gutman

The Picasso Curse by Dan Gutman
Publisher:  Holiday House
Format Read:  E-book
Number of pages:   192 pages
Published:  September 2nd, 2025
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss +  

Opening Lines:  "It was a Saturday back in October when I found the doodle."

While shopping with his parents at a flea market, Edwin Hodge spots a signed poster of Kobe Bryant, priced for a mere ten dollars.  Hoping to beat out his classmate, Vinnie, who's also eyeing the poster, Edwin quickly buys it.  Back home, he discovers a hidden doddle tucked behind the frame.  The next day at school, during show-and-tell, Edwin's art teacher notices the drawing's distinctive style resembles the work of Pablo Picasso.  She urges Edwin and his parents to have it professionally appraised.  The story then shifts to 1911, recounting the infamous theft of the Mona Lisa.  Picasso was detained and questioned in connection with the crime, and according to legend, he even sketched a doddle during that time.

The story then returns to Edwin as news of his discovery goes viral.  Soon he's bombarded with interview requests, strangers show up at his door asking for money, and the original seller from the flea market reappears offering $10,000 to buy back the poster.  Hoping to get the artwork appraised, Edwin and his parents travel to Chicago, where they find an art auction house interested in selling the piece.  But, as things spin out of control, Edwin devises a bold plan to stage a public shredding of the artwork and sell access to the livestream, even offering pieces of the shredded remains for purchase.  As the final moment arrives and Edwin prepares to feed the artwork into the shredder, the story ends on a cliffhanger.  This leaves the reader with one burning question, what would you do?  

The Picasso Curse was such a fun read! At first, it feels like Edwin won the lottery, but the discovery of a valuable piece of art brings unexpected pressures and complications.  It truly feels like he's been cursed.   I really appreciated how Edwin remained cautious and questions people's motives, even though his family could use the money.  I especially enjoyed the back matter at the beginning of the book, which dives into the historical theft of the Mona Lisa.  I was also stunned to learn about the recent heist at the Louvre Museum where thieves stole $102 million in jewels from the early-to-mid-19th century.  Gutman enriches the story with real-life examples of people who've stumbled upon hidden treasures and there are historical photographs, reproductions of the Mona Lisa and other fascinating illustrations.  Overall, this was a wonderful blend of fact and fiction.  

I hope you'll check out all the other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge's blog HERE      

  

**A huge thank you to the publisher for my review copy in exchange for an honest review.**

Eating to Save the Planet: How Veganism Helps Fight Climate Change by Anne Broyles , illustrated by Hannah Li

Eating to Save the Planet by Anne Broyles, illustrated by Hannah Li
Publisher:  Holiday House
Format Read:  E-book
Number of pages:   128 pages
Published:  August 26th, 2025
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review

Eating to Save the Planet opens with a thought-provoking question: "When you walk down the aisles of a grocery store, do you think about all the steps it took for each item to get on the shelf?"  This compelling, jam-packed book explores the benefits of adapting a plant-based diet and the broader implications of our food choices. 

The book begins by examining how the foods we eat reflect our cultural backgrounds.  The book highlights the diversity of meal preparation and explains that people choose their diets based on what kind of an eater they are, whether they are carnivores, omnivores, vegetarian or pescatarians.  Each type of eater is described with clear examples and descriptions of the foods they would typically enjoy.

The discussion also delves into the history of food shortages, emphasizing that what we eat is a global issue.  It addresses legislative changes being made to promote healthier food options and explores the growing use of regenerative agricultural as a sustainable solution.  The book emphasizes the advantages of a plant-based diet and introduces meat alternatives that are currently being used in other countries, like insects as a potential meat substitute.  Real life suggestions are made for children to try out, including Meatless Mondays and gradually incorporating new vegetables into their meals.  

Overall, Eating to Save the Planet is an informative, and thought-provoking book about what we put onto our plate and how it impacts our environment.  The full-color illustrations will enhance the appeal for younger readers, and I especially enjoyed the impactful graph showing the amount of water that is needed to produce a pound of various types of food.  At the back of the book, readers will find a helpful list of sources, websites, and resources for transitioning to a plant-based diet, along with various stories of well-known individuals who have made the switch.  This would make a lovely resource for a school or public library.    

I hope you'll check out all the other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge's blog HERE     

   **A huge thank you Holiday House for access to the e-book in exchange for an honest review**