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    Under the Egg
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    Under the Egg
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    Under the Egg
    Audiobook5 hours

    Under the Egg

    Written by Laura Marx Fitzgerald

    Narrated by Jessica Almasy

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler meets Chasing Vermeer in this clever middle grade debut

    When Theodora Tenpenny spills a bottle of rubbing alcohol on her late grandfather's painting, she discovers what seems to be an old Renaissance masterpiece underneath. That's great news for Theo, who's struggling to hang onto her family's two-hundred-year-old townhouse and support her unstable mother on her grandfather's legacy of $463. There's just one problem: Theo's grandfather was a security guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and she worries the painting may be stolen.

    With the help of some unusual new friends, Theo's search for answers takes her all around Manhattan, and introduces her to a side of the city-and her grandfather-that she never knew. To solve the mystery, she'll have to abandon her hard-won self-reliance and build a community, one serendipitous friendship at a time.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateMay 26, 2015
    ISBN9781101915493
    Unavailable
    Under the Egg
    Author

    Laura Marx Fitzgerald

    In writing Under the Egg, Laura Marx Fitzgerald drew on her study of art history at Harvard and Cambridge Universities. She lives in Brooklyn, and this is her middle grade debut.

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    Reviews for Under the Egg

    4/5

    114 ratings18 reviews

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      Up until recently, thirteen-year-old Theodora Tenpenny lived with her mother and grandfather in a Greenwich Village house, which has been in their family for generations. Since Theo’s mom has been trapped in her own mind trying to solve a math equation (for years), Theo spends most of her time with her grandfather, Jack. When she arrives home to her grandfather being taken away in an ambulance he tells Theo to look “under the egg”. She knew where the egg was, after all, each day they put the best egg from their chickens in a bowl on the mantle underneath the painting of an egg her grandfather had done. But, Theo can’t seem to find anything else there. What did Jack want her to find? Money is tight now that she is in charge of the family finances, and she does her best to spend as little as possible. After rubbing alcohol is spilled on the painting of the egg an oil painting is discovered underneath. Theo starts trying to find out where it came from and if it is worth anything. Along the way she meets Bodhi, who is in the city because her famous parents are on location. They become fast friends and work on the mystery together. Did Theo’s grandfather steal the painting from the Metropolitan Museum of Art where he worked as a security guard? Is it even an original painting? Will the painting be able to provide enough money for Theo and her mom to get back on their feet and keep their house/? Read this unique mystery to find out about friendship, art, and the power of knowledge.

      I didn’t know much about Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald when I picked it up- only that it was up for a few awards. I wasn’t expecting an art mystery! Theo and Bodhi had unique personalities and I could relate to both of them in different ways. I liked that Theo was able to make a dollar stretch and that Body was so good at research. Before reading this book I didn’t know much about the Italian artist, Raphael. I learned a ton! I enjoyed the way Theo and Body worked on the mystery because they had divided up some tasks and worked on others together. It was also interesting how much Theo learned about her grandfather and World War II during her research. I wished she could have had the chance to talk to her grandpa again. I recommend this book to anyone from fifth grade through eighth grade. I also think that adults and older kids will be captivated by this fast paced story. A book that will be a favorite of fans of Chasing Vermeer (which I loved).
    • 5/5
      I LOVE From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, and this book really reminds me of it. The art history aspect was interesting, and the story drew me in immediately. I loved the ending, also - it didn’t seem hokey or fictional. I think this is a great book, especially for middle graders and up.
    • 5/5
      If you enjoy reading mystery, history, and art will love this book. Theodora "Theo" Tenpenny lives with her mother (Angelika) and grandfather(Jack) in their family home, which s 200 years old and in need of many repairs. Her grandfather is an artist, (painter) and also works as a security guard at the Metropolitan Art Museum. Her mother, who is a bit eccentric, has been working on her dissertation for her degree in mathematics for the last 15 years and rarely even comes downstairs. So Theo and Jack take care of the errands, chores and repairs. When Jack suddenly dies, Theo is left as a 13-year-old in charge of the household and her mother withdraws even more into her number theorems. Jack's last words to Theo were to find a treasure "under the egg" in his studio. What Theo finds leads her into a mystery dating back to World War II. Along the way she makes a new friend and develops relationships with many of the people she meets, all of which is rather new for her. Up until now, Jack has been her only companion. Theo does not go to school. Now she has Bodhi, whose parents are famous movie stars, and she lives just down the street. Bodhi use the Internet to research and Theo, the public library where she checks out thick art books related to her mystery. They also call upon the expertise of various community members ranging from the pastor of the church to the vendor who sells roasted nuts on the street. They even interview a WWII veteran to piece together the puzzle Jack has left behind.

      This is a story full of interesting personalities, historical details, and the excellent detective work of two young teenagers. As a librarian, I particularly liked the reference librarian, Eddie. His enthusiasm for helping the girls and his free-spirited attitude are very appealing.

      Keep your search device handy, because you'll find yourself wanting to see the many works of art referenced in the book.
    • 4/5
      This is virtually a homage to From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, only with everything being different, of course! Still, there's an art history mystery, the MMOA is involved, and the surprising ending invokes the FTMUFOMBEF ending.

    • 5/5
      This book is fantastic. An art mystery featuring very capable kids, helpful librarians, and a good dose of real history.
    • 4/5
      Wonderful story about a headstrong, young girl's quest to figure out a mystery that her grandfather left her as he was dying. Under the Egg is a wonderful book for middle school readers and high flyers in the upper elementary level. The book makes connections between today and the events during World War II. This is the perfect book for any history buffs or those that love history!
    • 5/5
      Fantastic book! My favorite of the year so far! This book should definitely be up for an award. You will not be able to put it down.
    • 4/5
      Theodora Tenpenny lives in an old house and suddenly finds herself taking care of it, the chickens, the garden, and her distracted mother. All on a budget of $463. When she discovers a hidden painting that might be a disguised masterpiece among her late grandfather' s things, she embarks on a journey of discovery to find out the secret of the painting and the meaning of her grandfather's last words - it's under the egg. After all the unraveling of clues and connections with many in her community, the answers are revealed and available for comparison to Theodora's conclusions in a hidden letter. An interesting story filled with art appreciation and a practical example of research in action.
    • 3/5
      Definite comparisons with "The Mixed-Up Files..." and "Chasing Vermeer." I read those long ago so I can't recall how they compare in terms of quality. "Under the Egg" is a quickly-paced mystery, and Theodora is a likably plucky and independent protagonist. The breaks seem to come too easily: an easily swayed x-ray technician, Mo's detailed memories of the war. But young art- and mystery-loving readers will overlook those conveniences and enjoy Theo's journey for answers.
    • 4/5
      Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald delves into a mysterious painting in this realistic fiction novel.Theo's grandfather, Jack, passes away and her mother is too mentally deficient to be of any help, so Theo must take care of both of them. She has $463 to live on period. There isn't any money coming in at all. She and her grandfather tend a huge garden in the back, so Theo knows how to grow her own food and can it for the winter. It's summer, so it stifling hot in New York City, but air conditioning is not an option. The home she lives in has been passed down generation after generation, so she has repairs to make but not any house payments. Obviously, life is rather difficult.As Jack is dying he tells Theo to look under the egg. Theo finally realizes that Jack has hidden a painting. With the help of a new friend and other around the city, Theo begins solving the mystery of the painting. She's very smart and clever as is her friend. It's a very interesting mystery and you will learn a lot about World War II when paintings went missing frequently due to the nazis. I liked this book. Knowing nothing about art history, I enjoyed learning the little that is told. I also liked the historical information. The author presents a likable main character and ends the novel realistically.
    • 4/5
      Girl with reclusive mother and dead grandfather deal with a mystery of a painting that is under a painting. Monument Men for kids--need to buy.
    • 4/5
      Despite an ending that was a little too tidy to be satisfying, Under the Egg was a lovely read. I'm not sure how much actual middle schoolers would enjoy the art history lessons and WWII stories intertwined with the primary plot, but I liked this book. It was very different from The Third Lucretia, the other MG art history caper I read recently and did not enjoy. This book had a lot of heart--plus a cool librarian dude!
    • 4/5
      A heartbreaking bit of a mystery. The Monuments Men for kids. A cliche of haves and have-nots. All of the above. The precocious, charming narrator made this story- her supporting actress Bodhi was more annoying sometimes but I can see why the author made that choice. The subject matter can be a bit intense for the usual middle grade fare but could also be good for older reluctant readers.
    • 4/5
      Quite enjoyable, and a solution that you won't see a mile away. I'm torn between thinking there were too many coincidences and thinking that it's the sort of realistic mystery that might actually happen.
    • 4/5
      middlegrade art history mystery/realistic fiction. Somehow Fitzgerald made art AND history interesting and fun (not that easy to do when your audience is 13-and-under). But the adults in this story were terrible; you just wanted to slap some sense into the mom and Uncle Lyman just seemed mean rather than strongly principled (and perhaps a bit selfish). I did appreciate the unstereotypical librarian but have to admit that even he fell flat. Still, I enjoyed this story and look forward to more books from this author.
    • 5/5
      When 13-year-old Theodora “Theo” Tenpenny accidently spills rubbing alcohol on her late grandfather’s painting, she’s surprised to find another painting underneath. Using her knowledge of art and a bit of research, Theo is convinced the painting is a genuine Raphael, which presents her with a dilemma. Her grandfather was a security guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, what if the painting was stolen? Determined to find out the truth, Theo and her new friend Bodhi set out on a quest for answers and discover her grandfather had many secrets, including classified missions during World War II.I love mysteries and Under the Egg is the best kids’ mystery I’ve read in a long time. The girls have to do research to find things out, so the reader learns quite a bit along with them, not just about art and art history, but also about World War II, Monuments Men, and the Holocaust. I love that the kids have to work hard to figure out the clues. The characters, including the adults, are relatable and likable. All-in-all, a great read.Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • 5/5
      As I was reading this, most of the way through, no matter how much I was enjoying it, and I was, particularly my 10 year old self, I was thinking how I couldn’t give the book 5 stars. Unlike some middle grade books, it felt very middle grade, so I had to suspend disbelief quite a few times, and there were just too many unbelievable coincidences, but the story and characters are great, the writing is very good, the reader is likely to learn a lot about the Holocaust and art history and art, and it’s such a unique NYC story, taking place in NYC but with some highly unusual lifestyle details for that location. Also, everything came together so nicely by the end, which was very satisfying for my 9-12 year old self. So, I’m deducting only ½ star for its flaws. 4 ½ starsTheo is a delightful character, and most of the characters are very interesting. I really enjoyed the historical parts of the story, and the non-fiction information about art, and I found it interesting how some of the events covered have been the subject of recent (for adults and teens, not kids) movies. This would have probably been a favorite of mine if I’d read it between the ages of 9 and 12. I highly recommend this book to girls ages 9 or 10 through 12, especially those interested in art, art history, history, the Holocaust, WWII, and NYC. It’s great fun, poignant, and suspenseful.
    • 5/5
      (Net Galley review copy) This is a perfect time for this book. With the movie Monument Men out, what better way to introduce the looting of European art by the Nazis than in a mystery for middle grade students. Like _Chasing Vermeer_ (Blue Balliet) a mystery surrounds a painting. As her grandfather lies dying after being hit by a taxi, he tells his granddaughter, Theo, that he has left what she needs "under the egg". Although they live in NYC, they live on what they can grow in their garden and the eggs their chickens hatch. When Theo accidently spills turpentine on the blue egg picture her beloved grandfather has painted, she thinks she might have an undiscovered masterpiece. With the help of a friend, a librarian and a Jewish research specialist she discovers her grandfather's WWII history as well of that of a young Jewish French girl. Bring out the Italian art books as kids will want to know more as they read this book.