The Wright 3 facts for kids
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| Author | Blue Balliett |
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| Illustrator | Brett Helquist |
| Cover artist | Brett Helquist |
| Country | United States of America |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's Mystery novel |
| Published | April 1, 2006 Scholastic Press |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
| Pages | 318 pgs. |
| ISBN | 0-439-69367-5 |
| OCLC | 61204254 |
| LC Class | PZ7.B2128 Wri 2006 |
| Preceded by | Chasing Vermeer |
| Followed by | The Calder Game |
The Wright 3 is an exciting children's mystery novel. It was written by Blue Balliett and illustrated by Brett Helquist. Published in 2006, it is the sequel to the popular book Chasing Vermeer.
This story follows three friends: Calder, Petra, and Tommy. They work together to save the famous Robie House in their neighborhood, Hyde Park, Chicago. The book is full of puzzles, including 3-D pentominoes and Fibonacci numbers. It also features ideas from Frank Lloyd Wright and the book The Invisible Man. A follow-up book, The Calder Game, came out in 2008.
Why This Story Was Written
The Wright 3 is the second book by author Blue Balliett. She thought about writing a sequel while walking around Hyde Park. The unique Robie House caught her eye and gave her an idea.
Balliett was inspired by the number three. She noticed it in the triangle shapes of the windows at the Robie House. She also thought about how it can be tricky for three people to communicate equally. She then wove these ideas into the story.
What Happens in the Story
Calder's friend Tommy Segovia moves back to Hyde Park, Chicago. He had moved away a year before. Tommy feels a bit jealous of Calder and Petra. They became famous for saving a Vermeer painting in the first book, Chasing Vermeer. Tommy wants to be part of something important too.
On his first day back at school, their teacher, Ms. Hussey, shares some bad news. The world-famous Robie House is going to be torn down. She calls this a "murder" of a building. The class takes a field trip to the house. Both Calder and Petra discover many secrets about the building they never knew.
After Tommy learns to get along with Petra, the three friends team up. They call themselves 'The Wright 3'. They work hard to save the house, even breaking into it near the end. Tommy finds a special fish charm in the Robie House garden. He realizes it is very valuable. In the end, they save the house and even protect themselves from some robbers inside.
Pictures and Hidden Clues
The book's illustrations by Brett Helquist include some fun hidden details. In a few pictures, you can find a drawing of a fish. This fish refers to a lucky charm that Frank Lloyd Wright supposedly lost. He lost it while building the Robie House. These fish drawings often appear with the Fibonacci sequence.
On one of the last illustrations, you might spot a dragon. This shows a change in the story, from a carp to a dragon. Near the bottom of the final picture, there are footprints. These footprints belong to the invisible man from the story. In some images, you can even find a hidden face!
