Chasing Vermeer: Chapters 21–24

by Blue Balliett
In this mystery, middle-schoolers Calder and Petra get caught up in the search for a stolen painting by Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–4, Chapters 5–11, Chapters 12–16, Chapters 17–20, Chapters 21–24
15 words 145 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. ruthless
    without mercy or pity
    “This thief is way more ruthless than we thought.”
  2. sulky
    sullen or moody
    Calder folded his arms across his chest and looked sulky.
  3. rambling
    spreading out in different directions
    They walked quickly around to the east side of the rambling building.
  4. preoccupied
    deeply absorbed in thought
    To Petra’s surprise, Calder seemed more preoccupied than anything else.
  5. arbor
    a framework that supports climbing plants
    They headed under the arbor of plaster grapes and into the library.
  6. cavernous
    being or suggesting a large dark enclosed space
    The room was cavernous and lonely at night.
  7. chasm
    an unbridgeable gap, break, or disagreement
    Petra and Calder felt separated from everyday life by a chasm of responsibility.
  8. stifled
    held in check or kept back with difficulty
    Hearing a stifled sob, Calder felt his eyes suddenly fill.
  9. telltale
    disclosing unintentionally
    Scanning the edges of the door, they spotted the telltale red light of an alarm.
  10. mere
    being nothing more than specified
    Calder shouted, “Go! GO!” He was up again, but the man was mere seconds behind him now.
  11. idealistic
    motivated by noble or moral beliefs rather than practicality
    Glitter Man had come up with what he’d thought was a brilliant plan. He would pose as an idealistic thief.
  12. reclusive
    withdrawn from society; seeking solitude
    While living on Harper Avenue, Glitts heard about his reclusive neighbor Louise Sharpe, and soon found out she was Leland Sharpe’s widow.
  13. wistful
    showing pensive sadness
    “I wish,” she said, giving them a smile that was almost wistful.
  14. sober
    dignified and serious in manner or character
    Seeing how sober the children’s faces had become, Mrs. Sharpe stopped to reassure them.
  15. sketchy
    giving only major points; lacking completeness
    Family records were sketchy, but it was entirely possible that Petra was related to a member of Vermeer’s family.
Created on Wed Aug 22 21:08:43 EDT 2018 (updated Tue Jul 29 14:14:05 EDT 2025)

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