Blue Balliett

Blue Balliett, author of the fantastic book Chasing Vermeer, was born in New York City. After studying art history in college and attending Brown University, Blue moved to Nantucket Island, in Massachusetts, in order to write. She met her husband and they continued to live there for another 10 years, during which time they had two children.

After moving to Chicago, Blue began work on Chasing Vermeer. In it she has said she ‘wanted to explore the ways kids perceive connections between supposedly unrelated events and situations, connections that grown-ups often miss.’

In the sequel, The Wright Three, she plays with questions about architecture as art, the preservation of old buildings, and Frank Lloyd Wright’s legacy. The third book, The Calder Game, takes place in a small community in England, a 1,000-year-old town that Blue visited while on a book tour.

Blue is a recipient of the Chicago Public Library’s 21st Century Award, the first time the award was given to a children’s book writer, and she has appeared on NBC’s Today Show and has been featured in various national and international publications.

Blue’s books have now appeared in 34 languages, with Warner Bros. Pictures having now acquired the film rights to Chasing Vermeer.

Books by Blue Balliett

  • Hold Fast

    Hold Fast

Awards

Blue is a recipient of the Chicago Public Library’s 21st Century Award, the first time the award was given to a children’s book writer.