The Picasso Curse - by Dan Gutman (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

What would happen if you accidentally bought a doodle worth millions? Edwin Hodge finds out in this middle grade novel by Dan Gutman, bestselling author of My Weird School series--featuring new bonus content!

There were so many things Edwin Hodge didn't know when he paid $10 for a cool poster of Kobe Bryant at the local flea market.

He didn't know that hidden within the frame of the poster was an original drawing by Pablo Picasso, one of the most famous artists in history. He didn't know the Picasso might be worth millions of dollars. He didn't know that kids at school were going to treat him differently, or that he would become a world famous social media superstar.

And he sure didn't know that people would tap his phone, follow him home, break into his house, or threaten to burn it down. He didn't know the Picasso was going to ruin his life.

Have you ever had to make a decision--a really hard decision? A decision that would change the course of your life from that moment on? Edwin is faced with lots of crucial decisions in this gripping adventure, a blend of fact and fiction by Dan Gutman, an author who says, "I want my readers to think that reading my books is like watching a movie. One where you never know what's going to happen next."

This paperback edition features an exclusive author interview and an excerpt of Houdini and Me, another Dan Gutman adventure.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Review Quotes

Brief, fourth-wall-breaking chapters dive into the history and lore of Picasso, an information free-for-all that Gutman delivers with his signature snark and panache. Propulsive and entertaining, this is an exciting adventure of complex ethical questions and derring-do that centers topics such as decision-making and independence.
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Fun and challenging.
--Kirkus Reviews

An entertaining roller-coaster ride that combines Gutman's trademark humor and love of history. . . .Gutman's story will keep readers guessing. . . .­Readers will eagerly join Edwin in this twisty, ­action-packed story that throws in a dollop of financial literacy and art history for good measure.
--School Library Journal

Tying all threads together with panache--even the afterword is a joy to read--Gutman delivers the goods. Middle-grade readers interested in art history or real-life heists will enjoy this fast-moving book, perfect for fans of Deron R. Hicks' The Van Gogh Deception (2017) and Nicholas Day's The Mona Lisa Vanishes (2023).
--Booklist

About the Author

Dan Gutman is the author of 180 books for young readers, including Houdini and Me, The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra's Needle, the My Weird School series, The Genius Files, and the Baseball Card Adventures series. Thanks to his many fans who voted in their classrooms, he has received nineteen state book awards and ninety-two state book award nominations. Dan lives with his wife Nina in New York City.