Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald

 Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald. Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, 2014. (Middle Grade fiction).

Theodora Tenpenny's family has seen better days. After her grandfather dies, about all they have left is their townhouse, some chickens, a garden, and less than $500. But, this tale has a painting at its center. It might be very old. It might be very valuable. It might be stolen since Grandpa Jack had been a security guard at the big art museum.
How Theodora unearths clues, lives with little money, and even makes a friend in Bodhi, the daughter of a couple of rock stars provides a varied and interesting plot. Along the way are well drawn, highly memorable characters like Reverend Cecily who can translate Latin, a street vendor who knows all about paints, and the new male librarian who is willing to bend a few rules to help two tweens who need information. This is one of those great mysteries that teach readers about Raphael, about the Monument Men, about eccentrics, and about friendship itself. As Fitzgerald's middle grade debut novel, this book only bodes well for her future works. I can hardly wait to see what she does next! In the meantime, look for Under the Egg in Newbery 2015 buzz!