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Jul 22, 2019YLPLTEENBOOKBLOG rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
The historic fiction novel “Girl with a Pearl Earring” by Tracy Chevalier is a motivating extension of the story behind Johannes Vermeer’s famous painting of a girl wearing a pearl earring. It expands upon the life of the girl in the painting, whom he names Griet, and her complex relationship with the painter and others around her. One of the most appealing things about this story is Griet’s simple and honorable character- how she pushes through hardships without letting it get to her and tries to think of others first, yet, like all people, has her flaws. Another thing about Griet that is compelling is the way that she understands Vermeer’s work and insightfully knows what he should change in a painting before he does so, as this develops her character into someone that a reader can trust. It’s a very real story, and its realness is accentuated by the plain, clear way it is written. From an outside perspective, the plot may not seem majorly complex, but because of the simple language used, small interpersonal conflicts between members of the house are amplified in severity. This is very realistic to the time period’s norms and carries a sense of antiquity. All in all, I give it 5/5 stars. Elena of the Yorba Linda Teen Book Bloggers