 Sixth @-@ graders Calder Pillay , who enjoys puzzles and pentominoes , and Petra Andalee , who aspires to be a writer , are classmates at the Middle School in Hyde Park , Chicago . Their young teacher , Ms. Hussey , is very interested in art and teaches them in a creative way . Through her pressing questions , they discover the artist Johannes Vermeer and his paintings , especially A Lady Writing and The Geographer . Petra also finds a used book called Lo ! , written by Charles Fort , at the local Powell 's Books , owned by a man named Mr. Watch . They also meet an elderly neighbor , Mrs. Sharpe , who is also a fan of Vermeer and Fort . Calder receives letters from his best friend Tommy Segovia , who is currently living in New York City with a new stepfather . 
 Sixth @-@ graders Calder Pillay , <a href='null_relcl' title='1'><mark>who</mark></a><a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>enjoys</mark></a> puzzles and pentominoes , and Petra Andalee , <a href='null_relcl' title='3'><mark>who</mark></a><a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>aspires</mark></a> to be a writer , <a href='drop_aux' title='5'><mark>are</mark></a>classmates at the Middle School in Hyde Park , Chicago . Their young teacher , Ms. Hussey , <a href='drop_aux' title='6'><mark>is</mark></a>very interested in art and <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>teaches</mark></a> them in a creative way . Through her pressing questions , they discover the artist Johannes Vermeer and his paintings , especially A Lady Writing and The Geographer . Petra also <a href='uninflect' title='8'><mark>finds</mark></a> a used book called Lo ! , written by Charles Fort , at the local Powell <a href='null_genetive' title='9'><mark>'s</mark></a>Books , owned by a man named Mr. Watch . They also meet an elderly neighbor , Mrs. Sharpe , <a href='null_relcl' title='10'><mark>who</mark></a><a href='drop_aux' title='11'><mark>is</mark></a>also a fan of Vermeer and Fort . Calder <a href='uninflect' title='12'><mark>receives</mark></a> letters from his best friend Tommy Segovia , <a href='null_relcl' title='13'><mark>who</mark></a>is currently living in New York City with a new stepfather . 
Sixth @-@ graders Calder Pillay , enjoy puzzles and pentominoes , and Petra Andalee , aspire to b a writer , classmates at da Middle skoo in Hyde Park , Chicago . Their young teacher , Ms. Hussey , very interested in art and teach em in a creative way . thru her pressing questions , they discover the artist Johannes Vermeer and his paintings , especially A Lady Writing and The Geographer . Petra also find a used book called Lo ! , written by Charles Fort , at the local Powell  Books , owned by a man named Mr. Watch . They also meet an elderly neighbor , Mrs. Sharpe , also a fan of Vermeer and Fort . Calder receive letters from his best friend Tommy Segovia , is currently livin in New York City with a new stepfather .