Masterpiece

by Elise Broach
Lexile:  700
Genre:  Mystery

Marvin, the beetle, lives under the kitchen sink in the Pompadays' apartment.  The Pompaday's son, James, lives a rather uninteresting, ordinary life with his mom, step-dad and baby brother.  When James turns 11, his father gives him a pen and ink set.  James really isn't interested in it, until Marvin discovers that he is a talented artist.  Marvin secretly creates an elaborate drawing that everyone thinks James has made.  Marvin the beetle, and James the ordinary boy, develop an unusual friendship that ends up stopping a cunning art thief.