What This Book Is About
On August 21, 1911, a man walked into the Louvre, took the Mona Lisa off the wall, hid it under his coat, and walked out. The most famous painting in the world simply vanished. But here's the twist Nicholas Day reveals: before the theft, the Mona Lisa was not famous at all. It was just one of thousands of paintings in the Louvre, and most Parisians had never heard of it. The theft made it a celebrity—and this book is the wild, surprising story of how that happened.
Part art history, part true-crime thriller, part meditation on what makes something "famous," The Mona Lisa Vanishes takes readers on a journey from Leonardo da Vinci's Renaissance workshop to the detective who pursued the thief across Europe. Illustrated with Brett Helquist's atmospheric artwork and packed with photographs, maps, and sidebars, this is narrative non-fiction at its best—the kind of book that makes you see something you thought you knew in an entirely new way. A New York Times bestseller and one of the most acclaimed children's non-fiction books of 2023.
Available at Popular bookstores, Kinokuniya, and the Singapore National Library.
Why UWC Chose This Book
International school curricula are increasingly non-fiction heavy, yet many students struggle with the genre. This book solves that problem by making non-fiction read like a thriller. The fast-paced narrative, rich illustrations, and "wait, really?" revelations on every page train students to engage with informational text in a way that dry textbooks never can. It is excellent preparation for the research and analytical reading UWC expects from Grade 5 onward.
The book also raises fascinating questions about fame, cultural value, and who decides what matters in art—themes that connect naturally to UWC's emphasis on critical thinking and international-mindedness. In Singapore, where students visit the National Gallery and ArtScience Museum regularly, this book gives them a framework for asking deeper questions about what they see.
Reading Level Guide
Too challenging at A1. The art history vocabulary and longer passages need at least A2 reading proficiency.
The sweet spot. Illustrations and sidebars support A2 readers, while the narrative complexity builds B1 skills.
A breezy, fascinating read at B2. Perfect for building non-fiction reading habits and art vocabulary.
Other UWC Recommended Books for This Grade
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