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The Picasso Curse poses the question, What would you do if a million-dollar piece of artwork fell into your hands?
The Picasso Curse by Dan Gutman. Holiday House, 2025. 192 pages.
- Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12
- Recommended For: ages 8-15
Tagging along with his parents to the local flea market, Edwin Hodge happens upon one thing he might like to own: a framed and autographed Kobe Bryant poster. Since it’s the end of the day, the dealer accepts Edwin’s offer of $10, and the fact that Edwin’s archenemy Vinnie (the jerk) turns up too late to buy the poster himself makes the purchase even sweeter. But the best – or worst – is yet to come. For when Edwin removed the frame, a piece of paper slipped out from between the poster and backing. It was a line drawing of a woman’s face. Just a doodle, he thought, but oddly appealing. He kept it, and when his art teacher happened to see it, she thought it looked just like the early style of the most famous artist of the 20th century.
One speculation leads to another, leading to Edwin’s family taking the drawing to the Art Institute of Chicago, where – what do you know? – a Picasso specialist declares it genuine. It could be worth millions! Such a discovery can’t be kept secret. At first Edwin enjoys the fame, but soon he begins to wonder if the “curse,” or unfortunate demise of almost everyone closely associated with Picasso, might extend to him too.
Fame and fortune almost always come with a price tag, as the narrative makes clear. We get details of Picasso’s life and work as well as the fluctuations of the art market, all amounting to a tilt-a-whirl of a playing field. The story moves swiftly enough to engage even reluctant readers, and the uncertain conclusion is more thought-provoking than frustrating (at least to me). What should Edwin do? Well, what would you do?
Bottom Line: A fast-paced, entertaining look at sudden fame and uncertain fortune.
Related Reading From Redeemed Reader
- Reviews: The Picasso Curse features an incident in Picasso’s life more thoroughly explored in The Mona Lisa Vanishes.
- Reviews: What’s it like to get rich quick? See our reviews of A Whole Lot of Lucky and The Short Seller.
- A Resource: See 5 Ways to Encourage Art Appreciation with Picture Books.
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