Books On Board

Elise Broach Books in Order

  • 26 Books
  • 2005 – 2022 Published

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Reading order
6 of 6 reading orders shown

Where to Start Reading Elise Broach

Elise Broach has written across several different age groups, from whimsical picture books to thrilling young adult mysteries. Because of this, the best place to start depends entirely on the reader's age and reading level. Here are the recommended starting points:

  • For Middle-Grade Readers (Ages 8–12): Begin with Masterpiece (2008). This is Broach's most celebrated novel, combining a charming friendship with a high-stakes art heist at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It provides the perfect introduction to her style of blending history, art, and mystery.
  • For Early/Transitional Readers (Ages 6–9): Begin with The Miniature World of Marvin & James (2013). This is the first book in the early chapter book spin-off series, featuring shorter text and plenty of illustrations.
  • For Young Adult Readers (Ages 12+): Start with Desert Crossing (2006), a tense, atmospheric mystery-thriller that deals with more mature themes of self-discovery and loss.
  • For Picture Book Readers (Ages 4–8): Pick up When Dinosaurs Came with Everything (2007), a hilarious story about a boy who goes on errands with his mother and receives real dinosaurs as promotional giveaways.

The Masterpiece Universe Reading Order

The Masterpiece universe consists of one major middle-grade novel, a spin-off chapter book series for younger readers, and a thematic companion novel. To avoid confusion, it is helpful to understand the relationship between these books before diving in.

The Original Novel

Masterpiece (2008) is a 290-page middle-grade novel. It introduces Marvin, a talented beetle who lives behind the Pompaday family's kitchen sink in New York City, and James, a lonely eleven-year-old boy. When Marvin uses his front legs and ink to create an exquisite miniature drawing, James is mistakenly credited as an artistic prodigy. The two are soon swept into an investigation with the Metropolitan Museum of Art to catch an art thief stealing drawings by Albrecht Dürer. This book is a standalone mystery, but it sets up the characters and world.

The Masterpiece Adventures (Early Chapter Books)

After the success of the original novel, Broach created The Masterpiece Adventures, a series of shorter, highly illustrated chapter books designed for younger readers transitioning into independent reading. These stories focus on smaller-scale, domestic adventures. While they take place after the events of Masterpiece, they do not require reading the original middle-grade novel first, though doing so adds wonderful context. The recommended reading order for this spin-off series is its publication order:

  1. The Miniature World of Marvin & James (2013) – Marvin and James face separation when James goes away on vacation, leaving Marvin to deal with a dangerous encounter with a pencil sharpener.
  2. James to the Rescue (2015) – Marvin and James work together to save a baby bird that has fallen out of its nest.
  3. Trouble at School for Marvin & James (2017) – Marvin hitches a ride in James's pocket to see what school is like, leading to an unexpected classroom crisis.
  4. Marvin and James Save the Day and Elaine Helps! (2019) – A search-and-rescue mission ensues when James loses his mother's wedding ring.
  5. A Trip to the Country for Marvin & James (2020) – James and Marvin head out on a vacation to the countryside, where they explore nature and encounter new outdoor dangers.

The Thematic Companion: Duet

Published in 2022, Duet is a thematic companion to Masterpiece. It does not feature Marvin or James, but Elise Broach wrote it as a spiritual successor. Just as Masterpiece explores visual art (Albrecht Dürer) through the eyes of a talented beetle, Duet explores classical music (Frédéric Chopin and Eugène Delacroix) through the eyes of Mirabelle, a goldfinch with a beautiful singing voice. Mirabelle forms a secret musical partnership with a gifted, reluctant young piano student named Michael Jin. Together, they seek to solve a mystery involving a long-lost piano that once belonged to Chopin. It can be read entirely on its own, but fans of Masterpiece will appreciate the parallel structures and themes.

Missing on Superstition Mountain Trilogy

For readers who enjoy wilderness mysteries, spooky settings, and family secrets, the Superstition Mountain trilogy is a must-read. Set in the Arizona desert, the story follows the Barker brothers—Simon, Jack, and Ben—who move to a town near the Superstition Mountains. Their parents forbid them from going near the mountains, which only makes the boys more curious. When they venture out, they discover skulls, clues to a legendary lost gold mine, and strange townspeople who seem to be hiding something. This series is highly serialized and must be read in chronological/publication order:

  1. Missing on Superstition Mountain (2011) – The brothers move to Arizona and begin exploring the mountains, discovering three human skulls and realizing people regularly vanish in the area.
  2. Treasure on Superstition Mountain (2012) – The brothers search for the legendary Lost Dutchman mine while navigating growing danger from someone trying to keep them away.
  3. Revenge of Superstition Mountain (2014) – The thrilling conclusion where the brothers must solve the final puzzles of the mountain to save their family and uncover the truth.

Standalone Middle-Grade and YA Novels

Broach has written several highly acclaimed standalone novels that offer complete stories without requiring a series commitment. These can be read in any order:

  • Shakespeare's Secret (2005): Broach's debut middle-grade novel. Sixth-grader Hero Netherfield moves into a house rumored to hide the long-lost Murphy Diamond, worth millions. With the help of her neighbor Mrs. Roth and a classmate named Danny, Hero investigates the mystery, which connects to the historical debate over whether Edward de Vere, the Earl of Oxford, actually wrote William Shakespeare's plays.
  • Desert Crossing (2006): A mystery-thriller written for young adults. Fourteen-year-old Lucy, her brother Jamie, and his friend Kit are on a road trip through New Mexico when their car hits what they think is an animal, but turns out to be the body of a dead girl. The discovery pulls them into a dark police investigation and triggers a journey of emotional maturity, guilt, and self-discovery.
  • The Wolf Keepers (2016): A middle-grade adventure set at a zoo near Yosemite National Park. Lizzie, the daughter of a zookeeper, teams up with Tyler, a runaway boy living on the zoo grounds. When the zoo's wolves begin falling mysteriously ill, their investigation leads them on a wild survival quest into Yosemite in search of a historical cabin once owned by John Muir.

Picture Books and Early Literacy Works

For younger children, Broach has authored numerous picture books and chapter books. These are entirely standalone and can be read in any order. Notable titles include:

  • Wet Dog! (2005) – A fun, rhythmic story about a hot dog looking for a way to cool off.
  • When Dinosaurs Came with Everything (2007) – A whimsical look at a world where buying a sandwich or visiting the doctor gets you a free dinosaur.
  • The Baby series (including Seashore Baby, Snowflake Baby, Barnyard Baby, and Springtime Baby) – Board books celebrating seasonal activities for toddlers.
  • Bedtime for Little Bulldozer (2019) – A bedtime story about a little bulldozer who is too full of energy to sleep.

Frequently Asked

Are Masterpiece and the Masterpiece Adventures books the same?

No, they are different formats. Masterpiece is a full-length middle-grade novel for ages 8–12 focusing on an art heist. The Masterpiece Adventures is a spin-off series of shorter, highly illustrated chapter books designed for younger readers (ages 6–9) featuring the same characters in everyday settings.

Do you need to read the Superstition Mountain books in order?

Yes. The Superstition Mountain Trilogy is highly serialized and follows a continuous storyline. You should read Missing on Superstition Mountain first, followed by Treasure, and conclude with Revenge.

Is the novel Duet a sequel to Masterpiece?

No, Duet is a companion novel, not a direct sequel. It features a new cast of characters, including a musical goldfinch named Mirabelle and a young pianist, but shares the same structure as Masterpiece—blending an animal-human friendship with a historical mystery (Frédéric Chopin instead of Albrecht Dürer).

What age group is Desert Crossing for?

Unlike most of Elise Broach's middle-grade novels, Desert Crossing is a young adult thriller intended for readers aged 12 and up due to its mature themes of death, police investigations, and emotional loss.

What is the historical mystery in Shakespeare's Secret?

The mystery in Shakespeare's Secret centers around a missing diamond and a hidden connection to the conspiracy theory that Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford, was the true author of Shakespeare's plays.

Where does The Wolf Keepers take place?

The Wolf Keepers is set in a zoo in California and in the wilderness of Yosemite National Park, incorporating historical elements related to the famous naturalist John Muir.