Starry Nights

A cross between The Da Vinci Code and The Night at the Museum, this sophisticated fantasy from Whitney (When You Were Here) borrows from art history and ancient mythology as chaos erupts at museums around the world. Seventeen-year-old Julien, whose mother runs the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, has recently learned that the museum’s paintings come to life by night. Just as he becomes enamored with a girl in a Renoir work who returns his affection, other paintings begin changing and behaving strangely, and reports surface that paintings in America, Great Britain, and Russia are doing the same. To prevent the destruction of dozens of masterpieces, Julien tries to locate the source of the trouble, with help from fellow art-lovers, Renoir’s favorite model, and at least one of the nine muses. Whitney’s anecdotes about artists and their works create a solid foundation from which magic springs. Her romantic interpretation of artistic temperament, inspiration, and beauty will tempt even the most grounded readers to vicariously enter the world behind painted images. Ages 12–up. Agent: Michelle Wolfson, Wolfson Literary Agency. (Sept.)