Cincinnati Lee, Curse Breaker

Starred review from February 1, 2025
A spirited 12-year-old embarks on an action-packed globe-trekking adventure to collect and repatriate stolen artifacts. After Cincinnati Lee, an American girl who has some Chinese heritage, snags her ailing 135-year-old archaeologist great-great-great-grandfather's diary, she learns about a clay idol from Peru that he looted (and which has cursed the family) and the legendary Spear of Destiny (a relic rumored to grant immense power, but at great peril). Determined to right past wrongs, Cincinnati works to recover the idol. In doing so she unravels an international web of secrets involving corporate art smugglers, curse-bearing relics, and her own family history. Along the way, Cincinnati is supported by friends: Parsley, a Black classmate at her posh private school and the daughter of a celebrity musician, and Felix, who presents Latine and is an amateur forger whose father works with Cin's mom at the Cosmopolitan Museum of New York. The settings and characters are well developed, and laugh-out-loud dialogue accompanies the bold, fast-paced narrative. References to other adventure stories, real places, and true-to-life political controversies (such as the Hobby Lobby smuggling scandal) abound, adding depth and inviting readers to reflect on questions of cultural heritage and museum ethics. As Heilig writes in her author's note, "When the treasure we put on display is evidence of a crime, what will future generations believe about our values?" This story is hilarious, smart, and respectfully rendered, and the writing is accessible while still feeling literary. A thrilling, thoughtful, and layered adventure story with fantastical elements.(Adventure. 8-12)

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Starred review from March 1, 2025
Grades 4-7 *Starred Review* Cincinnati Lee loves archeology as much as her great-great-something-grandfather did, and he dedicated his life to recovering ancient artifacts for preservation and display in museums. But Cincinnati is certain that her ancestor's work, however well intentioned, has left their family cursed, and she feels it's her responsibility to return all the artifacts to their places of origin. Luckily, her mom's work at a New York City museum puts her in proximity to plenty of relics. But a rumor about the hunt for the Spear of Destiny sees Cincinnati sucked into a race against older, more-experienced treasure hunters who want the relic's supposed powers for their own gain. Can Cincinnati (and a few unexpected allies) find a way to beat them to the spear while staying true to their own moral code? It's a terrific tale, worthy of its Indiana Jones inspiration (fedora included) yet still fresh, and Cincinnati feels like a fully realized friend, flaws and all. There are surprises aplenty, real danger, and lots of laughs, and Heilig pulls no punches in her thoughtful discussions of museum ethics and lightly disguised Hobby Lobby scandals. Any amateur archaeologist or adventurer-appreciator will adore the brisk pace, delightfully well-rounded cast, and deepening mystery that whisks readers around the world and into high-stakes situations. A fantastic, adventurous foray into the ethics of archaeology.

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February 28, 2025

Gr 4-6-Twelve-year-old Cincinnati Lee is a thief, but for a good reason. Her great-great-great grandfather, a famous archeologist, put a curse on the family through his looted goods and now, following his diary, Cincinnati must break it. Cin's mom, who is Chinese and white, is a fundraiser for the Cosmopolitan Museum of New York, where Cincinnati spends much of her time with brilliant forger (and best friend) Felix. She discovers an evil villain is conspiring with a well-known collector to find the Spear of Destiny, an artifact with ultimate power to reverse her curse-or destroy the world! Cin's new friend Parsley, a fashion-forward Black girl, becomes her willing (and sometimes unwilling) accomplice as she sneaks into art auctions, scales rooftops to warehouses, and finds her way to a houseboat in Paris to recover the spear and perhaps change her destiny. With a mix of reality, the supernatural, and unbelievable situations, this story makes an entertaining read. The first-person narration highlights Cin as an erudite tween trying to save her family and figure out friendships. Some references might go over the heads of the intended readership with their focus on the illegal artifact trade, referencing real museums and cases, such the Hobby Lobby scandal and the legendary Indiana Jones. These are explained in the author's note, so unfamiliar topics could spark conversations. VERDICT An adventure heist that tries to emulate the excitement of Indiana Jones, while adroitly opening their eyes to the problematic issues of smuggling and looting ancient artifacts for tweens who like a rollicking story.-Clare A. Dombrowski

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