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Midnight in the Piazza

Cover image for Midnight in the piazza

by Tiffany Parks 
New York, NY : Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, [2018]

Beatrice, almost 14, loves her life in Boston. So when her dad comes home and tells her they're moving to Rome, she is reluctant to go. However, upon arriving at their cute new apartment, Beatrice immediately falls in love with their historic neighborhood, especially the bronze fountain outside her bedroom window. One night, she wakes up in the middle of the night to find someone stealing the bronze turtle statues decorating the fountain. When she wakes her dad up to tell him, the turtles have been mysteriously returned. 

Beatrice is determined to prove that the real turtles have been stolen, and replaced with fakes. She sets out to find clues, exploring all over Rome and following hints she found in an ancient diary. Her investigation leads her to the forgotten Roman tunnels under the city, where she finds out the true plot involving the turtles and the fountain. 

This art heist is a great middle grade read, perfect for older readers who love mysteries, classic art, or Rome. Also fun is the sprinkling of Italian words (complete with English translations in the footnotes), to make the story feel more authentic.  


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