Publishers Weekly
05/20/2024
A young con artist enlists the help of Michelangelo to rob a corrupt pope in Schneiderhan’s riveting debut heist tale. In 1517 Florence, where the Medicis reign with a golden fist, Rosa Cellini has been conning soldiers out of coins since she was a child. Now 17, Rosa concocts a plan to steal 10,000 gold florins from Pope Leo X and the Medicis, a seemingly impossible feat. She recruits the best thieves in Italy—tinkerer Sarra, sleight-of-hand prodigy and master of disguise Giacomo, prize fighter Khalid, and Agata, an alchemist and rumored witch—as well as famed painter Michelangelo and his magnetic assistant Dominic. But the Medici guard have eyes everywhere, and the band of misfits must put aside their fraught past to pull off the heist of the century. Inapposite metaphor and modern vocabulary spread across numerous alternating POVs occasionally fumble immersion into the 16th-century setting. Still, Schneiderhan utilizes clear-headed genre savvy and leisurely, dialogue-driven chapters teeming with sharp banter and elevating stakes to drive the found family toward their goal in this gleeful Renaissance caper. Characters cue as Italian. Ages 13–up. Agent: John Cusick, Folio Literary. (Aug.)
From the Publisher
"A stunning debut for Caitlin Schneiderhan. Weaving together a cast of loveable rogues, a richly detailed historical setting, and a cinematic thrill ride of a story, Medici Heist knocked us flat. Let’s hope this is the first of many epic adventures for Rosa and her crew—because we need more!" —the Duffer Brothers, creators of Netflix's Stranger Things
"If you've ever wanted to hold a fun, daring, historically rich heist movie in the palm of your hands—pick up this book." —Ngozi Ukazu, author of Check, Please!
"I can't remember the last time I had as much fun with a book as I did with MEDICI HEIST. Caitlin Schneiderhan takes readers on a wild, sumptuous tour of historical Florence, packed with cinematic action and helmed by a gang of lovable misfits and outsiders who come together to pull off an impossible heist. I couldn't put this down!" —Mackenzi Lee, New York Times bestselling author of A Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue
"An exhilarating journey through 1517 Florence, Medici Heist captivates with its engaging and vivid prose, immersing readers in a world rich with historical detail. I couldn't put this book down—it's a highly entertaining and cinematic read!" —June Hur, bestselling author of The Red Palace
"Medici Heist will draw you in with its inventive and exciting take on the heist genre - I was thrilled by the expertly planned heist, inspired by the ragtag crew of Davids standing up to Goliath, and utterly charmed by the relationships that bloomed between these unforgettable characters. Whether you love scrappy heroes, chosen families, swoon-worthy romances, or heart-pounding action, Medici Heist has it all." —Lauren Shippen, author of The Bright Sessions series and podcast
"Medici Heist is the most fun you'll ever have stealing from the Pope. Full of perilous adventure, crackling romance, and joyfully clever storytelling. Featuring a charismatic and lovable band of thieves that will have you proclaiming 'Viva La Reppublica!'" —Britta Lundin, author of Ship It and Like Other Girls
"Prepare for a white-knuckled, brilliantly plotted adventure! Medici Heist is a fun, rollicking escapade through Renaissance Florence that will leave you wanting more." —Adriana Mather, New York Times bestselling author of How to Hang a Witch
"Clever turns of phrase, cleverer schemes. You don’t want to miss the most brilliant heist of several centuries" —Sarah Rees Brennan, author of Long Live Evil
"Debut author Schneiderhan transports readers to Renaissance Florence, creating a rich historical backdrop filled with personal dramas and political upheaval."—Kirkus Reviews
"Schneiderhan utilizes clear-headed genre savvy and leisurely, dialogue-driven chapters teeming with sharp banter and elevating stakes to drive the found family toward their goal in this gleeful Renaissance caper." —Publishers Weekly
"Schneiderhan serves a masterclass in the heist thriller, expertly balancing a gorgeous setting, complicated characters, hidden secrets, and a relentless tension that climaxes in the team’s utterly brazen (but not entirely assured) success." —BCCB
Kirkus Reviews
2024-05-17
Seventeen-year-old Rosa Cellini returns to Florence after six years away, hoping to dismantle the powerful Medici family, which now includes Pope Leo X.
Rosa hasn’t entered Florence since the death of her mother and the fall of the Republic. But now she’s teaming up with Florence’s best thieves—childhood friend Sarra the Tinkerer, Tunisian enforcer Khalid, con man Giacomo, and apothecary Agata. Rosa plans to steal the fortune the Medicis have amassed from selling indulgences. To pull off the biggest heist of their careers, they’ll have to infiltrate the Medici family guard, traverse the rooftops of Florence, disarm Leonardo da Vinci’s traps, and enlist the help of Michelangelo. Rosa taps into Michelangelo’s discomfort about the Medicis’ rule and his longing for the days of the Republic to enlist him as uneasy accomplice in the plot against his patrons, using his status to gain access to the Medici palace. The crew’s dynamics greatly enhance the core of heist narratives; in this case, the bond between the central group develops too late in the story to develop a strong chemistry. Earlier on, the characters are often isolated, dealing with personal challenges that don’t require team effort. Despite these shortcomings, the relationships that eventually form between them are endearing and compelling. Debut author Schneiderhan transports readers to Renaissance Florence, creating a rich historical backdrop filled with personal dramas and political upheaval.
Does a fine job depicting an intriguing era in an adventure that’s peopled with heartwarming characters. (Historical thriller. 13-18)
