Theft of the Ruby Lotus - by Sayantani DasGupta (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

"A delightful mystery that keeps you guessing until the final page. With a twisty plot, big laughs, and an irresistible narrator, it's a winner in every sense." --JAMES PONTI, New York Times bestselling author of City Spies and The Sherlock Society

Ria Bailey finds herself in quite a fix, and it's all because of a strange treasure that turns up in the mail one fateful day. It might be a ruby, and it just might hold the key to some troubling developments in her life. Most importantly, if she and her besties Miracle Owusu and Annie Hernandez can trace the significance and stay one step ahead of the mysterious strangers tracking their moves through the Metropolitan Museum of Art and out into the city streets of New York, then just maybe Ria can turn things around for herself.

Sayantani DasGupta returns in rare form with a brand new story that's part love letter to the Metropolitan Museum and New York City immigrant families, part twisting and turning heist, and completely an examination of where art belongs, who gets to keep it, and what it means to be on display.

Review Quotes

"A hilarious mystery, a twisty adventure, a love letter to New York City and the immigrant communities who make it great. Theft of the Ruby Lotus will keep you guessing and laughing straight to the very end." -- ADAM GIDWITZ, Newbery Honor author of The Inquisitor's Tale

"DasGupta's fast-paced art theft caper has a hilarious heroine and more twists and turns than a New York cab ride. Fans of Mr. Lemoncello and City Spies will adore it." -- E. LOCKHART, bestselling author of We Were Liars

"A Mixed-Up Files for a new generation. I'd like to report a crime as Theft of the Ruby Lotus has stolen my heart!" -- ELIZABETH EULBERG, bestselling author of The Great Shelby Holmes

"A rollicking adventure tale for kids who wonder why museums have other people's treasures--and want to know what to do about it!" -- ERIN L. THOMPSON, professor of art crime and author of Smashing Statues: The Rise and Fall of America's Public Monuments

About the Author

Sayantani DasGupta is the New York Times bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Bengali folktale and string theory-inspired Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond books, the first of which -- The Serpent's Secret -- was a Bank Street Best Book of the Year, a Booklist Best Middle Grade Novel of the 21st Century, and an E. B. White Read Aloud Honor Book. She is also the author of Debating Darcy, a contemporary young adult reimagining of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Sayantani is a pediatrician by training, but now teaches at Columbia University. When she's not writing or reading, Sayantani spends time watching cooking shows with her trilingual children and protecting her black Labrador retriever Khushi from the many things that scare him, including plastic bags. She is a team member of We Need Diverse Books, and can be found online at sayantanidasgupta.com and on Twitter at @sayantani16.