Cincinnati Lee, Curse Breaker

by Heidi Heilig

On Sale: 03/25/2025

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Cincinnati Lee, Curse Breaker

by Heidi Heilig

On Sale: 03/25/2025

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Amazon Indigo

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About the Book

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler meets Indiana Jones! A young adventurer races to break the family curse by repatriating the artifacts her famed ancestor “saved.” Perfect for fans of Rick Riordan, Kwame Mbalia, and Rena Barron.

Cincinnati Lee’s great great (great?) grandfather is famous. His adventures discovering ancient artifacts have been made into movies, and his work is widely respected by museums across the world. The thing is, in that line of work, you’re bound to get cursed. And that leaves your great great (great?) granddaughter to break the curse by returning the artifacts you “preserved.”

Cincinnati’s own adventure begins in the Cosmopolitan Museum in New York City, where her single mom works and Cincinnati has grown up. Soon she learns about the ancient Spear of Destiny—and its potential to right all the wrongs in her family’s past. Or bring about the end of the world. It all depends on whose hands it falls into. Cincinnati must beat two relic hunters to the spear, and her quest will take her to surprising locations throughout the city and even across the Atlantic Ocean. Along the way, she’ll make a new friend (which is not the easiest thing to do), make some enemies (surprisingly easy to do), and ultimately learn what makes the world worth saving. Acclaimed author Heidi Heilig makes a dazzling middle grade debut with an irrepressible hero, a compelling cast of friends and enemies, nonstop action, and a thoughtful approach to viewing our responsibilities to each other and the world around us.

Critical Praise

“Heidi Heilig's Cincinnati Lee, Curse Breaker has all the suspense and intrigue of a middle-school Da Vinci Code, with a plucky and endearing heroine that readers will be eager to see more of. Imagine if Indiana Jones restored tombs, rather than raided them—and had to worry about getting grounded in the process! Fast-paced fun and plenty of charm to boot.” — Christopher Healy, author of No One Leaves the Castle

“Like a young Indiana Jones with a conscience, Heidi Heilig combines magic, politics, and sheer exuberance to create an unforgettable adventure with a deeply endearing, slightly chaotic heroine. A satisfying quest that feels both fresh and classic.” — Kyle Lukoff, author of Newbery Honor book Too Bright to See

“A spirited 12-year-old embarks on an action-packed globe-trekking adventure to collect and repatriate stolen artifacts. . . . 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.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)