Narrator Julieta Leal -- smart, curious, and prone to causing unintentional trouble -- is thrilled to be accompanying her dad, an art handler at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts, on a trip to Paris to collect some pieces from the Louvre on loan for a new exhibit. At first, Julieta enjoys visiting Parisian landmarks and (not) eating escargot; she also accompanies her dad on his work, giving readers intriguing behind-the-scenes glimpses of famous museums and palaces. But when the Louvre's Regent Diamond is stolen, Julieta and her father are the prime suspects. Now Julieta needs to catch the thief and clear their names so they can make it home in time for the birth of her baby brother. Julieta's dad is "honestly surprised at the amount of havoc a nine-year-old can cause in less than a week," but ultimately it's Julieta's eye for detail, love of Greek mythology, and tendency to act on impulse that save the day. Julieta and her family are Mexican American ("the J in Julieta sounds like the hooting of an owl. Like whoooo-lieta"), and she is bilingual in English and Spanish (and even learns a little French). Readers of this debut author's entertaining middle-grade mystery will appreciate the back matter, which includes a glossary and more information about the Regent Diamond and other works of art mentioned in the book, complete with photographs. Anamaria Anderson

This gentle, fast-paced mystery will hook readers with interesting details.Julieta Leal, 9, is a magnet for disasters. She has a reputation at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts, where both her parents work, for making trouble. Julieta is just trying to help, and it's not her fault that sometimes things get broken or she has a hard time following the rules. When Julieta's dad invites her along on a trip to Paris regarding the loan of some pieces from the Louvre, she jumps at the chance to add another purple pin to her family's world-travel map. She promises to be helpful and stay out of trouble and desperately wants to shed her reputation of being a liability. This proves difficult when the dazzling Regent Diamond is stolen and Julieta and her dad are implicated in the theft. With her dad's job in peril and the prized gem missing, Julieta must rely on her keen observations and tenacity to clear their names. Detailed descriptions of Paris landmarks and factual information about museum pieces are woven naturally into the fast-moving plot so that readers come away with knowledge of these topics alongside a satisfying story. Several pages of backmatter notes bolster the learning. The endearing Julieta is bilingual, and she and her family are Mexican American.Come for the mystery, stay for the backmatter. (glossaries) (Mystery. 8-11)

Gr 3-6 Nine-year-old Julieta and her father are going on a trip to Paris for his job at the art museum in Boston. While they are there, one of the important pieces they are supposed to bring back to the United States, the Regent Diamond, goes missing, and Julieta's father might be blamed. They must find out the truth or her father will lose his job. Pitched as a mystery, this reads more like a family story, as Julieta's mom is home pregnant and a majority of the focus is on Julieta and her father making it back on time for the birth. Also, Julieta does not sleuth like most main characters in mysteries; things simply tend to happen near or around her. There is a great deal of interesting information about Paris and various Greek gods, but those segues often take away from the mystery aspect of the novel. Despite these missteps, Julieta is a likable, bilingual character who will appeal to a middle grade audience. VERDICT Give to readers who enjoy adventures and travel, but for more prominent mysteries try Stuart Gibbs or Carl Hiaasen. Tegan Anclade, Lake Villa District Library, IL