Portrait of a Thief

“Art could be beauty, but it was also power. Look, it demanded, and don't turn away.”
~
What a deep, yet fun and thrilling story. We meet five Chinese American college kids who are given an offer to “return” artifacts to China, the catch is they have to steal them from famous museums. I really enjoy the depth we get to see in each character, their past and present, fears and desires. The heists bring unexpected challenges to their lives and relationships, and we get to see how they overcome these speed bumps on their way. The ending took me by surprise, but overall the author has woven some deeper topics into an exciting storyline.