• Age: 12 to 18
• Grade: 8 to 12
• Reading age: 12 to 18

In seventeenth-century Rome, connections are everything. But for fifteen-year-old Beppo Ghirlandi, an indentured servant accused of murder, there is no one to turn to. The only person who will help him is the painter from across the Piazza, the madman genius known as Caravaggio—who, unfortunately, has serious troubles of his own. By helping Caravaggio flee, Beppo might just be able to stay alive.

MARK DAVID SMITH has dug many holes but usually unearths rocks, roots, or underground creatures that prefer to be left alone. He is a teacher and writer living in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, with his family, whom he treasures. The Deepest Dig, which was inspired by the discovery of a mammoth skeleton on a Michigan farm, is his first picture book.

Mark David Smith's profile page

“A fast paced, intriguing novel . . . highly recommended.”

CM Reviews

★ "Combining the timeless allure of action and young-love romance with the historically accurate and turbulent life of the painter Caravaggio, this story succeeds on all levels."

Kirkus Reviews, starred review