In the Republic of Joseonis, truth is more dangerous than treason.

When Peter discovers a hidden photograph in his late father's diary—a man once branded a traitor and executed—he unravels a trail of secrets buried beneath thirty years of lies. The theft of currency plates, a vanished prime minister, and a vault of missing rubies all converge in a mystery that challenges the very foundations of a nation.

With help from his friends, Peter decodes forgotten symbols, confronts political ghosts, and uncovers a thirteenth ruby long thought to be a myth. But truth doesn't sleep easily. And those who guard it—do so at a cost.

The Thirteenth Ruby is a gripping middle-grade political thriller that blends mystery, friendship, and legacy. Set in a richly imagined alternate East Asia, it explores what it means to carry the burden of the past—and how courage can change the future.