Francesco was born in Milan where he lives and works. His parents were refugees from Istria, Croatia. His first novel for young people Lupo Omega, was published in 1999 and short listed for three literary prizes, his third, Iqbal, 2001, was first published in English in 2003 and received the New York Christopher Award for Adolescents and the Cento Prize in Italy. In 2004, Francesco won the International Reading Association Teachers’ Choices Booklist Prize.