Want to take a trip abroad? Go on an adventure to the magical city of Venice in Cornelia Funke’s The Thief Lord.
After learning they would be separated by their aunt and uncle, orphan brothers Prosper and Bo run away to the dazzling Venice. There they join a gang of street kids led by the strange and mysterious Thief Lord, a kid who has secrets of his own. Though they find a safe place to call home and people to call family, untold secrets and strange circumstances will test the strength of their group and lead them down a fantastic path no one could expect.
This book occupies many different genres. This middle grade novel has elements of fantasy while remaining realistic, incorporates the many sites of Venice as a travel guide would, and gives the perspective of adults. All these elements add up to make this a unique book that should stand out on the shelf for any reader.
The Thief Lord stands at 345 pages, but don't let that convince you not to read it. With its interesting storyline and easy to read style, the story length will not prove to be a problem for most readers. In fact, this reader found that the story’s length added more mystery to the novel. Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen to the characters in the story, I would check the page count. Knowing that the easy and predictable ending in my head could not come to a close in 100 pages made me excited to discover what new situations the characters were going to get up to next.
As such, The Thief Lord kept me on my toes as a reader. For any reader who wishes to take the adventure to Venice, I am sure this novel will do the same for you.
Does it have a Young Adult label?: No
Recommended if you like stories with: fantasy mixed in with realistic fiction, stories about orphans, friendship, family, lies, Venice, a magical carousel, surprises
Favorite Quote: “Children are caterpillars and adults are butterflies. No butterfly ever remembers what it felt like being a caterpillar.”
Rating:
This book occupies many different genres. This middle grade novel has elements of fantasy while remaining realistic, incorporates the many sites of Venice as a travel guide would, and gives the perspective of adults. All these elements add up to make this a unique book that should stand out on the shelf for any reader.
The Thief Lord stands at 345 pages, but don't let that convince you not to read it. With its interesting storyline and easy to read style, the story length will not prove to be a problem for most readers. In fact, this reader found that the story’s length added more mystery to the novel. Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen to the characters in the story, I would check the page count. Knowing that the easy and predictable ending in my head could not come to a close in 100 pages made me excited to discover what new situations the characters were going to get up to next.
As such, The Thief Lord kept me on my toes as a reader. For any reader who wishes to take the adventure to Venice, I am sure this novel will do the same for you.
Does it have a Young Adult label?: No
Recommended if you like stories with: fantasy mixed in with realistic fiction, stories about orphans, friendship, family, lies, Venice, a magical carousel, surprises
Favorite Quote: “Children are caterpillars and adults are butterflies. No butterfly ever remembers what it felt like being a caterpillar.”
Rating: