The Thief Lord
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
Two orphaned children are on the run, hiding among the crumbling canals and misty alleyways of the city. Befriended by a gang of street children and their mysterious leader, the Thief Lord, they shelter in an old, disused cinema. On their trail is a bungling detective, obsessed with disguises and the health of his pet tortoises. But a greater threat to the boys' new-found freedom is something from a forgotten past - a beautiful magical treasure with the power to spin time itself.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Jones's (The Devil's Own; Brideshead Revisited) deep, sonorous voice and British accent set the perfect mood for German author Funke's adventurous tale of orphans on the run in Venice. Though set in modern-day Italy, Funke's story could comfortably sit alongside Oliver Twist and Peter Pan; she incorporates elements from both these timeless works as she introduces brothers Prosper and Bo and their cohorts. Having run away from their cruel aunt and guardian (who wants to adopt only younger brother Bo), Prosper and Bo find themselves in the alleys and canals of Venice, a city their deceased mother spoke of with adoration. The boys find shelter, sustenance and camaraderie via a band of child thieves, led by a bold adolescent who calls himself the Thief Lord. Intrigue, suspense and humor abound as the boys outwit, then befriend, a local detective and a wealthy dowager all on the way to discovering a merry-go-round with magical powers. Funke leaves a few loose ends dangling, but most listeners won't mind as Jones reads at a good clip, catching them up in the excitement of the children's exploits and the colorful surroundings. Simultaneous release with Scholastic/Chicken House hardcover.Ages 9-up.
