THE THIEF LORD by Cornelia Funke

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Funke, Cornelia. The Thief Lord. [sound recording]. New York, NY: Listening Library, 2002. ISBN 030728171X

PLOT SUMMARY

After the death of their mother and to escape an unkind Aunt who plans to separate them, Prosper (age 12) and Bo (age 5) decide to escape to the place their mother always told them about, Venice, Italy. When they arrive in the city they are taken into the care of "The Thief Lord" along with 3 other homeless children. The children live in an abandoned movie theatre. The Thief Lord provides for the children by stealing from the homes of Venice's wealthy patriots, or so one is led to believe.

A mysterious man hires the Thief Lord to steal a wooden wing from an old merry-go-round, reported to reverse the aging process by turning the old young and the young old. At the same time a detective, Victor, has been hired by the boy's Aunt to find the boys and return Bo to her care. She plans to send Prosper to a boarding school. The children unite to steal the wing and the adventure grows adding new characters and twists in the action.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The Thief Lord was originally written in German by Cornelia Funke and translated to English by her cousin, Oliver Latsch. The audio version of the book is especially well done with distinction in voices which leaves the listener wanting to continue listening nonstop. The storyline, while complex, is woven together magically. At times interest may wane; however, these periods are brief and the reader or listener is rewarded for sticking with the journey. The ages of the characters fit the genre requirements for Young Adult fiction and the action holds the interest of children, teens and adults. The book is well written and translates well into English. I recommend this as a family reading experience to unite all ages.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Horn Book Magazine (May 1, 2003) "In this reversal of the lost boys, Neverland is a crumbling movie theater in Venice, Italy, the hero a boy who desperately wants to grow up, and the villain a bloated and bloodthirsty antiques dealer. Two brothers, Prosper and Bo, on the run from an evil aunt and uncle, join the Thief Lord's band of stray children who live by their wits and little else. Simon Jones carefully crafts each of the oddly likable characters, from fatherly private-eye Victor to feisty Hornet, the only girl in the band. Jones's matter-of-fact delivery also helps support the book's gradual transition from daily reality to the moonlit and magical landscape of the ancient carousel where anything can (and does) happen. The book won the 2003 Batchelder Award; the audiobook itself is a rip-roaring success."

School Library Journal (February 1, 2003) "The plot is full of twists and surprises, and the characters are vividly described. The excellent descriptive passages make it easy to picture the characters and setting. Loyalty, honor among thieves, and whether it's better to be an adult or a child are some of the themes explored in this fast-paced, spellbinding tale."

Publishers Weekly (June 24, 2002) "There are a lot of story lines to follow, and the pacing is sometimes off (readers may feel that Funke spends too little time on what happens when the children find the carousel, and too much on the ruse they pull on Prosper's aunt). But between kindhearted Victor and his collection of fake beards, the Thief Lord in his mask and high-heeled boots, and a rascally street kid who loves to steal, Prosper's new world abounds with colorful characters. The Venetian setting is ripe for mystery and the city's alleys and canals ratchet up the suspense in the chase scenes."