Thief Lord: Novel-Ties Study Guide

I expect a quality work directed at the youth marketplace to help kids develop a sense of themselves and the values which will mold them into good citizens. Thief Lord does none of that.
The story, set in Venice, is simplistic, predictable and emphasizes free will on the part of orphans who exercise their free will to the detriment of others (although this is glossed over). It seems to glorify pick-pocketing, sees nothing wrong with spending counterfeit money, and finally settles on the charity of a couple of open-hearted adults to solve all the kids' problems.
I see little of redeeming value in this work and I will not give it to my granddaughter.
Bob Gould
Wellesley, MA

In the fall of 2014 I endured several medical problems which put me in the hospital and left me with lots of free time. My friend gave me The Thief Lord to read; I was immediately transported to Venice, Italy. There, I met the protagonist, Prosper, a twelve year old boy, and his younger brother Bo. When their mother died the aunt planned to take them in but they ran away. They ended up in Venice where they were immediately welcomed into a group of young orphaned pickpockets. Everything was going fine for them until they found out their aunt had hired a private investigator to locate them. During their travels Prosper and Bo learned who they really were and that although life can be hard you should always look on the bright side. This moral made the book relatable to me.
I was able to identify with the boys and to connect with their story because I am a teenager and am trying to find out who I am and who I want to be. I learned that even though life is difficult there is always something good if you look for it. Prosper was taught that he needed to have a positive outlook on life and that is how I needed to think this year so this book really spoke to me. I enjoyed this book because of how much I related to the characters.
The Thief Lord is a book about two boys finding out who they are. I'm working on finding out who I am and throughout this process it's nice to see how other people do it, even if those people are only characters in a book. I made a connection with the moral of this story; I learned that even though your life can be arduous and heartbreaking, you should always choose to find the silver lining in your hardship. Although Prosper at times failed to see the good in his life he never gave up and always came back to view things in a positive light. I liked the moral of the story in The Thief Lord. I also identified with the characters who were very well rounded and who were relatable to me because of their struggles. I could see their growth in the book, and it helped me to want to continue to grow as well. I recommend this book to anyone out there who is going through a difficult time in their life, but also to those who may have friends or family who are struggling. I would read this book again.
Cora S.

An odd little story, focused on a pair of brothers in 21st-century Venice who run away from home to join a gang of thieving street urchins. As when I read this author's From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, I initially found it a little hard to sympathize with the main characters, but that eased somewhat as more details of their former home life came out. What was more surprising was the sudden presence of magic, which isn't even hinted at until halfway through the novel and doesn't become explicitly confirmed until its final quarter. I wouldn't go so far as to say the magical element detracts from the story, but it certainly seems out of place with what comes before.

Prosper, twelve, and Boniface (Bo), five, are orphans who ran away to Venice after their mother died. They were fleeing their aunt Esther who wanted to split apart the boys and only adopt the angelic faced Bo. The boys won't be split up so they hide and evade and hope their aunt doesn't find them in Venice. They chose Venice because of the wonderful stories their mother used to tell them about the city and how magical it was. They soon run into other orphaned kids who befriend them invite them to join their group. Hornet, Riccio, and Mosca live in the abandoned movie theater. Their leader, Scipio (aka the Theif Lord) always ensures they have enough money to get by. The Theif Lord is mysterious and comes and goes as he pleases, no one knows where he steals the goods he has them sell at Ernesto Barbarossa's pawnshop.

Prosper and Bo enjoy their new life of independence, but they continue to look over their shoulders, worrying that their aunt Esther will come looking for them. Prosper assures Bo this won't happen in Venice, but aunt Esther tracks them to the city and hires a detective to search for them. Victor Getz is a detective of many disguises, who can blend in a crowd and look different the next time you see him. Getz tracks the kids down while they are out scoping a new job handed to them from Barbarossa. It seems one of Barbarossa's other clients needs The Theif Lord to steal something for him. While Scipio thinks it will be as easy as his other thefts, he (and all the children), will soon find out otherwise. They will embark on a journey that will change their lives forever.

This was a bit of a slow read for me. I was really hoping something more magical would happen. While it can be argued that something magical does happen at the end, it was too little too late for me to really enjoy it. The book really broke down to a gang of children in Vencie learning what it means to live on your own and possibly discovering what they want in life is actually different than what they thought. Ok book for what it was, just not what I was hoping for.

The book is written by Cornelia Funke, writer well-known for children books (Dragon rider and the Inkheart trilogy are the famous examples), and almost every time you read these books, you never know what will happen until the very end, which makes them a very intriguing read.

So was the case with this book, The Thief lord. The book contains a lot of adventures and it is interesting in a way that it is told between adult's and the children's perspective: This allows for a good humor here and there. The book focuses on friendship, leadership, trust, and family: all of which are very beneficial to the viewers, regardless of what their age might be, and that is what I found about this author the most enjoyable, since I don't feel at all childish (feeling an elementary student I used to be) when I was reading the book.

The book was made into a movie, and I am looking forward to checking that out, especially since it received a lot of good comments from reviewers.

***minor spoilers ahead***

The book is mainly about a young boy and his brother, named Bo and Prosper, escaping their legal guardian (their aunt) after they find out that their aunt only intends to keep the younger of the brothers, which would lead to the older getting stuck in a foster home. After running away, they eventually go to Venice, a city fabled so frequently by their dead mother. When in the city, they join with a band of runaways lead by Scipio, the thief lord.

After tracking down her nephews to the city, Bo and Prosper's Aunt hires a local detective to find the kids. The detective's name is Victor (he will be the adult perspective of the book) and he, after a lot of snooping around, finds the kids and makes a move to capture them.

***spoilers gone***

All in all, I think the book is a good read with a LOT of twists and turns and also with a lot of good laugh here and there. No wonder it is an international best seller.

Cornelia Funke's young-adult classic, "The Thief Lord" is a wonderful amalgam of Annie, Harry Potter, Oliver Twist and Peter Pan based in the true-to-life fantasy-land of Venice, Italy.

The story centers around the run away brothers Prosper and Bo, whose mother recently passed away but left her boys with vivid stories of a city without streets and only canals, boats instead of cars, and palaces interspersed with a never-ending maze of teetering homes. Their Aunt Esther is only interested in adopting the younger Bo, and when faced with the prospect of being separated, the boys run from their native Germany to the Venice of their mother's bedtime tales.

The boys hook up with a colorful band of other homeless children, led by the enigmatic leader Scipio, known as The Thief Lord. Using a recently abandoned movie theater as their home, the children have carved out a reasonable existence for themselves, until Aunt Esther employs Venice detective Victor Getz to track down Prosper and Bo.

The homeless children engender the Lost Boys from Peter Pan, while a combination of character qualities encapsulate Peter Pan himself. The story is actually quite simple and reads very quickly at almost 350 pages.

My 7th-grade son read the book in advance of our family trip to Venice and couldn't wait for me to read it as well. My 4th grader shouldn't have any problem with the readability and concepts, and I think even my High Schooler will enjoy the simple innocence of the characters as well as the solidly colorful sense of Venice that Funke provides. The sweet spot for the story is probably high-reading 4th graders through 6th grade. And I'd highly recommend this for any children traveling to Venice.

There's a rather dramatic shift towards fantasy in the last third of the book. It took me by surprise, since the first two-thirds are quite realistic and down to earth. At first thrown off and not particularly appreciating the shift, I've found myself thinking about the conclusions and simple messages of the story and found myself rather liking it.

While rich with the emotions of the homeless children, Prosper and Scipio in particular, the story is very appropriate for most ages, with no violence, and clear children's-story morality.

When Prosper and Bo's mother dies, their aunt and uncle decide to adopt Bo and send Prosper to a boarding school. Unhappy with the prospect of separating from his brother, Prosper along with Bo runs away to Venice. In Venice, they meet a group of runaways who live in an abandoned theatre and are welcomed warmly into their group. The leader of the group is the mysterious, Thief Lord who steals from rich houses to provide them with basic comforts and necessities. As Prosper and Bo happily adjust into their new `family', they think that they have successfully eluded their aunt and uncle. But it is not to be so. Their aunt and uncle have followed them to Venice and are hell-bent on finding them no matter where they are. Can Prosper and Bo successfully evade the detective who their aunt and uncle have put on their trail? And who is this enigmatic client, who has offered them a fortune to steal something which is not even valuable?

The Thief Lord was one of my first Cornelia Funke books. Though I loved Cornelia Funke's Inkheart, this book did not have anything unique or new to offer. Though the story started out well enough, it became boring and predictable by the end. It is true that The Thief Lord is not a brilliant book but it has its plus points. The concept is fascinating and interesting. The characters are well-described and realistic. I could imagine the characters quite clearly in my mind by their description- I could see how they walked, talked or looked. Most of the characters were likeable, be it the caring and soft hearted, Prosper; the steadfast and loyal, Hornet or even the enigmatic and clever leader of their group, the `Thief Lord'. The character I loved most would be Ida Spavento, the quirky and weird photographer from whose house the children try to steal . The kindness and benevolence she shows to the children though seems a bit unrealistic, makes her the most lovable character in the book. Being an orphan herself, she knows how the others are feeling and feels their need for love and compassion. Even though the book has a great story, it has been told in such a dull manner that it fails to keep the readers attention for long. On the whole, the book is readable only for its plot and the bit of magic at the end.

Quotes:
"......Children are caterpillars and adults are butterflies. No butterfly ever remembers what it felt like being a caterpillar."

"........ Turning yourselves into children so that the adults could push you around and laugh at you again! Yes, I do want to take a ride. That's why I came to the island. But I want to ride it in the other direction. I want to be grown up. Grown up! Grown up!" Scipio stamped his foot down so forcefully that he crushed one of the little soldiers. "Sorry!" he muttered, staring at the broken thing as if he had just done something truly terrible.

Overall:
Not a great book but can be a good one-time read

Recommended?
Yes, to Cornelia Funke fans or those who like anything to do with magic .

The book is written by Cornelia Funke, writer well-known for children books (Dragon rider and the Inkheart trilogy are the famous examples), and almost every time you read these books, you never know what will happen until the very end, which makes them a very intriguing read.

So was the case with this book, The Thief lord. The book contains a lot of adventures and it is interesting in a way that it is told between adult's and the children's perspective: This allows for a good humor here and there. The book focuses on friendship, leadership, trust, and family: all of which are very beneficial to the viewers, regardless of what their age might be, and that is what I found about this author the most enjoyable, since I don't feel at all childish (feeling an elementary student I used to be) when I was reading the book.

The book was made into a movie, and I am looking forward to checking that out, especially since it received a lot of good comments from reviewers.

***minor spoilers ahead***

The book is mainly about a young boy and his brother, named Bo and Prosper, escaping their legal guardian (their aunt) after they find out that their aunt only intends to keep the younger of the brothers, which would lead to the older getting stuck in a foster home. After running away, they eventually go to Venice, a city fabled so frequently by their dead mother. When in the city, they join with a band of runaways lead by Scipio, the thief lord.

After tracking down her nephews to the city, Bo and Prosper's Aunt hires a local detective to find the kids. The detective's name is Victor (he will be the adult perspective of the book) and he, after a lot of snooping around, finds the kids and makes a move to capture them.

***spoilers gone***

All in all, I think the book is a good read with a LOT of twists and turns and also with a lot of good laugh here and there. No wonder it is an international best seller.

Cornelia Funke's young-adult classic, "The Thief Lord" is a wonderful amalgam of Annie, Harry Potter, Oliver Twist and Peter Pan based in the true-to-life fantasy-land of Venice, Italy.

The story centers around the run away brothers Prosper and Bo, whose mother recently passed away but left her boys with vivid stories of a city without streets and only canals, boats instead of cars, and palaces interspersed with a never-ending maze of teetering homes. Their Aunt Esther is only interested in adopting the younger Bo, and when faced with the prospect of being separated, the boys run from their native Germany to the Venice of their mother's bedtime tales.

The boys hook up with a colorful band of other homeless children, led by the enigmatic leader Scipio, known as The Thief Lord. Using a recently abandoned movie theater as their home, the children have carved out a reasonable existence for themselves, until Aunt Esther employs Venice detective Victor Getz to track down Prosper and Bo.

The homeless children engender the Lost Boys from Peter Pan, while a combination of character qualities encapsulate Peter Pan himself. The story is actually quite simple and reads very quickly at almost 350 pages.

My 7th-grade son read the book in advance of our family trip to Venice and couldn't wait for me to read it as well. My 4th grader shouldn't have any problem with the readability and concepts, and I think even my High Schooler will enjoy the simple innocence of the characters as well as the solidly colorful sense of Venice that Funke provides. The sweet spot for the story is probably high-reading 4th graders through 6th grade. And I'd highly recommend this for any children traveling to Venice.

There's a rather dramatic shift towards fantasy in the last third of the book. It took me by surprise, since the first two-thirds are quite realistic and down to earth. At first thrown off and not particularly appreciating the shift, I've found myself thinking about the conclusions and simple messages of the story and found myself rather liking it.

While rich with the emotions of the homeless children, Prosper and Scipio in particular, the story is very appropriate for most ages, with no violence, and clear children's-story morality.

When Prosper and Bo's mother dies, their aunt and uncle decide to adopt Bo and send Prosper to a boarding school. Unhappy with the prospect of separating from his brother, Prosper along with Bo runs away to Venice. In Venice, they meet a group of runaways who live in an abandoned theatre and are welcomed warmly into their group. The leader of the group is the mysterious, Thief Lord who steals from rich houses to provide them with basic comforts and necessities. As Prosper and Bo happily adjust into their new `family', they think that they have successfully eluded their aunt and uncle. But it is not to be so. Their aunt and uncle have followed them to Venice and are hell-bent on finding them no matter where they are. Can Prosper and Bo successfully evade the detective who their aunt and uncle have put on their trail? And who is this enigmatic client, who has offered them a fortune to steal something which is not even valuable?

The Thief Lord was one of my first Cornelia Funke books. Though I loved Cornelia Funke's Inkheart, this book did not have anything unique or new to offer. Though the story started out well enough, it became boring and predictable by the end. It is true that The Thief Lord is not a brilliant book but it has its plus points. The concept is fascinating and interesting. The characters are well-described and realistic. I could imagine the characters quite clearly in my mind by their description- I could see how they walked, talked or looked. Most of the characters were likeable, be it the caring and soft hearted, Prosper; the steadfast and loyal, Hornet or even the enigmatic and clever leader of their group, the `Thief Lord'. The character I loved most would be Ida Spavento, the quirky and weird photographer from whose house the children try to steal . The kindness and benevolence she shows to the children though seems a bit unrealistic, makes her the most lovable character in the book. Being an orphan herself, she knows how the others are feeling and feels their need for love and compassion. Even though the book has a great story, it has been told in such a dull manner that it fails to keep the readers attention for long. On the whole, the book is readable only for its plot and the bit of magic at the end.

Quotes:
"......Children are caterpillars and adults are butterflies. No butterfly ever remembers what it felt like being a caterpillar."

"........ Turning yourselves into children so that the adults could push you around and laugh at you again! Yes, I do want to take a ride. That's why I came to the island. But I want to ride it in the other direction. I want to be grown up. Grown up! Grown up!" Scipio stamped his foot down so forcefully that he crushed one of the little soldiers. "Sorry!" he muttered, staring at the broken thing as if he had just done something truly terrible.

Overall:
Not a great book but can be a good one-time read

Recommended?
Yes, to Cornelia Funke fans or those who like anything to do with magic .

After their mother and father die, Prosper and Bo find themselves in the not-so-nice care of their Aunt. Prosper plans an escape and he and Bo set off to Venice, their mother's favorite place in the whole world. Once there they find a home among a gang of thieves - or really, orphans who have a clever young master who steals fancy and expensive objects under the cover of a bird's mask. Then these items are sold, and the children use the money to provide food and clothes for themselves. Prosper and Bo immediately find a home among these young thieves. Then one day the group's most faithful buyer, Barbossa, tells the Thief Lord of someone who needs a talented thief to steal something for him - in exchange for a lot of money. The thief, Scipio, and his daring troupers are up for the dangerous task, as well as the mystery that is behind the wooden angel's wing they are about to steal.

This book fascinated me - it's a very original idea, with lots of great characters, adventures, schemes, and lessons to be learned. It is magical. It has depth. I fell for the characters quickly.

Cornelia Funke has always inspired me. From The Princess Knight, one of her picture books, to her Ink-trilogy, she has always written wonderful stories that can relate to all ages. I recommend this book heartily. Whether you are a six-year-old boy wanting a thrilling adventure or a sixty-year-old woman wanting to relive the adventures that come with being a child, this book will sweep you up and always be faithful to give you a good adventure.

At first glance it seems likely that Cornelia Funke's novel The Thief Lord (2000) will center around the Thief Lord. All the same the story actually starts with Prosper and Bo, brothers who have run away to avoid their nasty aunt who wants to separate them. Convinced that all of the wonderful stories their late mother told them about Venice will be true and keep them safe, the boys make their way to that fair city.

Unfortunately Venice is not as magical as their mother had told them (at least not right away). Just when Prosper is prepared to accept defeat and return his younger brother to the warm and safe, if not loving, home of his aunt, the boys are taken in by a very unusual band of children. Led by Scipio, the Thief Lord, the children live in a condemned theater living off the riches that Scipio steals from Venice's elite. The children know little else about Scipio, but in exchange for his support and protection they are willing to overlook that small detail.

Meanwhile, the brothers' aunt has enlisted a private investigator to locate the boys and bring Bo back to her (Prosper will be sent to an orphanage). Like any other investigator worth his salt, Victor soon picks up the trail of the children. The more this trio sees of each other, the more tenuous the children's existence in the Venice theater seems. Indeed, Victor's investigation could unearth a secret about the Thief Lord that will change all of their lives. Forever.

The Thief Lord is told in the whimsical, ethereal tone common to some fairy tales. It is entirely appropriate for this story, but also manages to make it that much harder to believe that the story is real. While the book was enjoyable, it always felt like the characters were at a remove--visible but not near enough to discern subtleties.Funke describes Venice and its landscapes beautifully but leaves the characters much less dimensional

I liked that the story had a lot of twists and turns, but by the end of the novel it felt a bit like one too many turns. Funke blends realistic incidents with pure fantasy creating an uneasy combination that sometimes works well in the text and other times left me scratching my head. In some ways it feels like the first and second half of the the story come from two different plots.

After realizing that the novel was originally written in German, I suspect that the different culture and writing conventions might have contributed to my uneasiness in deciding whether I actually liked the book. In summary, The Thief Lord was entertaining and will likely please any young fantasy readers in the house even though it was not completely wonderful.

Although the act of robbery is rather sinister, there is something almost delightful about it when children are the ones who commit the act. In The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke, two brothers, Prosper and Bo, run away to Venice after their cruel aunt and uncle make plans to separate the two and adopt only Bo. They are taken in by a boy named Scipio who calls himself the Thief Lord, and leads a ragtag gang of young robbers all with stories of their own. Prosper does not relish the idea of robbing, but he has no choice- it is his only way to safely remain with Bo. Unbeknownst to the brothers, their aunt has hired a private detective in Venice to search for the two. As the two continue to evade him, Scipio enters into a deal with the evil merchant Barbarossa. As these two plots intertwine, the true identity of the Thief Lord begins to come to light.

With The Thief Lord, Funke has created a truly impressive adventure story. What is so lovely about this book is that it makes you desire to be in this gang of robbers. They may suffer through difficult times, but their loyalty is staggering and the connections that they create between themselves often inspire envy. Funke, as always, creates a deliciously fast pace while still retaining wonderful prose and sentence structure. I highly recommend this book to children of all ages, as well as adults that never really got over their dream of being the devilish outlaw with all the luck.

Imagine a place surrounded by water, a place where you might have to ride a boat to get from one place to another, a place like Venice, Italy. Such an interesting place with walk ways lined with golden winged lions, magnificent houses and an abandoned movie theater with five little thieves living inside.

Prosper and Bo's mom had always talked about Venice Italy and how much she loved it, and when she died the boys were supposed to go in to the care of the Hartleibs. Ethser Hartleib was Bo and Prosper's aunt, their mom's sister, and once they were in her care they were to be sent to boarding schools. Before that could happen the boys ran away to Venice where they stayed in an old movie theater where they use money that was brought by the thief lord to buy the things they needed. The Hartleibs decided that they would probably find the boys in Venice so they went there them selves. They hired a detective who lived in Venice to find the boys and he would never think to look in an old movie theater.

Probably one of the most main charicters was prosper. Trying to keep track of his aunt and uncle, prosper, and victor was turning him into a nervouse wreck! Bo on the other hand could have cared less. He walked right up to strangers and told them everything about himself. He would even put himself in danger just to be with the older kids. Mosca, Hornet and Riccio. They were also living with prosper and Bo without them there little family in the theater would have been much different. Without Hornets reading to everyone there was actuly something to do durring the day.Scippio or the theif lord was the one person who was holding every ody together by stealing items that could be traded for money. That all changes when they find out a secret of his.

If I were to rate this book on a scale from one to 10, I would give it an 11! So go on an adventure by reading this book. Witness page turning robberies and murder attempts. Learn awful secrets and make friends. Read a book that could become the best you have ever read!

By the way, this review is by my brother, Gregory, who is 15 (almost 16) years old.

Full of fantasy and mystery woven with dark and dangerous elements and a group of characters that you'll alternately boo and cheer for... Well, if you're familiar with Cornelia Funke you already know that her books are worth reading. The Thief Lord is no exception.

The beauty of Venice comes alive with evocative description. Funke takes us careening down the twisting maze of streets and cruises us along the canals in a rich story full of engaging individuals traveling through an enchanting adventure fraught with peril and intrigue. The characters are complicated, sympathetic, unique, fun and full of wit. Even the villains are written with depth and dimension.

More MG than YA, The Thief Lord is a charming, fast-paced ride and just when you think you've got it all figured out, you'll find out how wrong you were. So sit down, crack it open and be swept away to a magical world where you can experience fantastical adventure along side one of my favorite band of characters. You won't go wrong.

The Cover: I love it! Okay blue is my favorite color but... the image showcases the amazing architecture of Venice and the city is really a character in this book. The image is beautiful on its own, however it also captures the magical feel of the story as well as evoking an eerie sense of danger and mystery. While not so much a 'wow' cover, I think it is one of the best I've seen that expresses the essence of the book.

The Thief Lord

By Mayank Kapoor

Are you interested in books that have wonderful surprises? Well if you are The Thief Lord is a book for you. It has suspense and adventure while being a fantasy. There are 345 so it¡¦s not to long. The book has no illustrations so you¡¦ll have to create mind images. It¡¦s mainly for teenagers and adults because it may be confusing for younger audiences.

The Thief Lord is about two runaway kids called Prosper and Bo. They ran away from their mean aunt and uncle after their mom died and went to Venice. In Venice they meet up with another gang of street kids. In the gang theirs Hornet, Mosca, Riccio, and Scipio or the thief lord. Hornet¡¦s a girl with brown hair that she wears in a long braid that looks like a stinger. That¡¦s how she gets her name. Mosca is an African-American boy who loves the water and owns a boat. Riccio is a boy with spiky hair getting him the nickname hedgehog. And finally Scipio is the head of the gang and keeps the gang alive by stealing things for them. That¡¦s why he¡¦s the thief lord. For more description on Prosper and Bo here¡¦s an exert from the book:

¡§One was small and blonde with a broad smile on his face with a broad smile on his face; the other was older, dark-haired and more serious looking. He had his arm around the younger boys shoulders, as if he wanted to protect him from all that was evil in the world.¡¨ That shows their appearances and relationship with each other. The book¡¦s about what Prosper and Bo do with the gang and their adventures.

I like the book because it has good description and suspense. The author describes all the situations in the book so you can see what¡¦s happening in your mind. She also uses suspense at the end of chapters and throughout the book to keep you reading. Without the suspense, I think the book wouldn¡¦t have become an international bestseller.

So if you¡¦re looking for an action packed thriller here it is. The Thief Lord is a wonderful book for fantasy and adventure lovers that you won¡¦t be able to put down!!

Cornelia Funke's "The Thief Lord" was reccomended to me by a friend of mine who said that it was really good. I agreed to read it once I had finished with Garth Nix's "Grim Tuesday". I never did finish "Grim Tuesday" so I ended up reading "The Thief Lord" sooner than I expected to. The bare bones of the story are as follows: Prosper and Bo escape from their evil Aunt Esther and Uncle Max to Venice, Italy, where the join the gang of the mysterious Thief Lord, Scipio. Prosper and Bo must become thieves like Scipio and his gang, Mosca, Riccio, and Hornet, to survive in Venice, especially when Esther and Max hire master detective Victor Getz (I love his name) to track them down. Meanwhile, the Thief Lord and hs gang are challenged by the mysterious Conte Renzo and Contessa Morosina to steal a strange, valuable item. They have no idea that the Conte and Contessa hold a dark secret, as does Scipio himself. The Italian language is used many times in the book so there is a list of the Italian words used at the back of the book. Oddly enough, due to its translation from German to English, bizarre typos are scattered throughout the pages. The story is creative and exciting and the book itself is well-written, but I hate to say that there are times at which the book becomes boring for long stretches of time, although this is certainly not the case in most of the second half of the book in which kidnappings abound, and characters disappear in the night. The cast of characters is extremely strong, particularly Scipio, Riccio, Victor, and Prosper, but as hard as I try I can't really find a true villain to the story. Is it Victor, who initially causes the thieves trouble but later helps them? Is it the Conte and Contessa who seem briefly mysterious and sinister but end up doing favors for the heroes out of the goodness of their hearts? The clearest villain is Esther who never does anything worse than being very nice to Bo against his wishes and then letting him go, abolishing the only threat she ever posed. Unfortunately, the ending dragged out too long in my opinion, and was a little bit...er...weird. I know this sounds like a lot, but "The Thief Lord" remains a charming and well-written story that was plagued by several disappointing points. Still, Cornelia Funke's second book, "Inkheart" (which isn't a sequel or a prequel despite what many people think), is much better. If you enjoy "The Thief Lord", then you should definitely read "Inkheart."

_The Thief Lord_ is a middle-grade novel about street children in Venice who depend on the loot of the Thief Lord for their livelihood. Two of the street children are orphaned brothers who were afraid their aunt would separate them if they remained behind in Germany (possibly Austria), so they fled together to Italy. They are pursued by Victor, the detective hired by the aunt.

The initial chapters of this book drag a bit, and they seem to romanticize both theft and the life of street urchins. Just as I tired of the set-up and the implausibility of the runaways' success and safety on the streets, the story picks up. The Thief Lord is not who he appears to be, Victor turns into an ally, and the plot thickens. Characters are more thoroughly developed, and there are many twists and turns in the plot.

Things start to wind down again, and then there is a sudden, completely fantastic (literally) and wacky twist towards the end that had me howling with laughter. My nine 1/2 year old enjoyed the story (especially the ending) just as much as me. There is no foul language or romance. Recommended for ages 9 and up.

The Thief Lord
Cornilea Funke
Scholastic Inc.

Two young boys run to a city that they have only heard about in their mothers stories, only to find that their mean, needle nosed aunt is after them. Just before they get lost a small band of orphans and a person called Thief Lord take them in. This small band of friends must stay unseen by the aunt, outsmart a nosy detective, hide their home, try a daring adventure and find out who the Thief Lord really is.

The characters of this book feel like someone that you know. There is Prosper, who is a cautious, quit kind of boy and Prospers little brother Bo, who is always looking for an adventure. Hornet is looking out for the rest of the gang and comes up with intelligent plans right on the spot. The detective is nosy and always thinking of his beloved two tortoises: Lando and Paula. Of course in any book there is a mean character. In this book the needle nosed, stuck up aunt is the one. With her sharp eyes hardly anything passes her view unseen. There are more characters in this wonderful book but you will have to read it to find out who.
I would recommend this book to any body because of it's verity of adventure and companionship and lots more. On every page I was fascinated either by the characters, actions or detailed descriptions mysterious city. I easily connected to the characters, even if they weren't so nice because they felt like a real person and not just characters from a book. The book felt like something that had really happened. I also liked the style of the writing because of the rich language, for example: "But the wind was blowing ice-cold air from the sea....Even the air in the alleyways tasted of snow, and only the wings of the carved angels and dragons high up on the rooftops felt any real warmth from the pale sun." I highly recommend this book and any other book written by Cornelia Funke.

When Prosper and Bo's parents died, they were sent to live with their aunt and uncle. There was only one problem - they only wanted Bo, they didn't want Prosper. Well, Prosper wasn't about to be bundled off to boarding school, leaving his beloved younger brother to the tender mercies of his Aunt Esther, so he and Bo ran away to Venice, Italy, the enchanting city his mother had told them so many tales of. Unfortunately, Venice was not quite the wonderland that Prosper and Bo were expecting and with winter coming soon, they were not prepared and had no real plans at to how to survive. Then they were adopted in by the Thief Lord...
The Thief Lord was clever and charming, to be sure, but no one knew who he really was and all of the children were a little afraid of him. Prosper worried that Bo idolized the Thief Lord too much and would turn to a life of crime, but where else could they go? Besides, Aunt Esther had now hired a private investigator to track them down in Venice and they relied on their friends to help them escape his notice. But when the Thief Lord accepts a job from a mysterious duke, Prosper finds himself thrust into a magical adventure full of surprises and discovers more about the Thief Lord than he truly wanted to know...
The Thief Lord was a solidly written fantasy/adventure tale for children, but it was nothing spectacular. Perhaps I judged it too harshly due to all of the buzz surrounding the book, but I just found it lacking somehow. The characters were not quite three dimensional for me and I did not really identify or connect with any of them, but they are likeable enough. There is also nothing particularly original in the book and the plot moves along a little slower than I like. Still, the book has enough humor and fun for children to enjoy it while they wait for the next Harry Potter book to come out. I look forward to seeing more from this author as I feel that she has a great deal of potential. My recommendation would be to check this book out from your local library or find a cheap used copy.

This book, The Thief Lord, by Cornelia Funke, inside Venice, Italy, the run-down Stella movie theater is a home for 5 small children, and their mysterious leader, the Thief Lord. Bo and Prosper are the newest of the thieving gang. Bo is a little kid excited to become a thief, under the wing of Scipio, the Thief Lord, and Prosper is a shy but protecting older brother to Bo. The only girl in the gang is Hornet (no one in the gang knows her real name), a take-control kind of girl. Then there is Mosca, a calm, quiet water-loving guy, and Riccio, a small boy who's hair looks like a hedge-hog, and a master thief, he'll steal anything he could get his hands on. Together they make a living in an old theater, the Stella, or as they call, the Star Palace. They sell the stolen goods to Barbossa, a rare greedy collector, for money so they can stay hidden, and survive. They're also Victor, an ace detective, looking for Bo and Prosper for their aunt, who wants to adopt Bo. Though looking for Bo and Prosper, he doesn't catch them instead, he sides with them. They soon get an offer from a mysterious Conte, they are to steal a wooden wing from a Signora Ida Spavento. In exchange he will give them five million lire (money), but the gang finds out a deep secret about their leader, the Thief Lord and they learn a story about a magical merry-go-round from their new friend Ida Spavento.

This story is a great book; the characters jump out as soon as you open the book. There's a strong friendship, and trust between the 6 kids and 2 adults who know they exist. A cliffhanger after every chapter, always wanting to know what will happen next. Before you open the book you can tell, it's got a sense of adventure, and a little magic hidden inside. I would recommend this book to anyone who seeks for an adventure

The Thief Lord, by Cornelia Funke , was probably the best book I ever read.
The setting of modern day Venice played a big part in the story with crazy canal boat rides and tales of its beautiful artwork and sculptures.
The book starts off with a detective named Victor who has a new assignment; two brothers named Prosper and Bo who were orphaned when their mother died. Then they ran away from their aunt who was supposed to be adopting Bo and sending Prosper to boarding school. There aunt and uncle believe that they are somewhere in Venice. Victor's assignment is to track them down.
Meanwhile in an old Venice movie theatre six orphaned children camp out, Bo and Prosper among them. The other four include a boy with hair like a hedgehog named Riccio, a dark skinned boy named Mosca, a girl named Hornet and the leader of the group Scippio called The Thief Lord. Together they live in the old movie theatre, The Thief Lord stealing jewelry and other things for them to sell.
All's well until the children meet up with Victor and learn a secret behind Scippio that will change their and his future forever.
The plot in this story is a great one with twists and turns along the way. Especially when they come across the mystery of the Merry Go Round of the merciful sisters and effect's them all.
The story has soft parts, thrill rides and mysteries.
Funke really knows about children and how they act. She really makes you feel for the characters and understand their thoughts.
The ending was both satisfying and disappointing. I would recommend this to ages nine and up. It might be a little hard for younger children. But anyone else I hope will love it as much as I.

This book was billed as the next Harry Potter, and while it probably will not create an international craze, there is a quiet buzz about it among children and children's booklovers. It takes place in Venice, as seen through the eyes of children. The heroes are streetkids, runaways, powerless in the world of adults but adept at creating their own world. They live in an abandoned movie theater, and their leader is the Thief Lord, an pre-adolescent boy himself with a penchant for wearing dramatic masks. Prosper and his little brother Bo join the gang, having run away from their aunt after being orphaned. Their aunt wished to take Bo as a child but put Prosper in a boarding school far from his brother.
The adult perspective in the story is Victor Getz, private detective. He is hired by Esther to seek out the boys, but becomes their friend. With his eccentric habits and his unusual job, he can relate more to children than to other adults. Still, through him, we view reality as it is and can contrast it with the children's experiences.
When the Thief Lord and his gang are asked to perform a job, stealing a wooden wing from a wealthy woman on behalf of a mysterious Comte who promises to pay them 5 million lire, the adventure truly begins. The story masterfully unfolds, keeping the reader hooked on its plot twists. It is really quite a wonderful book, with a heartwarming ending that only true children can still believe in. Adults too often become cynics. Appropriately, this book is much about the world of children vs the world of adulthood, and the places of dreams and fantasies vs. the grim reality.

Funke's setting and characters are charming and quirky, and combine to make a light, entertaining story. Venice,that beautiful and magical city, almost becomes a character in its own right. The two young orphans, Prosper and Bo, are appealing and well-drawn, as is the gold-hearted Victor, the detective hired to seek them. The secrets of the Thief Lord and the fortunes of the two brothers intertwine to make a fascinating whole. We can look for future novels by this author with interest and anticipation.
The story is not without its faults, however. Chief among them is the introduction of a magical element nearly two-thirds of the way through the story. Indeed, until that the point the story follows the pattern of many other stories for children in which a young protagonist survives on his own, in a real--if melodramatic--world. The books of Joan Aiken, Barbara Brooks Wallace, and Avi, all with similar Dickensian elements, come strongly to mind. The sudden introduction of a search for magical objects, in a story which otherwise follows this classic pattern, is jarring.
There is a problem as well with the sub-plot involving the boys' Aunt Esther, who plans to separate the brothers. It was difficult to worry too much about this; Esther was annoying, but hardly dangerous. The "wicked" aunt and uncle merely provide an excuse for the boys to run away to the city their mother loved. The author apparently didn't take this part of the plot too seriously either; much of the action resolving this sub-plot actually happens "off-stage," with the reader learning of it later.

The Thief Lord is about two boys named Prosper and Bo. They are running away from their Aunt and Uncle who only want the little innocent Bo in their family, and to put Prosper into a boarding house. But he disagrees so he runs away to Venice, Italy where his mother used to tell them of wonders and magical sites in Venice. When the Aunt and Uncle reach the city where they believed the boys to be, they reached Victor. Victor was a detective for mostly animals, but today he got an offer to find two boys. The boys were being housed in an abandon movie theater with a leader of the group named the Thief Lord. The Thief Lord would do runs and steel things away from rich places and give them to the kids to sell to a man named Barbarossa. Barbarossa gave the Theif Lord a big job to steal something for a man named the Counte. But the Thief Lord has many secrets of his own. The Counte's object was very obscure and different. But the children get caught by Ida, but Ida is very nice and offers them a deal to go along on the trade. There are some very weird stories associated with this item. Find out what the Theif Lords secrets are and what the Counte and the Theif Lord are up too.
This book was very good, I liked it because of its action and suspense. It was also a very easy read and fun to read. It was also fun to learn some of the Italian in the book. The characters are all very well developed in it also which makes any story better. It shows us that we can make the best of all situations and that friends are very important. I would definitely recommend this book for who ever is into suspence and fantasy stories.

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke is a mysterious, interesting book that I and you can enjoy reading. The book starts with a detective, named Victor Getz, who is ask to find two nephews who belong to a women and her husband named, Esther and Max Hartlieb. They've ran away thinking they will be separated, when adopted by their aunt. What Victor and the couple did not know was Prosper and Bo, the nephews, joined a group of kids whom ran away from their own homes and live in an abandon theater. They are taken care of by a kid, not so tall nor older than Prosper, who calls himself, the "Thief Lord". What I enjoyed about the book was, the author would describes how the scenery, the situation and the characters look like as if, you can see the movie in your head it's self. Such as the point when the Thief Lord fist appeared with his bird like mask, black cape, leather boots, and black top and bottom. How his hair is long and tied in a ponytail, while his eyes are as black as his mask. What I hated, as every other great books, movies, or shows, was the ending. You might think, Did someone die? Did someone leave the group? Did someone betray another? Actually, I was surprised myself, and with all this action, mysteries, and surprises, the book will be your top favorite. You will never be able to guess what will happen next in the book, chapter after chapter.

Twelve-year-old Prosper and his five-year-old brother Bo (Boniface) are orphans who want to stay together, but their aunt Esther Hartlieb, into whose custody they were supposed to pass, wants to keep Bo, but place Prosper in an orphanage. So the boys leave their home town of Hamburg, Germany, and make their way to Venice, Italy, where they are taken in by Hornet, a Venice street girl about Prosper's age, who lives in an abandoned movie theater with two street boys, Riccio and Mosca. The five kids are watched over by Scipio, the Thief Lord, who is also about their age, but who doesn't sleep in the theater with them. None of the children know where the Thief Lord does sleep.

Aunt Esther and uncle Max hire Victor, a private detective, who soon finds the kids, and also discovers the Thief Lord's real identity, but by this time Esther and Max have left town, so he doesn't get to tell them right away.

This is a love story on several levels; not just of the brotherly love between Prosper and Bo, but also the love of Renzo and Morosina; the love of Scipio and Hornet for the other children; the love of Ida Spavento for all children; and some others I won't mention lest I give away too much.

Most of the major characters are complex and interesting enough for an adult reader to enjoy. If you are a parent of pre-teens, this would be a good story to read to them.

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Thief Lord

Thief Lord, an extraordinary book by Cornelia Funke, is about Bo and Prosper two children who ran away from their adopted parents. They snuck to Venice and joined with a gang of thieves, who are orphans just like them. They met Ida Spavento, the owner of a carved, wooden wing they were supposed to steal for The Conte. Ida caught them and Scipio, the "Thief Lord" who is also part of their group. Ida told them that the wing was part of a merry-go-round that changes age. Ida made a deal with the gang that she would give them the wing if she could see the merry-go-round. The gang secretly followed The Conte to the island where the merry-go-round was hidden. When they returned, they found out that the money for the wing was counterfeit. Scipio took Prosper to the island to get something for returning the wing. He wanted to get real money, but he would have been satisfied with riding the merry-go-round. When they came to the island, The Conte and his wife had already ridden the merry-go-round. Scipio rode on the merry-go-round himself since The Conte wanted to pay him back. The gang was satisfied.

I think that Thief Lord is an awesome book if you love fantasy books that carry you to an enchanting world. If you read Thief Lord and you loved it, you should read Inkheart, Inkspell, or Dragon Rider, also by the same author, Cornelia Funke.

Two brothers, Prospero (12) and Bo (5), have run away following their mother's death. Their aunt has tracked them to Venice and hired a private detective, but she's only interested in reclaiming the younger one. But the boys have taken up residence in an abandoned movie theater and joined a small band of fellow runaways and orphans led by an older boy who goes by the moniker of "the Thief Lord." This is a fun story with interesting and sympathetic characters as they try to evade the detective and survive with their new gang of friends.

Although the story has taken elements of Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes, it didn't bother me as it did some reviewers. It's not as serious or as dark as Bradbury's classic, nor the author's Inkheart series (I think this book is much more suitable for younger readers than Inkheart). It shows that help can come from unexpected places, and not all adults are untrustworthy. Plus, there are some rather interesting twists throughout the story that add a touching and magical element to the story. I enjoyed this story (and Simon Jones does a very good job reading it).

I enjoyed this book. The characters (except for a few) really sprung to life as I read the book, Bo who takes such joy in being a little boy and his incredible bond with his older brother, Prosper. Their efforts to escape an aunt lead them to Venice, something that according to their dead mother was equal to heavan on earth.

In Venice the brothers have met up with a group of theifs and runaways (all children too) who are being taken care of by the Theif Lord, Scipio. With his expolits into theivery he is ableto support all of these children.

A mystery also gradually unfolds,though I wasn't really interested in the mystery so much as how the characters would get out of certain sticky situations. The magic did seem oddly displaced and considering how the book ends it was a bit of a let down in that way. A boy who has lost part of his future in a sort of reverse Peter Pan,I almost want her to write a sequel to this so that can be fixed, but I doubt she will.

The best thing about this book is the strong bonds of friendship, from a readers perspective you know this group of friends will do anything for each other, even after they have had their little quarrels. The family they have created is much stronger than the families these characters were born into and any child should enjoy reading this.

The Thief Lord, one of my favorite books, is very exciting and keeps you

on the edge of your seat, if you read it. It is very mysteries and full of action,

which is why I loved it so much. Cornelia Funke wrote this book wonderfully, like

she described the characters personalities, and the background of their life. If

you like action, adventure, and mystery books you will love The Thief Lord.

According to my opinion, the action and the mystery are the best parts of

the book. The mystery is suspenseful and kept me wandering what would come

next after every chapter. It kept me on the edge of my seat when Scipio and his

gang were breaking into the famous artist's house, the suspense just got me

hooked. My other favorite part of the book is action, just the chasings between

the detective, who was trying to find Prosper and Bo, and the thieves. It was just

so thrilling, it will get your adrenalin pumping.

The Thief Lord is definitely the best book I have ever read. It is the only

book that will fill your craving for a mysterious and adventures book.

I think you will really enjoy the mystifying and wonderful book by Cornelia Funke.

After the death of their mother, Prosper and his younger brother Bo, are set to be separated. Their aunt Esther only wants to adopt five-year-old Bo and send twelve-year-old Prosper to some far away boarding school where he would probably only get to see Bo once a year. Not wanting to separate the two boys escape to Venice, a city their mother told them had magical lions and great canals. At first life in Venice is hard, but after they meet a young girl named Hornet who introduces them to an orphange life gets much better. However Prosper feels uneasy since the orphange is funded by Scripio, known as The Thief Lord. Meanwhile, Aunt Esther has not given up on finding the two boys, as she has now hired the city's top detective Victor Getz to track them down. After a series of events, Victor discovers their hiding place and many more surprising turns finally bring to light the true identity of The Thief Lord.
The Thief Lord is definitely a very enjoyable read. Unfornately a book that was suppose to be realistic was made into a part fantasy ending which didn't fit the book at all. Nothing in the whole booked suggested fantasy as being part of the book and the ending came totally out of the blue. If you get past the ending though you'll definitely enjoy this book that has is like a 21st century Dicken's novel.

After the death of their mother, Prosper and Bo run away to Venice - a city their mother loved and told many stories about - in an effort to escape their horrible Aunt Esther. They take up with a band of thieves, lead by the Thief Lord, Scippio - but it is soon discovered the Scippio is more (or perhaps less) than what he claimed to be. While trying to keep from being found out by a private detecive (hired by Aunt Esther), Scippio and his gang are asked to pull off a major job - with some major secrets - that will leave them richer than they could ever imagine... but at what price?
The Thief Lord has been hailed as the "next Harry Potter" - which seems to be the case of almost every children's book coming out these days. But I disagree. The Thief Lord can not even compare to Harry Potter because they aren't even in the same genre! While it has been called a fantasy, The Thief Lord is, at its heart, an adventure - a modern Oliver Twist. Venice gives the book an old world flavor that is delightful and magical. Young readers are sure to delight in the ways the Thief Lord's gang outsmarts the adults and triumphs in their quest and readers of ALL ages will have a ball with this book. The Thief Lord a rollicking, fun ride - I can't wait to read more by this author!

Five kids taken in by one mysterious boy. No parents around. What could possibly happen?

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke is a great book. It is about two kids, Prosper and Bo who run away from Venice trying to escape the clutches of their evil Aunt Esther. They find some homeless children when they're walking around Venice. They take them back to their house. An old abandoned Movie Theater under the care of the Thief Lord. Prosper and Bo think they're safe until they find out that Victor the private eye is looking for them. Even though they always escape it doesn't keep them alive. They have to steal to get money so they can buy food. Prosper doesn't like stealing, but it's the only thing to keep him alive. When they have their loot they haggle with Barbarossa the greedy red beard. This book also includes friendships, fights, mysterious alleys, haunted islands, a wooden wing, and a merry-go-round.

Cornelia Funke does a great job at writing The Thief Lord. When you read it, it is like you are inside Venice winding through the crowded streets and alleys with the characters.

I recommend this book to 5th through 8th graders. I loved this book the first time I picked it up and you will too.

The Thief Lord begins as a story about two orphans (Prosper and Bo) running away from an aunt who wishes to adopt only Bo. Not wishing to be separated, they flee to Venice, the fairyland of their mother's stories. They are soon befriended by a group of children--Hornet, Mosca, Riccio and Scipio, the Thief Lord. The Thief Lord robs from wealthy homes and passes the goods to the other children who fence them to provide food and other necessities.
At first, the book, though delightful, is rather predictable. Predictable in that I could tell what the "surprise" would be, though I wasn't sure how it would all tie together. Graceful writing and endearing characters kept me negligent of the fact that I "knew" how it would end.
However, about a third through the book, that surprise came and went and there were still a couple hundred pages left to go. From that point, the book begins a strangely magical journey that left me nearly breathless as the loose ends tied themselves into knots beyond my imagination. Sure, everything came together for the traditional happy ending, but. . . The getting there was the fun part.
The Thief Lord gets a 5 out of 5 for some of the best children's literature I've read for some time.

I rented this book, unabridged, from my local audio-book store as a recommendation from the staff. I am over 30, enjoy nerdy tech reading, historical books (bios/auto-bios), some adult fiction (ie First Man in Rome, Wicked, Bialzack and the Little Seamstress, etc), and of course Harry Potter (who doesn't!). I wasn't very interested in another kid's book - but this one was fantastic! Great charachters, great plot line - everytime you think you know what's going to happen, there's a little twist! If you like to read with your child or want to share books with them, this book would be a great choice. It treats the child characters like real people with real feelings - good and bad. Thinking back to when I was younger and what might have attracted me to this book would be the way the adult characters interact with the kids. Very good - and even though each feeling is not explained and explored deeply every time (like Harry Potter), it gives the flavour and allows some personal interpretation and insertion of the readers own feelings into the story. Great book! <btw - the reader for this book in audio format is GREAT! At the same level as Jim Dale -- might be good for a family car trip!)

An award-winning children's author from Germany leads her readers on a voyage to and through Venice, Italy, the story's setting for the half dozen youngsters connected by their lack of parents (in one case, emotional lack). The focal characters, brothers Prosper and Bo, run away together to avoid being separated. In Venice, they are welcomed into a group of homeless children by a girl, Hornet, who brings them to the group's hideout and introduces them to The Thief Lord, a somewhat mysterious fellow who provides for them even though he is adolescent himself. The hows and whys of his providing become clear as the story progresses. The youngsters encounter more than one adult who proves to be of good character, but they meet up with some who most definitely are not of sterling character. The youngsters' interactions and relationships ring very true. The fantasy elements which appear late in the book give good cause to consider the old maxim about being careful what you ask for. There are well-drawn characters engaging in frequent adventures. This will definitely hold a middle school reader's attention well. I will be looking for other works of Funke's, anticipating that they'll be good, too.

The Thief Lord

Cornelia Funke The Chicken House, 2002, 352 pages

Jordan Nash ISBN: 0-439-40437-1

The day Prosper and Bo away from their aunt and uncles home in Hamburg, Italy, they had no idea of the journey they'd set in stone for themselves. Follow them with the rest of their new-found friends, Hornet, Mosca, Riccio, and leader Scipio, the thief lord, into the heart of Venice, Italy. They will experience many unusual events including a mysterious robbery, the pompous junk collector Barbarossa, a kind detective, an aged old lion's wing, and a historical merry-go-round. As you travel with the band of thieves, you will taste the cold, frosted air of the winter in Venice, feel the bitter angst between friends, and watch as Scipio, the thief lord's, secret is revealed.

The Thief Lord is by far one of the best novel's I've ever experienced. Cornelia Funke will sweep you off of your feet while the rich and lush scenery of Venice, Italy surrounds you. I would definitely recommend this book for those who are intrigued by unexpected surprises, centuries old lullabies, and the heart warming laughter Cornelia Funke expresses with these teenage adolescents.

The Thief Lord(2000). Cornelia Funke's First Novel.

Around the time when J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels and Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortuneate Events were ruling the Children's Book Charts, Cornelia Funke's 'The Thief Lord' made a surprise splash on The New York Times Bestseller List, and even recieved "School Library Journal" and "Parenting Magazine"'s Book of the Year Award, so I've always wanted to read this novel, and since it was added onto my Summer Reading List, I actually read a book I wanted to read! So, is 'The Thief Lord' an excellent Teen Novel, or an overrated jumble of words? Read on to find out!

Plot-

Deep in the alleys and canals of Venice, Italy, two runaway brothers, Prosper and Bo, seek shelter in an Abandoned movie theater, where they meet fellow runaways Riccio, Mosca, Hornet, and the Thief Lord. The Thief Lord leads a mysterious life of theft, and with his stealing cares for the runaways, even though he's not much older than them himself. Meanwhile, Bo and Prosper's Aunt(They were adopted by her after their mother's death) hires Victor Getz, a Private Detective, to track Bo and Prosper down. Soon after this, The Thief Lord is assigned to bring back a mysterious Wooden Wing, and to steal it from unknowing Ida Spavento. Just before the heist, Victor Getz tracks Bo and Prosper down in the abandoned Movie Theater, but he's quickly subdued by the children and locked in the theater's bathroom. Then, he tells Prosper that Scipio(The Thief Lord) isn't actually a mysterious nomadic thief, but an aristocratic son of millionare Dottor Massimo. Prosper and Co. investigate, and to their dismay they find this to be true, and they disown their friendship from him, since they learn he's actually been stealing his parent's riches. But as the Big Heist approaches, after Scipio and Prosper steal the Lion's Wing, they will be thrust into a world beyond their comprehension, and they will unlock its secrets.

Writing/Opinions/Etc.-

Since Cornelia Funke's 'The Thief Lord' was written in a foreign language, and had to be translated into English, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it in no way effected the dialogue, which was a concern for me coming into the novel. Once the story opens up, we're introduced to vivid descriptions of Venice's beautiful cityscape, and also are thrown into an interesting cat-and-mouse game between Prosper, Bo, and Victor Getz, which kept me on seat's edge for the first 100 pages or so. I would have liked the novel to continue like this, but unfortuneatly, once Getz is captured, Funke adds in a mysterious Fantasy aspect of the story, a direct homage to Ray Bradbury's 'Something Wicked This Way Comes'(Think of Merry-Go-Round's), which, while not a bad thing, definitely didn't interest me as much, and seemed like a plain and predictable plot twist, which it was. Also, other than Bo and Prosper's characters, I felt that Funke didn't flesh the characters out enough, and in the end, you really don't get the feeling that you even care about the characters.

Overall, 'The Thief Lord' was what I expected it to be, which is a typical novel for Teens and Young Adults, featuring a decent, but understandably predictable plot. Also, the plot's interest desperately drops off mid-way through the novel, as the Cat-And-Mouse game Funke makes you think is the Main Plot, which is enthralling, is oddly taken apart and replaced with a slightly more boring plot. A Good Novel, that while it's not really bad in many aspects, certainly isn't great either.

RECOMMENDED TO TEENS, CHILDREN(OVER 8), FANS OF CORNELIA FUNKE, AND FANS OF FANTASY/ADVENTURE. ALL THAT I EXPECTED, NOTHING MORE AND NOTHING LESS, 4 STARS DESERVED.

Also Recommended-

Inkheart- Cornelia Funke

Harry Potter 5- The Order Of the Phoenix- J.K. Rowling

The Ersatz Elevator- Lemony Snicket

Thanks For Reading!

I was expecting this book to be a magical fantasy, but it really wasn't. At first I was reading with a sense of anticipation, waiting for something magical to appear (and being slightly confused because nothing did), but as I got involved in the story, I really enjoyed it just as a fun adventure tale. I loved the atmosphere created by the runaway brothers meeting shady characters and lovable street kids in modern-day Venice.
But then near the end, all of the sudden the magic appears. I was really thrown for a loop. Up until that point everything had been straight-forward and realistic, so I expected the book to end the same way. Up until the last page I was hoping that the author would remember what story she was writing and have the effects of the merry-go-round wear off so that the characters could continue their lives normally, but no such luck.
All in all this is a fun book, and I really enjoyed reading it, but there was a huge disconnect between most of the story and the ending. The author should have woven magical elements throughout the book, or she should have tempered the magic at the end with reality. As it stands, the ending keeps this from being the great book it could have been.

Prosper and Bo are two loving brothers whose best friends are each other...until their mother dies leaving them in the care of her sister. But their Aunt has no interest in Prosper...she is only willing to take in Bo. So the two brothers run away to Venice, Italy...a city that their mother spoke of often, and fondly. They soon meet up with another group of runaways....who take them in. Collectively they all look to the Thief Lord as their leader and their means for survival...for he is a professional thief. But when the Thief Lord is presented with the job of a lifetime...which would take care of the childrens' financial needs for a long time to come....it's an offer he can't refuse. But it's an offer that eventually leads to startling revelations.....
A joy to read, this tale encompasses it all....a gaggle of disheveled children, a bumbling, well-meaning detective, and a magical carousel; and omnipresent is the intoxicating magic of Venice. The good and mischievous triumph over the evil and greedy in this delightful tale for young and old alike....and that is as it should be.

DYB

After Prosper and Bo's mother dies, their Aunt Esther says she would like to adopt five-year-old Bo and send twelve-year-old Prosper to boarding school. However, the two brothers refuse to be separated from each other so they decide to move to Venice, the place their mother had always talked about. After meeting a young homeless girl that goes by the name of Hornet, they are introduced to Riccio and Mosca. All three of these have escaped from home or from the orphanage and are now living in an abandoned old movie theatre. With the help of Scipio, the Thief Lord, they have enough money to eat and to clothe themselves. Meanwhile, Esther suspects that Prosper and Bo are hiding in Venice and she hires the detective Victor Getz to track them down. However, things start getting tricky when the Thief Lord is hired to steal something for the Conte, and Victor discovers Prosper's and Bo's secret hide-out.
The Thief Lord, a book written by German author Cornelia Funke, is a mystery book that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat during the whole story. Though many people compare this book to Harry Potter, I am tempted to compare it to Artemis Fowl, though it is, in my opinion, much more suspenseful. Even though the plot is a bit weak, it is nonetheless well thought of and Cornelia surprises readers' by revealing the mysterious Scipio's real identity. This book is very well written and is sure to please children that are around ten years old.

I bought this book when it first was published here in the US. There was a lot of buzz about it and it sounded interesting. I love fantasy.

I read about 2 chapters and then abandoned it. Too slow. Nothing new. Seemed like every other book out there. And there was no fantasy in it!

I recently had to read this book for a Children's Literature class I'm taking. I pulled out my old copy, dusted it off, and forced myself past those first few boring chapters.

To my surprise, I like it. It's a simple story with some fun characters. There are some surprising twists and the two main adult characters -- Victor and the older woman (I forget her name)-- are actually funny.

Yes, the fantasy seems almost like an afterthought, tacked onto the end. The book actually didn't need the fantasy--I would have liked it even better if this book was more a mystery--but it's still good with it.

My biggest complaint about the book is that it is hard to figure out what year the book takes place. I spent many many chapters trying to decode this. There are telephones, yes, but no computers, no email, hardly any mention of technology at all. There was no description of clothes, or current music or movies playing, or anything that could help you place this time period. (On the other hand, that makes this book kind of timeless, and therefore it will not get "old" or "dated" as easily as some other books out there.) When Victor suddenly pulls out a cell phone on page 91, I freaked. Cell phone? Where did that come from? Why wasn't he using that throughout the story? And if there are cell phones, then there must be computers, and why then isn't he using computers or email to correspond with the children's aunt in the US?

It's not going to be as wildly popular as Harry Potter, but it will hold its own, especially as readers continue to discover her newer books, and then go back and read all her other books. Her most recently published book, Dragon Rider-one of her older books just now coming out in the US-was #3 for the week of May 1st on the New York Times bestsellers list for children's chapter books.

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The Theif lord is an exciting adventure about the ties of brotherhood and how it can make you go to the ends of the Earth. It's impressive description thourghly depicts the setting
The Dather brothers traveled from Hamburg, Germany to Venice Italy. They traveled all that way to see the ity that their late mother talked about as if it were a fairy tale. They also ran away to escape their Aunt Esther who only wishes to adopt the younger son, Boniface. When the bothers reach Venice they meet Mosca, Hornet, Riccio, and Scipio other runaways just like themselves. Scipio the Thief Lord takes care of the runaways while they live in the rundown movie theater. While Prosper, Scipio, Mosca, and Riccio are on their last hiest Bo and Hornet go missing. Just how far will Prosper go to get his brother back?
Prosper the main character who is twelve years old takes care of Bo and acts as if he is an adult. He finds that he doesn't wish to grow up too fast even though he can't do anything when he is young. Because Prop took care of his younger brother for more than a month, he bacame very mature. Two amazingly nice people who are still in touch with their inner child saved his childhood from disappearing forever.
Bo who is also a main charater is a mere five years old. He ran away with his older brother. He was forced to grow up and learn how to pick pokets. His brother frowned down upon stealing, but it was their only way to survive.

Cornelia Funke is an amazing author. I have read three of her books now- The Thief Lord, Inkheart, and Inkspell. The Thief Lord is the book I'm going to talk about right now. In the beginning, the book was slow, and I almost thought it wouldn't pick up, but it did, and when it picked up, I couldn't put the book down. This book is about two brothers, and a few of their friends. The brothers, Bo and Prosper, had run away from their homes after being separated because of their mother's death. Bo and Prosper go to Venice, and find four other runaway children who help them survive without any adults. Scipio, one of the children among the group, steals from prestigious palaces and buildings to help the others survive.

This book made me think about what it would be like without a guardian to provide for me, and I just couldn't wait to see what the children would do next! The Thief Lord is a fictional story that takes place mainly in Venice, Italy. I definitely recommend this book to people who age from preteen to adult.

"The Thief Lord" was originally published in German in 2000 by Cecilie Dressler Verlag and this translation is by Cornelia Funke.
The basic premise has two orphans, 12-year old Prosper and his 5-year old brother, Bo, escaping their cold-hearted Aunt Esther. They flee to Venice, a city their mother loved and described to them in great detail. There they meet up with other young urchins, Hornet, a girl with a long braid who loves books, Mosca, a boy who likes boats and Riccio, a pickpocket with crooked teeth. They all live in an abandoned movie theatre and receive assistance from the mysterious Scipio, who steals from the wealthy homes of Venice.
Other characters include Victor Getz, a bumbling detective who the author describes as "looking like Bob Hoskins", Ida Spavenko, a kind-hearted woman photographer, and Barbarossa, a swindling antique shop owner.
The plot has the children eluding then befriending Victor, along with Scipio's quest for the big take, then a mysterious caper that propels the characters on a quest to a secret island in search of a magical merry-go-round.
The writing is simple and well-paced, probably best for kids ten to eleven, with plenty of action and comedy. While not being entirely original, the book suffers from some of its surprises easily guess far ahead of time. The characters are not given a lot of depth, although I liked Prosper and Scipio, I would have liked to have learned more about them. Much of Scipio's background remained unclear, as well as his motives for helping the other children and his eventual transformation.
Prosper changes by not changing, and becomes the anchor of the story, the conscience and most sympathetic character. He faces many choices, makes some mistakes, but comes out ahead by his own intelligence, the help of his friends, and a little luck.
One point that makes this story rise above other books is the author's attention to the details of Venice. While not overwhelming young readers, there is enough to provide a clear picture of the city's canals, old building and many bridges.
Still, one cannot help but think that this is a movie treatment that will find it's way to the theatres eventually.

The protagonists of The Thief Lord are serious 12-year-old Prosper and innocent little 5-year-old Bo. After their parents die they're sent to live with their aunt and uncle who dislike Prosper greatly and wish to separate them. As a result the two children run away to Venice, a magical place of their mother's stories, and are taken in by another kid who calls himself The Thief Lord. The Thief Lord is a master thief and lives in a broken down movie theater with his gang: Mosca, Riccio and Hornet. Prosper and Bo think that they're safe but when their aunt sends out a private detective, named Victor, to find them, they realize that they may have to leave the place they've grown to call home.
Things get more complicated when the Thief Lord receives a job that he can't refuse. He has to break into a house to steal a seemingly unimportant object that's the key to something magical. But before he can even steal it a series of strange event threatens to tear the group apart. As Victor learns more about the group, the group learns more about their beloved Thief Lord, things that they don't like at all. Will the group be torn apart forever?
Like others I found out about this book in an article that claimed it to be "just as big, if not bigger than Harry Potter" and well I don't necessarily agree with that The Thief Lord as joined Harry Potter and Artemis Fowl as one of my favorite children's novels. The story is amazing and magical. Yes, there are a few similarities to Harry Potter. Hornet is a bit like Hermione and the whole "evil aunt and uncle" does come into play but that's where the similarities stop. I hope that the author decides to write a sequel, because there is so much more to be written about the characters. This book is made for fans of Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl and a Series of Unfortunate Events.

This book certainly caught my attention with it's plot. It all starts out with two boys, Prosper and Bo who try and make a new home in Venice, Italy, after their mother dies. They soon settle down with a small community of orphans in an movie theater, living off of the money their leader brings home after his burglaries. Prosper, one of the orphans, is a calm, caring child of 12, looking after his enthusiastic, 5 year old brother Bo. As they live their live in Venice , they must face Victor, the detective that their aunt hired after Bo ran away from her. They also must stand in fear that one day their whole way of life will be exposed to the rest of the world, or at least that is how I felt because their is always tension in the book from all the children trying to keep them selves from reality.
As I said earlier, this book really caught my attention, with it's plot. It showed a way of writing I had never experienced before, a way of using 3rd person and past tense to show thoughts of 10 people at once, and I have to say this unique method is quite clever and that it puts very defined attributes into the character. The reason why I like it so much is that it shows the emotion very well. It has a very good way of making it so there is much detail and description throughout the book.

I loved this book! At first that is.........
It was interesting and enchanting. I could not put the book down. It seemed to me like a realistic fiction novel. But then it took a twist. All of the sudden there was a magic carousel which could make you any age you wanted. Apparently, a different book had this same piece of magic. And it came out before too.......
I liked it. I just think the ending should have been different. Funke should have stuck with one genre. Then I would have given it five stars. No question. It is worth the buy I think. The plot is interesting and pulls you in very early into the story. The characters are very realistic and hide secrets that are fun to predict.
I enjoyed this book. If you like stories with a little twist to them, this book is right for you.