The Thief Lord By Cornelia Funke A mysterious, suspenseful, fantasy

Synopsis  On the run from their cruel aunt and uncle, Prosper and Bo flee to Venice where they join a group of orphans led by the mysterious Thief Lord, Scipio. With a detective, Victor, hot on their trail, the kids find themselves hired to steal a strange treasure which leads them to a magical mystery. Readers follow their adventures across Venice as they elude the detective, living in an abandoned theater, while dabbling in petty crimes.

Story Elements  The story begins in the autumn, in the ancient city of Venice, with the Grand Canal, piazzas and palazzo for the background. Victor, a detective, is hired by Esther and Max Hartlieb to find their runaway nephews who are thought to have found their way to Venice from Hamburg, Germany. Armed only with a photo, Victor sets out across the city to locate the brothers, Prosper and Bo.  Meanwhile, the boys meet up with the Thief Lord, Scipio who leads a ring of street children who dabble in petty crimes. Prosper and Bo delight in being part of this colorful new family. But the Thief Lord has secrets of his own. Soon the boys are thrust into circumstances that will lead them and readers to a fantastic, spellbinding conclusion.  When Scipio agrees to steal an object of great value, the children discover powerful magic, as well as a few things about themselves and each other.

Venice, Italy A city built on wooden legs

Main Character  Scipio the Thief Lord, is a character shrouded in mystery. Who is he and where does he come from are questions answered within the unfolding plot. Readers learn early on that he is thirteen years old, brilliant and extremely charismatic. With touching tenderness, he provides for his family of orphans.

Why read The Thief Lord?  For readers who love adventure, peppered with a touch of magic in a foreign land, this book has all the elements for an enjoyable armchair travel experience. The author expertly crafted a twisting plot with Venetian history and culture. For those who love maps and foreign languages, this book includes a map of the city and surrounding islands plus a glossary of basic Italian vocabulary. Art mystery, part suspense and fantasy, this book leaves readers satisfied.  Cornelia Funke is an award winning author in Germany. She is considered to be as popular as J.K.Rowling and R.L.Stine.  Rating: 5 stars