Awards
2003 Mildred L. Batchelder Award
2002 New York Times Notable Book
Winner of the 2005 Young Readers Choice Award (Senior Division)
Synopses & Reviews
Welcome to the magical underworld of Venice, Italy, where hidden canals and crumbling rooftops shelter runaways and children with incredible secrets...
Prosper and Bo are orphans on the run for their cruel aunt and uncle. The brothers decide to hide out in Venice, where they meet a mysterious thirteen-year-old boy who calls himself "the Thief Lord."
Brilliant and charismatic, the Thief Lord leads a ring of street children who dabble in petty crimes. Prosper and Bo delight in being a part of this colorful new family. Then the Thief Lord invites them on a magical adventure to a land of forgotten mysteries that will change their lives forever!
This exciting tale of fun, flight, and freedom is sure to enchant readers and keep them guessing up until a breathtaking finale.
Review
"What is shocking in the case of The Thief Lord...is that the book lives up to the audacious claim. It's got the magic, the adventure, the awkward boy heroes and the plucky chick sidekick....But Thief Lord is also just a darn good yarn..." Alice Stroup, Newsweek
Review
"Wacky characters bring energy to this translation of an entertaining German novel....[The novel] 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." Publishers Weekly
Review
"Harrowing and comical escapades abound....Funke delights readers in the feelings of childhood....Although the core of this tale is heartwarming, the merry-go-round...hints at darkness, leaving its riders and the novel's readers changed forever." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"There are shards of wonderful stories in this ambitious narrative....Funke beguiles young readers as she paints the city of Venice in exquisite strokes; the affection between the brothers is sweetly rendered." GraceAnne DeCandido, Booklist
Review
"Funke brings together a large but not indigestible array of adults and children....It's a compelling tale, rich in ingenious twists, with a setting and cast that will linger in readers' memories." School Library Journal
Review
"The Thief Lord will steal your imagination as it delivers clever twists and turns throughout." Audiofile
Review
"The action rolls along in short chapters, each illustrated with a small pen-and-ink illustration of a locale in Venice. The vocabulary is somewhat demanding, with Italian words thrown in for atmosphere, but some YAs will certainly enjoy this challenge." KLIATT
Review
"[D]elightful....The characters are richly and realistically drawn....This satisfying, twisting tale is for upper elementary readers who enjoy a dab of magic surrounded by a charming story." VOYA
Synopsis
The sensational, highly acclaimed New York Times bestseller--now available in paperback!
Prosper and Bo are orphans on the run from their cruel aunt and uncle. The brothers decide to hide out in Venice, where they meet a mysterious character who calls himself the "Thief Lord." Brilliant and charismatic, the Thief Lord leads a ring of street children who dabble in petty crimes. Prosper and Bo relish being part of this colorful new family. But the Thief Lord has secrets of his own. And soon the boys are thrust into circumstances that will lead them, and readers, to a fantastic, spellbinding conclusion.
Synopsis
Welcome to the magical underworld of Venice, Italy, where hidden canals and crumbling rooftops shelter runaways and children with incredible secrets. Prosper and Bo are orphans on the run from their cruel aunt and uncle. The brothers decide to hide out in Venice, where they meet a mysterious 13-year-old boy who calls himself "the Thief Lord."
About the Author
Cornelia Funke is a bestselling author and the third most popular children's book writer in Germany after J.K. Roweling and R.L. Stine. The Thief Lord has won several European children's literature awards, including the Zurich Children's Book Awards (2000) and the children's Book Award form the Vienna House of Literature (2001).