I honestly was disappointed - I found the book hard to read and get into - initially I was drawn to it because it was reviewed to be a more realistic Harry Potter and I found it nothing like. It never really drew me in and while I enjoyed the characters,they never tugged at my coat tails the way the children do in Oliver Twist or similar stories.

Young adult fantasy/fiction novel about a small group of orphans living on their own in an abandoned movie theatre in Venice. Another mysterious young man named Scipio, self-titled The Thief Lord, helps take care of them by stealing valuables and selling them for money. When two of the orphans’ aunt and uncle appear in Venice looking for them and hire a detective to aid their search, the security of the small group of friends is threatened. When the fence they use for getting rid of their stolen goods offers a special job to Thief Lord for mega-moola, he accepts and they are off on another wild adventure. Very well-written and enjoyable book that gives very atmospheric descriptions of Venice. Loved it!

This is such a good book!

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Fantastic book I really wish I found when I was younger. It brilliantly captivates that fantasy all children have about running away and living a life of adventure, with life-like characters you can really believe in from the first page. My only real complaint, is about the quality of the last fifty pages or so. Starting with a completely unrealistic turn into fantasy, it seems the last several chapters are a sloppy and hasty attempt to tie up all loose ends in a cheerfully satisfying matter. The younger audience won't mind, I'm sure, but to me it seemed the element of reality Funke so tactfully kept was suddenly ruined for the sake of a classic "The End".

I read this when I was in the 8th grade. I thought it was a great book for those who generally like to read fiction and fantasy. I loved it.

the book came to already w/out the cover, but otherwise in great shape.

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