The Star Thief

Written by Lindsey Becker

A maid is thrust into a battle between mythical constellations and a steamship crew seeking their power.

5.3/7 Bookroo expert·3.8/5 Goodreads · 828 ratings

416 pages· 74,500 words· Est. 10.5 hour read· 920L

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Bookroo's summary

Honorine, a maid at Vidalia mansion, stumbles into a cosmic conflict when she follows a winged girl into the night. Caught between a steamship crew and living constellations, she becomes the key to resolving a clash of magic and science. Can Honorine unite these forces before an ancient evil awakens? Discover a world where the stars themselves fight for survival.

From the publisher

The constellations come to life in this imaginative fantasy adventure debut. Honorine’s life as a maid at the Vidalia mansion is rather dull, dusting treasures from faraway places and daydreaming in front of maps of the world. But everything changes when she catches two brutish sailors ransacking Lord Vidalia’s study, and then follows a mysterious girl with wings out into the night…. Suddenly, Honorine is whisked into the middle of a battle between the crew of a spectacular steamship and a band of mythical constellations. The stars in the sky have come to life to defend themselves against those who want to harness their powers. Much to her surprise, Honorine is the crux of it all, the center of an epic clash between magic and science, the old ways and the new. But can this spirited young girl bring both sides of a larger-than-life fight together before they unleash an evil power even older than the stars?

At a glance

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 416
Words: 74,500
Reading age: 8–12
Audience: Middle Grade
Lexile: 920L

Themes & topics

Books about stars Books about superpowers Books about powers Books about boats Books about Greek and Roman mythology

For the grown-ups

The parent guide

What families may want to know

Every family reads differently. These are the concepts our editors noticed in this book — worth seeking out for some readers, worth knowing about for others. The list isn't exhaustive, but it's a spoiler-light head start.

Language

One use of he**.

After the last page

Talk about it together

Honorine learns about her history and her birth parents, and though she’s in a confusing position, she doesn’t let anyone get in the way of doing what she thinks is right. Ask your child how Honorine demonstrates bravery in her story.

Ask your reader what their favorite constellation in the story was and take time to learn more about constellations together.

What readers & critics say