The Thief Lord

Written by Cornelia Funke · Illustrated by Christian Birmingham

Two brothers flee to Venice, pursued by a detective, uncovering a magical treasure that alters time.

5.8/7 Bookroo expert·4.0/5 Goodreads · 103,580 ratings

368 pages· 86,063 words· Est. 12 hour read

$9.99Save 4%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

In the shadowy alleys of Venice, orphaned brothers Prosper and Bo find refuge with a band of street children led by the enigmatic Thief Lord. As they embrace their new life of petty crime, their past catches up with them—a relentless detective and a magical treasure capable of bending time threaten their newfound freedom. Can they outwit their pursuers and protect their secret haven, or will the allure of the treasure unravel everything? Dive into a world where the past and present collide, and nothing is as it seems.

From the publisher

The enchanting international bestseller with bonus back matter and a beautiful new cover!

Two orphaned brothers, Prosper and Bo, have run away to Venice, where crumbling canals and misty alleyways shelter a secret community of street urchins. Leader of this motley crew of lost children is a clever, charming boy with a dark history of his own: He calls himself the Thief Lord.

Propser and Bo relish their new “family” and life of petty crime. But their cruel aunt and a bumbling detective are on their trail. And posing an even greater threat to the boys’ freedom is something from a forgotten past: a beautiful magical treasure with the power to spin time itself.

Awards

Mildred L. Batchelder Award (2003)

At a glance

Format: Paperback
Pages: 368
Words: 86,063
Reading age: 8–12
Audience: Middle Grade
Lexile: 700L

Themes & topics

Books about time Books about sleuthing Books about magic Books about orphans Books about siblings

What readers & critics say

Reviews

5.8

out of 7

5.8

“I've loved everything I've read of Cornelia Funke's and this book was no exception. The multiple and ever-unfolding layers of reality and truth combine with the magic of Funke's storytelling (and the magic of the carousel) to create a compelling story full of adventure, intrigue (with lots of sleuthing and sneaking!) and the most important discovery of what family really means and who family really is.”

Marmee

Trusted reviewer

For readers who can't stop at one