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June 2019 Book of the Month
After stories set in jungles and on the Russian steppes, Katherine Rundell has chosen the streets of Prohibition New York for her latest, but it’s just as full of the sense of peril and freedom from rules that characterises her earlier books, with central character Vita facing possibly the greatest danger yet. Newly arrived from England, Vita is determined to win back her family home, the fabulous Hudson Castle, acquired from her grandfather in a distinctly shady way by mob boss Victor Sorrotore. This will involve breaking and entering – and legend has it the castle is impregnable – and safe cracking, but Vita is fortunate enough to have as associates an extremely talented pickpocket and two fearless young circus performers. Rundell revels in setting her characters these kind of challenges and also in exploring the kind of physical and mental daring required to undertake them. She likes to equip her protagonists with right and with love too, the latter proves a formidable weapon for Vita. Beautifully written and full of scenes that both thrill and enchant, The Good Thieves is Rundell at her classy best.
Readers who are captivated by Katherine Rundell’s wild children will also enjoy Stop the Train or The Middle of Nowhere by Geraldine McCaughrean, or books by classic children’s writers such as Joan Aiken and Eva Ibbotson.
Vita set her jaw, and nodded at New York City in greeting, as a boxer greets an opponent before a fight.
Fresh off the boat from England, Vita Marlowe has a job to do. Her beloved grandfather Jack has been cheated out of his home and possessions by a notorious conman with Mafia connections. Seeing Jack's spirit is broken, Vita is desperate to make him happy again, so she devises a plan to outwit his enemies and recover his home. She finds a young pickpocket, working the streets of the city. And, nearby, two boys with highly unusual skills and secrets of their own are about to be pulled into her lawless, death-defying plan.
Katherine Rundell's fifth novel is a heist as never seen before - the story of a group of children who will do anything to right a wrong.
In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion some of our Reader Review Panel were also lucky enough to read and review this title. You can click here to read the full reviews.
Great read
Full reviewAn amazing adventure story, told with sparkling style and sleight of hand - Jacqueline Wilson
The Good Thieves is a story-telling spectacle - it glitters with adventure, family, friendship, and an irresistible sprinkling of impossibility - Catherine Doyle, author of The Storm Keeper's Island
A new Katherine Rundell book is always an event, but this is another triumph and then some. A wickedly exciting heist with heart, I can but marvel at this new delight from one of my favourite storytellers ever - Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The Girl of Ink & Stars
I love the way Katherine puts Impossible on hold while she tells her wild, warm, shimmering stories - Hilary McKay, author of The Skylarks' War
Praise for The Explorer;
Rundell is now unarguably in the first rank - Philip Pullman
Rundell is a class act - The Times
One of our most talented writers for children - Observer
I cannot imagine the child who wouldn't be delighted by it - Independent
ISBN: 9781408882658
Publication date: 03/09/2020
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Books an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781408854891
Publication date: 13/06/2019
Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens Books an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Format: Hardback
| ISBN: | 9781408854891 |
| Publication date: | 13th June 2019 |
| Author: | Katherine Rundell |
| Publisher: | Bloomsbury Childrens Books an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing PLC |
| Format: | Hardback |
| Pagination: | 336 pages |
| Suitable for: | 11+ readers, 9+ readers |
| Genres: | Adventure Stories, Crime / Mystery |
| Recommendations: | Books of the Month |
Katherine Rundell spent her childhood in Africa and Europe and is now a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, where she works on Renaissance literature. She is the bestselling author of The Girl Savage, Rooftoppers, The Wolf Wilder and The Explorer. She won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize and the Blue Peter Book Award in 2014, and the Costa Children's Book Award in 2018. Her writing – mostly on books, but also on climbing, on art and on wolves – has appeared in the London Review of Books, The New York Times, the Telegraph and Intelligent ...
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