The Thief Lord - Cornelia Funke

Victor Getz, a private detective who takes on “investigations of any kind,” is visited by the Hartliebs, a Mrs. Esther and Mr. Max. They’ve lost something. Well, two somethings, but they’re only really considered about retrieving one of them. The nephews of Esther Hartlieb’s recently deceased sister, Prosper and Bo, have run away from their home in Hamburg and the Hartliebs would really like Bo back as they’d like to adopt him the most. Getz takes the case, a bit nervously, as this is the first time he’ll be searching for children.

Now Prosper and Bo—Prosper being twelve years old and the thinker of the two—ran away on the belief that they were not meant to be separated by their nasty aunt. Having truly no idea where to go they head towards Venice, the city their mother used to tell them tales about. It is here that the two brothers meet other runaways/ruffians/rascals who follow orders under the leader of The Thief Lord. Their new home is an abandoned movie theater, and it’s theirs to share so long as they don’t overstep the lines placed before them. The Thief Lord, also known as Scipio, is essentially Robin Hood, albeit a much younger version. Rob from the rich, give to the poor, rinse, lather, and repeat.

Things grow much more serious for Scipio and company when the shopkeeper of a local pawning business, Barbarossa, a man described to have orange hair, makes a request for the theft of a wooden wing. This item is rumored to be the missing part to complete a magical merry-go-round—one that when it finishes going round and round and round could change a person’s life forever.

The plot is pure fun, fairly nonstop, and split between Detective Getz and the two young boys. Getz has a strange tick to him; he’s constantly preoccupied about his pets, namely his two tiny turtles.Quite possibly, Funke’s characters are the true reason I read her work. Here we get to share the adventure with Detective Getz, Prosper, Scipio, Hornet, Mosca, and Riccio. Yes, her children characters are more distinctive and appealing than most of the adults.

There have been several complaint that about three-fourths of the book reads just like a regular novel, and that the last section is the only place that the speculative fiction aspect reveals itself. Or for a better way of saying it, “where magical stuff happens.” I did not find this to be the case; rather, I read the book without a care of when something magical was going to happen, taken along by the hands and words of these characters, only wanting to know what happens to them and how it happens. When the big poof/pow/pazam shows it, I was ambivalent for a moment, then nodded in understanding, and continued reading. The magic at the end allows for some fun twists of certain characters, almost enough so to create a separate plotline.

A great book that’s been translated nigh perfectly from German and filled with both colorful characters and vivid settings. You’ll be sorry when it’s deemed a classic and you’re still reading Harry Potter and the Fork of Finality, Year Twenty-Six or whatever book it is that J.K. will still be spooning out long past her time. Stick with Funke and see what a great read is really all about.

Shrimp

Shrimp written by Rachel Cohn is a sequel to her first book, Gingerbread. She writes about a unique girl named Cyd Charisse, and she makes it well know that she's not to be confused with the famous Cyd Charisse. Cyd is a senior in high school with a painful history. Her parents are divorced and spread across the country, she has self inflicted cuts under her sleeves, and an abortion from a year earlier. The story is written in first person which has an amazing affect on the story. The voice that Rachel Cohn weaves in between her words adds a great vibe to the book. By the first few pages you will feel like Cyd is a girl you have known for years that you could call up on the phone. The sense of humor could be compared to a Tim Burton movie because many of the topics that Cyd has to tackle are dark and difficult but she explains them in a very funny, sarcastic way. Throughout the story the view of Cyd changes drastically because not only are you turning pages but she is getting older and learning more lessons as the book progresses. There are many parts in the story that are hard to relate to because she is so different than me but I think that not only myself but others can benefit from these valuable lessons from the way that she handles them. The story is mainly composed of the roller coaster relationship she is in with her boyfriend nicknamed, Shrimp. When she is on the low points of her roller coaster she has to learn how to make new friends for the first time in her life. These new additions to her life include Aaron with the dreadlocks who is really good at spilling drinks in the Java Hut, and her lesbian friend who lives above her parent's Chinese restaurant, and of course Sugar Pie the old lady who lives in the senior home that she met while doing community service. The story is placed in her senior year of high school in San Fransisco and before she's off to wherever her life is going to take her next Cyd has to face some harsh truths. To learn all about her last year in San Fransisco including her 3 am IHOP visits Shrimp is for you!

The Facts Speak for Themselves

The book The Facts Speak for Themselves by Brock Cole was not my first choice but I ended up choosing it after reading the inside cover. The fact that a 13 year old girl was implicated in a murder/suicide sounded interesting. It seems unlikely that such a young innocent girl could be involved in something like that. The title of the book is fitting; it not only speaks to the underlying plot but is a testament to the way people interpret the facts to fit whatever scenario they feel is most likely.
The story’s main character Linda is only thirteen years old and has made the leap from childhood to adult hood rather quickly. The story gives a clear impression that she hasn’t had any support from her parents and usually takes on adult roles in her parent’s absence. Her mother’s perpetual need to be with someone has robbed Linda of a parental figure that she needs and wants. The constant moving has prevented Linda from making any lasting connections but from within her own family. Her brothers are probably the only stable figures in her life. Your first introduction to Linda is in an interview room at a police station. She has blood on her hands and is being questioned by the police and a social worker. The police are trying to contact her mother but they can not seem to reach her. The police are questioning her about a murder she was witness to. Linda discovers after giving her statement that everything she has stated that happen has been manipulated into a motive that makes her look guilty. Linda realizes she must tell her own story so the reader can hear what really happened in her own words. The story Linda tells is really a confession of the soul. Everything she has experienced is within the pages for the reader to discover. She has had a horrible childhood and has dealt with adult situations far sooner than she should have. Linda’s account is straight up and compelling honest. She wants to tell her story because the facts speak for themselves. I think that even though the murder is the main plot, the real story is about a girl trying to survive with out any support or guidance. She hopes that by telling her story, the truth, someone will notice and help her find her way. This book expresses her struggle and how throughout her entire life someone has been limiting her choices. Finally she has the courage to stand up and for herself and prove that the reality of some ones life can be very different from what other people see.