Weave Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 (edited) Title of book: The Good Thief Name of author: Hannah Tinti Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: Headline Review (19 Mar 2009) ISBN-10: 75530747X ISBN-13: 978-0755307470 Synopsis ~ Twelve year-old Ren is missing his left hand. How it was lost is a mystery that Ren has been trying to solve for his entire life, as well as who his parents are, and why he was abandoned as an infant at Saint Anthony's Orphanage for boys. He longs for a family to call his own and is terrified of the day he will be sent alone into the world. But then a young man named Benjamin Nab appears, claiming to be Ren's long-lost brother, and his convincing tale of how Ren lost his hand and his parents persuades the monks at the orphanage to release the boy and to give Ren some hope. But is Benjamin really who he says he is? Journeying through a New England of whaling towns and meadowed farmlands, Ren is introduced to a vibrant world of hardscrabble adventure filled with outrageous scam artists, grave robbers, and petty thieves. If he stays, Ren becomes one of them. If he goes, he's lost once again. As Ren begins to find clues to his hidden parentage he comes to suspect that Benjamin not only holds the key to his future, but to his past as well. ‘The Good Thief’ tells the story of Ren, abandoned as a baby and left at the gates of St. Anthony’s orphanage. Ren’s left hand is missing and the only thing that remains is a scar where the flesh was turned over and sewn, an act of kindness that Ren does not remember. The only item that Ren owns from his past is a piece of collar from the night-shirt he was wearing when he was abandoned, sewn on the collar in dark blue thread is simply his name, ‘Ren’ Ren lives his life the best way he can within the walls of the orphanage, surrounded by the brothers of St.Anthony (seeker of lost articles), he has his friends, the twins, Brom and Ichy, who the brothers of the orphanage see as unlucky due to the suicide of their mother. Ren lives for the day when he is adopted or his family return for him, and it does happen in a way, in the form of Benjamin Nab, Ren’s long lost brother, Ren is suddenly in a middle of an adventure which not only tests him to the limit but helps him to find his way in the world. ‘The Good Thief’ is a lovely book, Ren is an original and heart-warming character, a boy who has grown up fast and despite everything that happens to him he keeps his faith and his good character, he is a good thief in so many ways. All the characters in ‘The Good Thief’ were to me very vibrant and great to read, they all had their own stories, Tom, a former teacher who carries guilt with him, Benjamin, a young man who lives on his instincts and wits, Dolly, a complicated man who finds in Ren someone who believes in him, that he is capable of change and Mrs Shaw who helps Ren. ‘The Good Thief’ is a memorable, sad, and funny book with a great story that you will not want to end and a hero in a boy called Ren. Read it if you get the chance (or borrow my copy). Rating: 10/10 Edited July 20, 2009 by Weave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuggleMagic Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 this sounds really good I'll add it to my reading list. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted July 20, 2009 Author Share Posted July 20, 2009 this sounds really good I'll add it to my reading list. Thanks Not a problem Mugglemagic and thanks It is a really good read, I think you will enjoy it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BookJumper Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Oooh this sounds cute... TBRed. Thanks for the inspiring review ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted July 20, 2009 Author Share Posted July 20, 2009 Oooh this sounds cute... TBRed. Thanks for the inspiring review ! Not a problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuggleMagic Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 I thought I would bump this thread up because I finished The Good Thief yesterday I found the storyline really intriguing and some of the description quite sickening (in a good way). I read when I am eating a lot of the time and I wouldn't reccomend that with this book. The characters were always off grave robbing whilst I ate I really liked it up until the last couple of chapters. I found the ending a little bit too 'happy ever after.' I know that Ren is always going to be looking for Benji now but I still think that it all fell into place a little too perfectly. Maybe I am just being picky. The story reminded me of Oliver Twist a little bit Orphan, grows up with thieves and robbers and then comes into an inheritance. That isn't a bad thing - Oliver Twist is a great story I would give it a 7/10. It was very gripping and I read it very quickly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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