Story Thieves (Story Thieves #1)

by James Riley (Author)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade
Series: Story Thieves
Except for reading the Kiel Gnomenfoot magic adventure series, Owen's life is boring until he sees his classmate Bethany climb out of a book in the school library and he learns that she's half-fictional and has been searching every book she can find for her missing father, a fictional character.
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Kirkus

Starred Review
A droll and clever opener likely to leave readers breathless both with laughter and anticipation.

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6--When Owen sees Bethany climb out of a book, he learns that she is half fictional and is searching for her missing father. While Owen sympathizes, he also immediately sees the possibilities for fame, fortune, and glory. Owen's real life is boring, his mother works too much, his teacher gives him stupid assignments, and his classmates don't get him at all. If Bethany would just take him into the new Kiel Gnomenfoot book, he'd save the day and be a hero. When Owen sneaks into the story and sets in motion a series of really terrible events, he realizes he wasn't ready for fame and glory. Owen learns a lot about how to be a true friend and what courage really is in this fast-paced, action-packed tale. A fun book for fans who enjoyed Riley's "Half Upon a Time" (Aladdin) series.--Terry Ann Lawler, Burton Barr Library, Phoenix, AZ

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Publishers Weekly

When Owen discovers that his classmate Bethany can jump into fictional worlds, he's desperate to enter his beloved Kiel Gnomenfoot series. Bethany isn't interested in giving Owen a tour: she's busy looking for her father, a fictional character who disappeared into a book when she was young. After Owen offers Bethany a possible way to find her father, she agrees to take him into Kiel's book on the condition that Owen not interfere with the story. As the concept demands, self-awareness plays a big role in the narrative, and the interplay of text and metatext is one of its most entertaining aspects ("This would be huge. Bigger than saving Dumbledore," thinks Owen, marveling at the chance to prevent the death of a beloved character). The plot gets chaotic as Owen and Bethany's actions create a mess of repercussions in reality, and readers face the challenge of intuiting the events of an invented series while its constructs are being pulled down around them. By book's end, though, Riley brings his interwoven levels of story to a conclusion that satisfies both intellect and narrative. Ages 8-12. Agent: Michael Bourret, Dystel & Goderich Literary Management. (Jan.)

Copyright 2014 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.
James Riley
James Riley lives in Virginia. He is the New York Times bestselling author of the Half Upon a Time, Story Thieves, Revenge of Magic, and Once Upon Another Time series.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781481409209
Lexile Measure
750
Guided Reading Level
V
Publisher
Aladdin Paperbacks
Publication date
December 15, 2015
Series
Story Thieves
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV047000 - Juvenile Fiction | Books & Libraries
JUV037000 - Juvenile Fiction | Fantasy & Magic
JUV001000 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
Library of Congress categories
Characters in literature
Characters and characteristics in literature
Adventure and adventurers
Magic
Adventure stories
Books and reading
Quests (Expeditions)

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