Publisher's summary

Welcome to the magical underworld of Venice, Italy, where hidden canals and crumbling rooftops shelter runaways and children with incredible secrets...

Prosper and Bo are orphans on the run from their cruel aunt and uncle. The brothers decide to hide out in Venice, where they meet a mysterious thirteen-year-old boy who calls himself the "Thief Lord." Brilliant and charismatic, the Thief Lord leads a ring of street children who dabble in petty crimes. Prosper and Bo delight in being part of this colorful new family. But the Thief Lord has secrets of his own. And soon the boys are thrust into circumstances that will lead them to a fantastic, spellbinding conclusion.
©2001 Oliver Latsch; 2000 Cornelia Funke (P)2000 Random House, Inc., Listening Library, An Imprint of Random House Audio Publishing Group
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Critic reviews

Book Sense Book of the Year Award Winner, Children's Literature, 2003

"It's a compelling tale, rich in ingenious twists, with a setting and cast that will linger in [listeners'] memories." (School Library Journal)

"Brilliantly narrated by Simon Jones, this enchanting tale of adventure, mischief, and magical outcomes is utterly charming.... This blend of Jones’s practiced storytelling and the magic of Funke’s lovely tale will leave you spellbound." (AudioFile)
Captivating Story • Imaginative Adventures • Charming Characters • Unexpected Plot Twists • Vivid Setting Descriptions
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Children, teens, and adults were all engrosed in the story during our seven hour trip. We even sat in the living room to finish the book when we arrived home. The narration is perfect and the story draws you in from the beginning. This book has something for everyone.

Outstanding for a Family Trip & the Young at Heart

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One of my children's most favorit books. The story takes place in Venice, Italy with all its romance and dangers. Cornelia spins a story that will keep you inthralled and entertained. A defenate read.

Cornelia Funke does it again!

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fantastic story and fabulous narration.i really love funke's storytelling generally and rhis was no letdown. good story for young and old.

great

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this book always brings back good memories for me, i reccomend this book to any and all readers

favorite book as a kid

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It may be a children's book; however, it has enough intrigue for any adult. A great listen with your children on a trip or to and from school!

Great writer great reader!

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This was absolutely fantastic to listen to. The characters are all charming in each of their own ways, which makes it so that you want to follow them as they move along throughout the canals, alleys and streets of Venice, Italy. The story is effortlessly captivating from the outset and is enjoyable to read the whole way through. To experience this book again after so many years of not having read it or recalling it was truly a blessing.

This particular novel was one of my favorites to read through time and time again throughout my youth; cozying up in the library against a bookshelf and losing myself to time in a world outside of mine own; what a delight. I was taken back to all of those years ago, such is the power of words and stories; like as this one.

A wonderful story that is as timeless as ever.

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Absolutely loved this story. Read it many years ago and now listened to it in audibles and it was even better

Wonderful

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I hadn't read this book before purchasing the audio tape, and it wasn't quite what I'd expected based on the blurbs. The plot is good, but I had thought there would be more elements of fantasy in it. Also, because of the number of characters in the book and their unusual names (the book was originally written in German, though most of the names are Italian), I had difficulty following the plot while driving. The narrator, though good, was also a bit too soothing for my alertness level.

Not quite what I had expected

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I bought this based on the reviews for the book. My kids didn't get into it and I finished it only because I started it. Of the two Funke books I've read, both were imaginitive, but are paced too slow. She's got adult ideas, but puts them in childish form and doesn't flesh them out because of her intended audience. It would make a great movie adaptation, but the fantasy aspects you expect don't show up till later. Other kids may like this, but my two daughters didn't.

Almost there

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I liked the side plots.they helped the story no be boring and the main plot kept surprising me

There eat a lot of surprises behind every corner

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