Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful, magical read
Review: I would recommend this book for most any age. It's set in Venice, which gives it a beautiful feel, and is about a group of children supported by another child called the "Thief Lord." I heard that some people think it's very similiar to Harry Potter, but it really isn't, though what they do have in common is they are both good reads. If anything, they might have reminded me of Artemis Fowl, or something like Oliver Twist. Original, lovely. Oh, and they live in a cool abandoned movie theatre!
Rating:
Summary: The Thief Lord will take your breath away!
Review: I would reccommend The Thief Lord to those who both enjoy and dislike reading, because not only will it captivate readers, it will convert those who don't generally read. it starts with a destable couple looking for two boys in Venice who belonged to the wife's sister who have run away. they are Prosper and Bo, who have taken up with a gang of theives-the qiuet girl Hornet, the excitable Riccio, the water loving Mosca, and of course, The Thief Lord, Scipio, who is not all that he seems. The couple-the Hartliebs, hire Victor-a slightly inept detective to find them. All of this leads up to an exciting and magical climax involving an evil shopkeeper, a long forgotten merry go round, a mysteroius count, a dreamy photographer, and a surprise that will have you reading this book again and again!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: The Theif Lord
Review: Although I'm not a book fan, I have to say that this book is one of the best books I have ever read. The story go smooth, every end of chapter, you want to keep reading. The style of writing is great! Same style as J.K Rowling (A little different) and even better. If you liked Harry Potter, you will like this book. I think 8 years old kids can read it! It is amazing how I liked this book, and I usualy don't like to read, so if I liked it, , , You will two.
Rating: 
Summary: Not in keeping with all the praise
Review: I was greatly disappointed by this book. Funke didn't write it as well as the praise for her book suggest. The book just didn't have the qualities that I love in other books had and what we, the readers, have come to expect from books like Ms. Rowling's. It didn't have the suspense, the action, or the mystery that it should have either.
Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly Bland...
Review: I began reading the book with great expectations, but was quickly let down. For whatever reason (don't know if it's the translation or the author's overall storytelling), the book never catches fire. What should be a grand adventure just falls flat. For all that goes on, Funke just can't seem to generate any real sense of excitement or danger necessary for an adventure story, nor does she manage to envoke any real sense of wonder necessary for a fantasy story. It's a sweet story, but so bland in it's execution that it fails to satisfy. The only thing the book really did for me was spark an interest in Venice. Young readers less jaded than I may find the book entertaining, but for me it was, more often than not, a bore.
Rating:
Summary: A good book with a good ending
Review: this book was good... but if you're not one of those readers who can sit out the boring beginning, then dont read it. Ill admit it was actually quite slow all the way till about pg 200! then you FINALLY start learning the plot. It's good, but i will tell you... if youre being sucked in by all this "similar to harry potter" [stuff], dont. It couldn't be any more different from harry potter!!! It's slower, less magical, and the story line isnt even close to being the same! But i guess its one ill remember... the ending will keep you satisfied though.
Rating:
Summary: Not Captivating
Review: I found the beginning of the book to be interesting, but it got really terrible in the middle. The story was not engaging, the characters not especially interesting, and the translation was rough in places. Yes, Venice is beautiful, and the scenery was used well, but the magic was very contrived, unlike the ubiquitous magic in the Harry Potter series, or the underworldly magic in Artemis Fowl.Skip it.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty good! Great details...
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed the imagery in this book. It certainly made me want to visit Venice and see the beauty in person. The camaraderie between the children in this book is touching, and their relationship with Victor is nothing short of entertaining. Also - Hornet is awesome. She is a great role model for girls of all ages.
Rating:
Summary: Perhaps it would be better as a movie...
Review: This book started out good, and went downhill towards the middle. As soon as the kids move out of the movie theater, everything get's unrealistic and just plain BAD. (Oh, sure, a bunch of kids living in a movie theater isn't that realistic, but the author spun this tale with such skill that it SEEMED real, to me.) It's like she stopped writing halfway through, put the book up for a year, and took it back down and continued writing. I don't get how the merry-go-round broke, and I thought the whole "Secret Island" segment was really stupid, and it was apparant what was going to happen next. I really wish Scipio hadn't "grown-up". (And what's with all the "grown-up" biz? "Oh, I'm a grown-up now, so I can drink wine!" Puh-lease..)
This would've been a much better book if it turned out that Scipio really was an orphan, and there was NO magic merry-go-round. Much, much, much better.
Oh, and what about Hornet's parents? The author left to many loose-ends. I felt dissattifed at the end of the book. ~~~a 13 year old reader
Rating:
Summary: Read it as soon as possible
Review: I absolutely LOVED this book. Cornelia Funke has always been on my list of favorite authors, she has a real gift with writing(although I read this book and all others from her in their original language,German,so I'm not sure how many other books are out in English by her).Her stories are almost magical. The plot is so thick, and you really place all the characters in your heart.The way she can captures it all is really amazing. Please read this book as soon as you can get your hands on it. Also to recommend is her book 'Drachenreiter'(translated The Dragon Rider' but I'm not sure if that one was translated into English) that book is everything you could want.
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