I know this is Wednesday and still no Kate Morten. I'm sorry that I've pooped on your day, but the good news is that I am going to tell you about one of the best books I've read this year. Yep, this YEAR.
I could not hold it in...
by Jonathan Auxier
"Now, for those of you who know anything about blind children, you are aware that they make the very best thieves. As you can well imagine, blind children have incredible senses of smell, and they can tell what lies behind a locked door- be it fine cloth, gold, or peanut brittle- at fifty paces. Moreover, their fingers are so small and nimble that they can slip right through keyholes, and their ears so keen that they can hear the faint clicks and clacks of every moving part inside even the most complicated lock. Of course, the age of great thievery has long since passed;today there are few child-thieves left, blind or otherwise. At one time, however, the world was simply thick with them. This is the story of the greatest thief who ever lived. His name, as you've probably guessed, is Peter Nimble."
-Goodreads
Peter Nimble was found in a basket floating in the ocean with a raven who had presumably pecked out his eyes, he was taken to shore, named and left to fend for himself. He taught himself how to steal food to survive and Mr. Seamus found him when he was quite small and expended his thieving knowledge. Mr. Seamus is a jerk and not above child labor and abuse. Through extraordinary circumstances he finds Mr. Pound and a mysterious box that Peter steals, inside the box are six eggs and inside the eggs are three sets of eyes made out of gold, onyx and emerald. The eyes each have a different purpose and the gold eyes transport him to the island where Mr. Pound and his friend Mr. Cake live, along with a hybrid horse/cat/man knight errant that was cursed by a witch. Mr. Cake gives Peter a message in a bottle with a plea for help from the Forgotten Kingdom that has disappeared. Peter makes some friend and enemies and a few mistakes, but he does eventually save the day with the help of some friends. He realizes that his thieving skills are an assist and finds a new family.
This book has everything right when it comes to a children's fairytale/fantasy and little boy’s especially will like it. I will warn you that it contains a good bit of violence and some gorey parts, but I have found that children do not mind those sort of things as long as they are in context. This is a classic story of good vs. evil told in the perfect voice of Peter Nimble. This will not be a story that is easily forgotten.
Hardcover, 381 pages
Published August 1st 2011 by Amulet Books
