The Thief Lord

Bibliography:

Funke, Cornelia. 2002. The Thief Lord. New York: Chicken House. ISBN: 0439404371.

Summary:

Bo and Prosper are orphans, on the run from a mean aunt who only wants to adopt Bo and not his older brother. They end up in Venice, a city their mother loved, and they stumble upon a gang of kids who live in an abandoned movie theater. The leader and provider of this family group is Scipio, a mysterious young boy they call the Thief Lord. But when Bo and Prosper's aunt puts a detective on their trail, several things happen to test this family loyalty, and they also find friends in unexpected places. It turns out Scipio is actually a lonely rich kid who enjoys pretending to be a thief. Although he's never stolen anything except from his own home, he gets a commission to steal an old wooden wing that is the missing piece to a long-lost magical merry-go-round. The slightly complicated ending has most characters getting what they ultimately want.

Analysis:

The book is engaging, building up to a exciting conclusion. Most of the book has no magic or fantasy elements, but the last section introduces a merry-go-round that can turn adults into children and children into adults, and several characters actually experience this. The Thief Lord contains themes that transcend cultures: coming of age, the desire to be what you are not (either older or younger), loyalty, friendship, and more.

Cornelia Funke is a German author, and the setting for this book is in Venice, Italy. The author does a great job of drawing the reader into the setting, with just the right amount of description. Canals, boats, bridges, alleyways, churches, old buildings, pigeons, dusty souvenir shops, masks - it's all there and seems very accurate. Readers get a sense of both the present Venice and a past Venice in which rich and influential families ruled. The author avoids stereotypes of both the Italian culture as a whole and of individual characters, and she presents very balanced characters who have strengths and weaknesses. Italian words are sprinkled throughout the text, with a glossary in the back. There is a map of Venice and some ink drawings at the beginning of each chapter. Not all details are culturally accurate, though; for example, when time is mentioned in the book, it is the 12-hour system, not the 24-hour clock which is used throughout Europe. This was likely changed in translation, but it could have remained and provided an opportunity to discuss how different cultures tell time.

Reviews/Awards:

2003 winner of the Mildred Batchelder award
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
New York Times Bestseller
ALA Notable Children's Book

"But between kindhearted Victor and his collection of fake beards, the Thief Lord in his mask and high-heeled boots, and a rascally street kid who loves to steal, Prosper's new world abounds with colorful characters. The Venetian setting is ripe for mystery and the city's alleys and canals ratchet up the suspense in the chase scenes." Publisher's Weekly

"A compelling tale, rich in ingenius twists, with a setting and cast that will linger in readers' memories." School Library Journal, starred review

Connections:
Read and talk about Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit, another book that deals with something magical that will help you stay young.
Read other books by Cornelia Funke, such as Inkheart.

Ogre of Oglefort

Bibliography:

Ibbotson, Eva. 2011. The Ogre of Oglefort. New York: Penguin. ISBN: 9780525423829.

Summary:

Ivo is an orphan and his only friend is a mysterious old woman who turns out to be a hag with magical powers. Through a series of circumstances, Ivo is thrilled to be included in a rescue party along with the hag, a troll, and a wizard. They set out on a long journey to rescue a princess from the clutches of an ogre. Only, they find out the princess doesn’t want to be rescued. Plus, the ogre is not violent and is more of a whiny hypochondriac. What to do now? Ivo and the princess become friends, and find some allies in talking animals who used to be humans. Everyone works together to cheer up the ogre, clean up the castle, and then defend it against further “rescue” attempts. In the end, everyone comes pretty near their own versions of “happily ever after.”

Analysis:

This book will appeal to lovers of fractured fairy tales; it’s a story where princes, princesses, ogres, and magicians don’t behave as one would expect. Ibbotson has written an entertaining and funny book that also deals with more serious themes, such as the lack of family and not being happy with one’s life. Though an orphan, Ivo finds a family in his magical traveling companions. Though Princess Mirella has a family, she feels that they do not love or understand her and only want to marry her off. Most of the characters in the book are unhappy with their lot in life. Mirella’s entire purpose for visiting the ogre was to have him change her into a white bird so she can fly above her problems, but fortunately she learns that she should remain human and face her problems.

Ibbotson was born in Austria, but moved to England when she was a young girl. The Ogre of Oglefort is set at first in London, and then on the made-up island of Ostland (somewhere among the British Isles). British cultural markers are throughout the novel, from the Underground to the landscape descriptions. Frequent tea breaks and words like “pram” are also indicators. The magical side of the story, with its ghosts and talking animals and ogres and more, is its own unique culture.

Reviews/Awards:

On the 2012 USBBY list of Outstanding International Books

“Fans of the author, who died in 2010, will find a gratifying mix of fresh material and traditional Ibbotson goodies: plenty of humorous twists, clever dialogue, an all's well that ends well conclusion, and, of course, cameo appearances by ghosts.” Publisher’s Weekly

“Ibbotson's playful humor, pungent turns of phrase, and sturdy friendliness toward her child heroes suffuse this novel (her second-to-last book), a fantasy that has its share of dramatic conflict but at heart celebrates the value of a peaceful home in which ‘people. . . [do] not want to be changed but. . . [are] content to be themselves.’” Horn Book

Connections:
* Read more by Eva Ibbotson, such as Journey to the River Sea, Dragonfly Pool, or Star of Kazan.
* Think about other examples of books or movies with classic fairy tale characters, but an unusual plot. In the movie “Shrek,” for example, the ogre is good instead of bad, much like in The Ogre of Oglefort.

Koala Lou

Bibliography:

Fox, Mem. 1988. Koala Lou. Ill by. Pamela Lofts. San Diego: Gulliver Books. ISBN: 0152005021.

Summary:

Koala Lou is a baby koala who is loved by everyone, but especially by her mother, who thinks the world of her. All the time she tells her daughter, “Koala Lou, I DO love you!” But then brothers and sisters come along, and her mother is busy. Koala Lou feels ignored, and she’s desperate for her mother to say those words again. She decides that if she wins the gum tree climbing competition in the Bush Olympics, her mother will certainly say she loves her. Koala Lou trains hard and does her best, but she comes in second. After crying in the forest, she comes home to find her mother waiting, and her mother DOES love her still!

Analysis:

This is a charming, warm-hearted book. Children will find much to identify with, such as: trying hard but not winning, being unsure of a parent’s love, feeling ignored when younger siblings are born, and more. They will be reassured when Koala Lou’s mother expresses her continuing love at the end of the book. The colored pencil illustrations show action and expression well. Sometimes the characters seem to be looking right at the reader.

The author is Australian and the story is set in Australia. This is obvious from the beginning, since the main characters are koalas. In addition, the book mentions an emu, a platypus, and a kookaburra, and the illustrations show other Australian animals. Gum trees feature prominently in the book, and the “Bush Olympics” take place in the Australian bush. The mother uses the phrase, “How’re ya goin’, blossom?” The illustrations are colorful and evoke a strong sense of place.

Reviews/Awards:

“Lofts's colored-pencil drawings portray the Australian flora and fauna beautifully, including a few of the more exotic species.” Publisher’s Weekly

“Koala Lou is appealing and truly believable….Fox brings out the best in her characters, and also conveys an important message about competition.” School Library Journal

Connections:
* Many of the animals pictured will be unfamiliar to American children, yet only a few are named in the book. Name and provide further pictures of other Australian animals.
* Read other Mem Fox books, such as Possom Magic.

Welcome back!

All the posts after this are reviews for my LS 5653 class: Multicultural Literature for Children and YA. Thanks for reading!