After runaway brothers Prosper and Bo flee to Venice to escape their cruel aunt and uncle, they find refuge in a derelict cinema. They join a band of street children led by Scipio, a masked boy known as the Thief Lord. While Scipio claims to steal treasures from local palaces to support the group, a private detective named Victor Getz tracks the brothers. The plot shifts when a mysterious client hires the children to steal a wooden lion’s wing, which belongs to a magical, long-lost merry-go-round capable of changing a person's age.
Young adult readers looking for urban fantasy set in historical European settings will find a story about the desire for independence and the reality of adulthood. The book contrasts the perspectives of children who want to grow up with adults who wish to be young again. Readers walk away with a specific look at chosen family dynamics and the realization that maturity involves more than just physical size. It suits those interested in heist narratives where the motivations of the characters are as central as the mystery of the enchanted carousel.
Clear-cut; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Curious Generalist. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2000
- Language
- EN
