The Thieving Collectors of Fine Children's Books

by Adam Perry (Author)

The Thieving Collectors of Fine Children's Books
Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

Oliver Nelson has a terrible secret-he's a thief. But he only steals books from the Garden Grove Library that are old, musty, brittle, or incomplete, like his favorite book, The Timekeeper's Children.

No one reads anymore, and surely no one will miss them, right? Wrong. The Pribbles are famous inventors of the most popular toy in the world, alternate-reality goggles. They are also book collectors who are searching for The Timekeeper's Children, so the Pribbles hatch a plan. They invite Oliver, the last person to have checked it out, to their mansion and use special software from their goggles to steal the last remaining copy of the book--from inside Oliver's mind.

Now, Oliver is thrust into the middle of the story and must help the main characters steal pieces scattered around the fictional world of Dulum to build a magical clock that can turn back time before the evil sorcerer Sigil takes over. They'll encounter hideous giants, bloodsucking bats, vicious eels, a Nasty Rodent Eater, a gang of wicked children, and a strange, dark figure that follows them from chapter to chapter, all the while with the Pribbles in pursuit. Can Oliver save Dulum before Sigil destroys everything? And will he finish The Timekeeper's Children before the Pribbles steal it from his mind?

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$17.99

Kirkus

Short chapters with deadpan titles and manufactured cliffhangers add to the fun, but an unexpected twist ending and an affecting (if self-styled “mildly sappy”) epilogue highlight the complex relationship between authors and readers and the power of stories to change lives.... Exactly the sort of thing you’ll like if you like this sort of thing. 

Publishers Weekly

This rollicking metafictional fantasy by Perry (The Magicians of Elephant County) finds 10-year-old Oliver Nelson secreting away in, and stealing books from, a largely unvisited library. It's the latter half of the 21st century, and he's the only child he knows who reads. His classmates, instead, are fascinated by the alternate reality worlds provided by Pribble Entertainment, a corporation helmed by Mr. and Mrs. Pribble, inventors and avaricious collectors of children's books. Keen to collect Mr. Pribble's favorite fictional book, The Timekeeper's Children, the Pribbles track down Oliver, who last checked out the book's last existing copy. With a device of their own invention that's capable of stealing memories, they force him into an alternate reality version of the book. To make his way in the beloved story while attempting to foil the Pribbles' plot, Oliver must forge alliances and persuade the characters to join their quest. Perry's early scene of Oliver sampling the Pribbles' VR goggles clearly aligns fantasy stories with the sorts of video games that are their conceptual descendants, a move that results in an imaginative read for fans of the Land of Stories series. Ages 8-12. Agent: Alex Slater, Trident Media. (Mar.)

Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Gr 3-7Oliver Nelson is a mostly good if pessimistic kid with a secret: He's a book thief. This wouldn't be a problem—after all, no one visits the local public library anymore—except the Pribbles, two wealthy inventors and book collectors, have taken a sudden interest in one of the books Oliver stole, and his attempt to return it ends in disaster when the book is instead tossed into a garbage truck. Soon, Oliver is sucked into the Pribbles' latest invention, a virtual reality device that will allow them to take the book's plot straight out of his head. Now Oliver must assist the main characters on their quest—all while avoiding giants, bats, eels, and, of course, the Pribbles—in order to escape. This is a fast-paced, funny tale set in the not too distant future that features an amusing cast of characters. Oliver is perhaps a bit too insightful for the average 10-year-old, but his quick wit and humor are sure to captivate readers. Primary characters present as white. VERDICT Much in the style of a classic Roald Dahl, this adventure story has a pleasing tongue-in-cheek style. Recommended purchase.—Kaitlin Frick, Darien Lib., CT

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

Once you start this book, you truly can't stop. An adventure full of cheeky charm and delightful whimsy.— "Marie Lu, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Skyhunter"
Adam Perry
Adam Perry is the author of The Magicians of Elephant County. The son of an elementary school librarian, he discovered a love of stories at an early age. He lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with his wife, children, and a growing collection of books. To the best of his knowledge, none of them are stolen. Find out more at adamperrybooks.com.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781499811247
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Yellow Jacket
Publication date
March 02, 2021
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV047000 - Juvenile Fiction | Books & Libraries
JUV037000 - Juvenile Fiction | Fantasy & Magic
JUV001000 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
Library of Congress categories
Characters in literature
Characters and characteristics in literature
Theft
Stealing
Books and reading
Fantasy
Fantasy fiction
Memory

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