cover image She Thief

She Thief

Daniel Finn, . . Feiwel and Friends, $16.99 (297pp) ISBN 978-0-312-56330-1

British author Finn's awkwardly titled U.S. debut is an exciting, if often bleak, update of the classic trope of orphans making a living as thieves. In the downtrodden Barrio in an unnamed contemporary city, the titular thief, Baz, lives with the wiry Demi, assorted other young boys, and their Dickensian den mother, Fay. Demi and Baz steal a ring from a rich woman, but trouble erupts when it turns out that their victim was the police chief's wife. Things get even more complicated when they learn that Fay's son, given up for adoption years earlier, has been raised by the police chief, and now wants the help of Fay (as well as her charges) to steal from his corrupt father. The chain of events set off by these actions leads to misery for many characters, and Finn's strong writing (filtered through Baz's tough, unsentimental worldview) keeps the sense of tension and danger prominent. There's little that's romantic in the poverty or thievery in this tale, but there is an engaging story with solid characters, intense action, and a strong narrative voice. Ages 12–up. (Apr.)