Friday, October 8, 2010

Museum of Thieves by Liam Tanner



Publisher:  Delacorte Press, 2010
Pages:  320
Source:  Received copy from publisher for review
Genre:  Middle Grades Fantasy

Goldie Roth lives in the city of Jewel.  This is a city where the children are constantly chained to someone or something.  The reason is to keep them safe.  In years past children have been stolen and taken as slaves or drowned in the river.  They must wear a silver guard chain that during the day is attached to a guardian.  When at home they are attached to their parent by the same silver chain.  Some parents even chain their child to the bed at night so they don’t accidentally wander off.  However, when they turn 12 they are released through a public Separation  Ceremony.  Goldie can’t wait.  The time has come.  As she stands on stage the only thing that binds her is a ribbon connecting her to her mother.  Her name is the first called.  As the scissors are pulled out to separate her from her parents the Fugleman comes in and collapses.  Bleeding he tells a terrible story about a bomb going off in his office and killing a child.  He insists that things are not safe and they should postpone the Separation Ceremony.  In the confusion, Goldie steals the scissors and separates herself  from her parents and runs off.  For having such a rebellious child her parents are put in the House of Repentance to pay for her deed.

Goldie ends up at the Museum of Dunt where shifting rooms and exhibits carry their own secrets.  There she becomes the fifth person to protect the museum.  What does she need to protect it from?  Is the threat inside or out?  One thing is for sure, Goldie may be the person to stop the evil that is building.

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