I read it when I was younger so I don't really remember it that well.

Welcome to the Magical underworld of Venice Italy. Here, hidden canals and crumbling rooftops shelter runaways and children with incredible secrets... After escaping from thier cruel aunt and uncle, orphans Prosper and Bo meet a mysterious boy who call himself the "Thief Lord." Clever and charming, the Thief Lord leads a band of street children who enjoy making mischief. But the Thief Lord also has a dark secret. And suddenly Prosper and Bo find themselves on a forgotten place. What they discover there will change the course of thier destiny...forever.

I'm sending it to melydia as surprise. I hope you enjoy it.

This arrived in the mail the other day. I'm excited to read it, as I've loved Funke's other books. Thanks so much!

Young brothers Prosper and Bo are on the run in Venice, having escaped their aunt Esther who intends to separate them. Esther hires Victor, a private investigator, to find them. Soon Victor finds himself in the middle of a complex plot involving orphans, mysterious counts, and a certain Thief Lord with secrets of his own. Though the fantasy element was an interesting treatment of classic Bradbury, it came out of nowhere and left me a little cold. If the story leading up to that part hadn't been so thoroughly within the realm of Realistic Fiction it would not have been quite so jarring. That said, it was still a fun little tale with likable characters, and I am still a little bit in love with Scipio.

Releasing this at the Gaithersburg Book Festival in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Enjoy! :)