The Thief

Just before he passed out, he realized it wasn’t Francis’ voice he heard in his head, but someone else’s right beside him. It was that someone else who caught him in his arms before he went limp.

Book: The Thief (Christian Heritage Series: The Williamsburg Years #2) by Nancy Rue, Focus on the Family Publishing, 1996

Genre: Historical Fiction

Target Audience: Boys 11-15

Subjects: Revolutionary War, Politics, Friendship, Reputation, Anger, Relationships with family, Secrets

Summary: There’s a new kid in the household and Thomas is NOT happy about it! Malcolm is older than he is and it isn’t long before it seems as though he’s more popular too. Caroline seems quite fond of him. Thomas can’t stand him but getting into a fight will just make his father disappointed in him again. But it’s so hard to resist when so many things in life are such a mess. There’s a thief in town and the townspeople are blaming his Caroline’s family – her father, and brother, Thomas’ respected teacher, since they are the only Loyalist family left in town.

Notes: This story focuses on the life of a young boy growing up as a patriot during the time of the Revolutionary War. His best friend and teacher are loyalists – some of the only ones in town, so he finds himself in the midst of much tension there. Then there’s tension within his own home as his father tends towards a more peaceful approach and his brother is determined to run off and join the army. It’s a story of growing up, and a story of growing in knowledge of and relationship with God. In this book, Thomas has to struggle with his anger again and once more things around him change. There are new people in his life that he is supposed to respect. The trouble between Caroline’s family and the rest of the town continues to mount and the war looms closer and closer to home.

Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

2 Timothy 2:23 – Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.