Two young brothers, Bo and Prosper, run away to Venice and find shelter with a group of street urchins led by the mysterious 13-year-old Thief Lord. Hired to steal a mysterious object, the group finds themselves on a magical adventure amid a long-forgotten mystery all while trying to evade the detective hired to bring Bo and Prosper back to their cruel Aunt.

The Thief Lord was read by David Townsend
Camel’s Hump Radio fans may remember David as our reader for A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park. He’s also been heard on “Vermont Fiction Live-2000.” He’s appeared in a number of New York-based productions, including Hamlet-a-thon, The Tempest, As You Like It, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Three Sisters, and The Architecture of Loss. Currently, David is going into production on a new adaptation of The Odyssey by Homer. He trained at The Juilliard School’s Drama Division and at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

What do YOU think?

Which character do you identify the most with….and why?

Why was The Thief Lord so secretive? How did you feel when you discovered his secret?

Was The Thief Lord always the leader of the group? What role did Hornet play?
What role did prosper play?

Did the ending surprise you? In what way? If you were Scipio, what would you have done?

Fun & Adventure Beyond the Book

Venice is famous for its annual carnival, which dates back to the Middle Ages. At carnival time, the city turns into a giant stage, where everyone participates in a grand illusion. Elaborate masks and costumes are worn, palaces are open to the public and there are all sorts of parties, shows and musical events. Venetian face masks play a significant role in the carnival. The mask worn by The Thief Lord is similar to the “doctor” carnival mask, which in turn, is based on the disguise worn by doctors when treating people afflicted with the plague during the Middle Ages. The mask featured a beak-like nose, believed to protect the wearer from contracting the plague. For an overview of the Carnival of Venice, visit this site. You’ll need to scroll down about half-way until you see “Masks of il Carnevale di Venezia.”

A master mask-maker shares the history of the mask at this site . Be sure to look at the photos of his private collection to see just how exquisite carnival masks can be. And to see how the masks are made, check out the the “tecniche” section of the Venice Mask Shop website.

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