The Thief of Time

by Vivi Barnes, Christina Farley, Amy Christine Parker

Overview

"The Thief of Time is a thrilling contemporary fantasy that will steal your breath away. Chock full of complex world building and magic that springs from the power of story, this book will definitely keep young readers turning pages."-Polly Holyoke, award-winning author

Unleash the Magic...

THE THIEF OF TIME is an exciting middle-grade contemporary fantasy adventure that takes readers on a thrilling journey through the realms of magic, friendship, and self-discovery.

On a visit to their local library, Ben, Bridgette, and Maya unwittingly unleash a dragon from an ancient book and find themselves fighting for their lives against a swarm of evil birds. They battle to escape with the help of the dragon and are whisked through a portal into the magical Great Library of Alexandria.

Once they pass the Trials and prove themselves worthy, they are invited to become students at Helicon Academy. There they train to become librarians for the Library of Alexandria, protecting books and the magical artifacts within.

Ben, Bridgette, and Maya fall in love with the story-themed dinners, fantastical animals, and fictional characters roaming the halls. But when they discover a dark and sinister mystery within the academy's halls, the three must embark on a quest to protect the library and preserve the fabric of time itself.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798989015009
Publisher:	Infinity House Creative
Publication date:	05/07/2024
Pages:	402
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.89(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

Editorial Reviews

2024-05-03
Barnes, Farley and Parker begin a bibliophilic magical adventure series for middle-grade readers.

Tweens Ben, Maya, and Bridgette are in the library for different reasons on a Friday evening when they are interrupted by the sound of “hundreds of birds...trying to claw their way through the door” of the library. The librarian, Mr. Lozano, quickly shields them in his office as the windows shatter and “large black birds with creepy red eyes” invade the space. In an attempt to fend off these ominous attackers, Ben throws an ancient book at the birds, surprisingly unleashing a dragon from its pages. The dragon aids their escape while Mr. Lozano guides the kids to a mysterious “portal” that leads to the Library of Alexandria. Though it resembles a mechanic’s garage, this modern library houses the contents of the original, is managed by the Muses, and is concealed from the world. Hidden within the library is Helicon Academy, a training ground for future librarians who are entrusted with defending the institution against the Pierides, mortal enemies who are intent on infiltrating and destroying the library. Although the trio are not descendants of the original librarians (and thus typically ineligible), they are given the opportunity to undergo the “Trials” and potentially gain admittance. After being accepted into the academy as future librarians, the three must navigate their schoolwork while unraveling the hidden secrets within Helicon Academy. What follows will be familiar to readers of similar fare: The protagonists’ journey is not dissimilar to the experiences of characters in popular series like Harry Potter and The School for Good and Evil. But despite the familiar setting and structure, the story is written with a light comic touch, and the unique voices and perspectives of the three central characters distinguish the novel from recent titles in the same genre.

While not entirely original, a captivating and enjoyable start to what promises to be an engaging series.

Kirkus Reviews