The Good Thief

   We were introduced to The Good Thief far before we actually held a book. For weeks our creative writing teachers raved about how fantastic the book was, how great of a read it is for teenagers and how much we would enjoy it. Writers and Books, a local establishment that offers writing programs for kids and adults all year long began a city-wide reading campaign; "What if all of Rochester read the same book?" The idea is to get everyone reading and talking about one specific book. That book is The Good Thief, by Hannah Tinti. The book's main character, Ren, grows up in an Catholic orphanage in the 19th century. He was given to them without a hand and therefore has spent all of his eleven or twelve years at the orphanage and doesn't have much of a chance of being adopted. So, when he is adopted, he's thrilled. Unfortunately for him, he soon discovered he's been adopted by a thief who forces him through grave-robbing, petty theft, lying and all sorts of different scams. 

    The Good Thief was a good read. It had adventure and excitement, it wasn't overly predictable and the characters were, for the most part, likable and easy to relate to. However, I didn't think it was all that my teachers thought it was. It was nothing more than a good read. It has achieved wide-spread popularity amongst both teens and adults, which is something I respect, and it doesn't have the horrible plot and characters that books such as Twilight does.

     However, I didn't (and don't) have the fantastic opinion of the book that my teachers do. I found it to be a lot like Oliver. In the interview Hannah Tinti does state that while people have compared Benjamin and Tom to Bill Sykes and Fagin, she doesn't believe they're that similar. I however, thought there was a huge similarity to the entire play. There were differences, of course, but I was disappointed by the lack of originality the book held at times.

     Hannah Tinti will come visit our school on March 24th. I'm eager to see what she says about the book and the inspiration she draws upon as a writer; regardless of how I personally feel about the book, it is highly successful and well-liked by many, and simply for that I respect her and think meeting her will be a worthwhile experience.