The Thief and the Beanstalk: A Further Tales Adventure (Further Tales Adventures)
Grade 4-6-A fast-paced, accessible entry in the burgeoning genre of novels based on fairy tales. Homeless and hungry since a plague killed his family years ago, Nick has spent most of his life stealing food and sleeping in barns. His fortunes change when he joins a gang of ruffians in their attempt to rob an elderly, wealthy man named Jack. Jack shows Nick his magic hen and enchanted harp, then allows the boy to steal three green, glowing beans. When Nick plants them and climbs the resulting beanstalk, he finds immense treasure-and also the kind giantess who helped Jack escape her evil husband long ago. Nick learns that her equally evil sons have enslaved her as part of their plot to invade Nick and Jack's world. After struggling with his conscience, he frees her instead of taking his chance to steal the treasure and escapes the wicked giants. While this adventure favors plot over characterization and never explains the evil magic at work in the giants' world, it is clearly written and exciting. It will appeal to reluctant readers with its highly visual descriptions and will also make a successful read-aloud.-Beth Wright, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, VTCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.