The Good Thief, by Hannah Tinti. (The Dial Press, 2008.)
A one-handed infant is dropped at the gates of a Catholic monastery in New England sometime in the 19th century. Ren, named for the three letters sewn into the garment he wears, spends his childhood dreaming of being reunited with his mother and father.
As a young teenager, he is released into the custody of a man who claims to be his long-lost brother. Benjamin is actually a con artist and snake oil salesman, who makes Ren his accomplice in life on the wrong side of the law. Ren, a naïf filled with innocence, faith, and prayer, is nonetheless accomplished at the art of light-handed theft and turns out to be of great value to his new benefactor.
Ren’s adventures on the underside of life are reminiscent of the picaresque novels popular in the 18th century. Many reviewers have compared the author’s work to that of Robert Louis Stevenson. The reader is treated to an ironic depiction of the many shapes that families can take. Beware: As this captivating story progresses, there is no shortage of violence, tragedy, or terror.
Recommended for adults and young adults, especially those who enjoy Dickens-style characters and adventures.
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