The Story Thieves by James Riley

Imagine getting a chance to jump into your favorite book!  Especially if you may have the chance to save everyone's favorite character!  This is exactly the opportunity Owen encounters in  Story Thieves by James Riley (Lexile: 750; Interest Level: Grades 3-6) when he learns that Bethany, a girl he barely knows from school, has the power to jump right into books.

Owen's plan is that he will make Bethany jump him into the Kiel Gnomenfoot book just in time to save the Magister and make himself a hero.  However, the series isn't over yet, and Owen doesn't realize the consequences that his actions might have for both Kiel Gnomenfoot's world and his own.  Making unlikely friendships and learning about the odd mix between our "real" world and the "fictional" world keep the reader turning the pages in this adventure story. 

Sometimes, the plot is hard to follow, but if you stick with it, everything does make sense in the end, and overall, I have to say I enjoyed this first book in the Story Thieves Series.  Fans of the Inkheart books by Cornelia Funke and anyone who has ever wanted to live inside a story may enjoy this book as well. (400 p.)

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