The Good Thief

May 5, 2008
Set in New England, presumably in the 19th century, Tinti’s Disney-ready first novel (after story collection Animal Crackers
) follows one-handed orphan Ren’s not quite rags-to-riches tale. Ren, with his love for religion and penchant for thievery, is immediately likable, and when rugged, tall-tale spinning con man Benjamin Nab strolls into Ren’s orphanage one day and claims Ren as his brother, it seems too good to be true, and it is. Benjamin, along with boozy partner-in-crime Tom, lead Ren throughout New England, using the endearing, crippled orphan to “open doors” and make their hustling life easier. When they finally end up in North Umbrage, a town that looms large in Benjamin’s past, the trio’s luck dries up, and Ren must decide who he can trust and what he is willing to sacrifice in order to have this family. For a novel full of scams, shams and underhanded deals and populated by hustlers, thieves and grave robbers, the sense of menace is muted, but as an adventure yarn with YA crossover appeal, it’s tough to beat.