The Memory Thief

December 1, 2020

Gr 4-8-Growing up with an indifferent mother, Rosie quickly learns to take care of herself and find the love she seeks in her own stories, which she shares with her best friend. When she decides that she is too old for storytelling, she unknowingly opens up her inherited power of "sight." Rosie comes from a long line of witch hunters who have the ability to see deeper into the world around them. She learns of witches, ghosts, a moon goddess, and how dangerous her life may become. Coming face-to-face with one of the 13 original witches, Rosie has to learn her place and powers in this new world. Anderson weaves a beautiful tale of beauty and darkness. This larger world is described eloquently in its magical details and terrifying dangers. Readers will come to understand the importance of love, friendship and imagination, while being warned against those who feed off of these good parts of the world. This first book in a new series ends on an intriguing note for future titles. VERDICT For fans of Cornelia Funke's "Inkheart" and Kelly Barnhill's The Girl Who Drank the Moon, fantasy fans will have much to enjoy with this one.-Julie Jesernik, Warrenville P.L., IL

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 15, 2021
A girl uncovers family secrets and faces off against a witch called the Memory Thief. Sixth grader Rosie wishes her cold, neglectful mother loved her--readers know from the prologue that her mother's under the Memory Thief's powerful curse--and copes by writing fairy-tale-esque stories. But when Rosie's bold best friend, Germ, starts growing up faster than Rosie, she worries she'll be left behind. Deciding to set aside her childish things, she burns her stories; in doing so, she awakens her sight, which allows her to see all the ghosts in her house. Friendlier ghosts lead her to her mother's hidden witch hunter's manual and educate her on her family's long, tragic quest against the 13 evil witches who counter the good Moon Goddess. But the sight also draws the attention of the Memory Thief's servants, bringing the witch directly up against Rosie. With help from Germ and a ghost friend, Rosie must learn how her mother protected her as a baby and obtain a weapon to use against the witch. The will-they-grow-apart friendship storyline is handled with love and nuance. The magical plot requires lots of exposition but reads quickly. At times, development of the themes--for example, the magic and power of stories--can be a little heavy-handed, but readers who connect with Rosie likely will benefit from such reassurances. After the resolution, the stakes are ramped up to tease sequels. Whiteness is situated as the default. A bighearted adventure. (Fantasy. 8-13)

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January 1, 2021
Grades 5-8 *Starred Review* It's always been up to Rosie to make sure things get done around the house, because her mom simply can't. Existing in fog of forgetfulness, her mother spends her days in the attic office doing data entry and staring out at the sea. Otherwise, the sixth grader is going through typical tween growing pains, chief among them the worry that her best friend, Germ, is outgrowing their friendship. This fear prompts Rosie to destroy her notebooks of "childish" stories, unintentionally activating an ability to see magic in the world around her. Ebb, a ghost who lives in her house, fills in many blanks for Rosie about her mother's past and her own destiny as a witch hunter. Rosie doesn't have much time to absorb this information before she has to confront the Memory Thief, the witch who stole her mother's memory on the night of Rosie's birth. Anderson skillfully applies this layer of magic to a relatable story of growing up and coming into one's own. The dynamic between Rosie and Germ rings true in both its reliability and its newly felt strain, and Anderson's malevolent witches are truly unsettling. First in the Thirteen Witches series, this expertly crafted story thrums with magic, love, and tense action, and it's a sure bet for Joseph Delaney or Kelly Barnhill fans.

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