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    Story Thieves
    Story Thieves
    Story Thieves
    Audiobook8 hours

    Story Thieves

    Written by James Riley

    Narrated by Kirby Heyborne

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    This “clever opener likely to leave readers breathless both with laughter and anticipation” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) is the first in the New York Times bestselling series from the author of the Half Upon a Time trilogy.

    Life is boring when you live in the real world, instead of starring in your own book series. Owen knows that better than anyone, what with the real world’s homework and chores.

    But everything changes the day Owen sees the impossible happen—his classmate Bethany climb out of a book in the library. It turns out Bethany’s half-fictional and has been searching every book she can find for her missing father, a fictional character.

    Bethany can’t let anyone else learn her secret, so Owen makes her a deal: All she has to do is take him into a book in Owen’s favorite Kiel Gnomenfoot series, and he’ll never say a word. Besides, visiting the book might help Bethany find her father…

    …Or it might just destroy the Kiel Gnomenfoot series, reveal Bethany’s secret to the entire world, and force Owen to live out Kiel Gnomenfoot’s final (very final) adventure.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateDec 13, 2016
    ISBN9781508228899
    Author

    James Riley

    James Riley lives in Virginia. He is the New York Times bestselling author of the Half Upon a Time, Story Thieves, Revenge of Magic, and Once Upon Another Time series.

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    Reviews for Story Thieves

    4/5

    342 ratings12 reviews

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    • 3/5
      I thought that the narrator was sometimes too loud, and as for the story, it is a bit too childish for me. I thought that Bethany and Owen were too dumb in the beginning and their character change was too abrupt. I have read better books.

      3 people found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Its a great book! Guys but its long but fun to.

      3 people found this helpful

    • 5/5
      So I really enjoyed this book. It was pretty cool to me.

      Some parts were kinda strange to me. Like when Owen meets nobody. That part was really weird to me.

      But, I really like fiction so it was cool. The book was long, but, very exciting.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      The story line

      It’s awesome ? I love it ?
      ???
    • 5/5
      Listened to the audio version. Funny, suspenseful story. The kids and I loved it.
    • 5/5
      Story Thieves written by James Riley is an action-filled and thrilling story about two children who are able to visit their favorite stories. This book is published by Aladdin Books, and it appeals to those interested in stories that involve magic, adventure, and science. Life in the real world is boring, especially for Owen who has to deal with fractions, homework, and chores. However, everything changes when his classmate Bethany jumps out of a book in the library. Owen agrees to keep Bethany’s secret about her ability to jump inside of books if she agrees to take him inside of his favorite book. Bethany agrees as long as Owen doesn’t change anything in the story. The story takes place in multiple books, like Alice in Wonderland, the Kiel Gnomenfoot books, and the War of the Worlds. However, the major settings are Magisteria, Quanterium, and the nonfiction world. The story takes place in multiple books, like Alice in Wonderland, the Kiel Gnomenfoot books, and the War of the Worlds. However, the major settings are Magisteria, Quanterium, and the world. One theme of the book is it is good to embrace the traits and qualities that make each of us different. Bethany isolated herself from her peers from fear that she would hurt someone. In the end she learned to embrace the fact that she his half-fictional, and her gift led her to saving her town.
    • 3/5
      This book is a delight. The main story revolves around characters from Keil Gnome-foot series. Owen and Bethany seemed to have separated a lot throughout this book . It was a lot of cliffhangers. Both characters a fun and strong. This is an all around great book full of mystery.
    • 4/5
      Bethany is able to go into and out of books easily. Owen sees her and wants to go into his favorite book with her. Now Owen is the main character in the Kiel Gnomenfoot while Kiel is outside his book with Bethany. It is up to Owen to finish Kiel's adventure. Can he do it without readers finding out about the switch and will Bethany be able to get the characters back into the book?This reminded me of The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer but it is more modern and sci-fi/fantasy in its story. I liked Bethany and can understand her hesitation with Owen. Owen certainly lives in his head and sees himself as Kiel but can he really do everything Kiel does. The villains are hiss-worth and evil when their actions are shown. Who can we trust? Of course, it is down to almost the last page before we find out who wins and who loses. I had a hard time getting into the story at first because I had just finished The Land of Stories: The Return of the Enchantress a few weeks before reading this. But I stuck with it and it got better especially as we meet the Magister, Mr. Nobody, and the author of Kiel Gnomenfoot's series. The action and adventure are there--even a little Star Wars. I look forward to reading more of this series.
    • 5/5
      Story Thieves is about a young boy and girl named Owen and Bethany. He is sitting bored in math class,and when another student gets called on, he notices something odd. Later at lunch, he notices the girl, Bethany, is eating chocolate and she runs out of the lunchroom. He sees her at the library later that day, and she is climbing out of a book. They become friends in search of her father, as he learns that she can jump into books. He wants to go in for selfish reasons of meeting his favorite book character, Kiel Gnomenfoot. They leave the book, but find them selves captured and taken back into the book, and they have to help save each other and Kiel. They get separated and continue to try and save themselves and their new friends. The question is- will they survive the challenges before them of magic and death? And will they find Bethany's dad?The book is excellent and written in a way that draws the reader in and captures you. You cant put it down until you know how it all turns out, and then it leaves you wanting more!!!
    • 5/5
      Owen finds out that his classmate Bethany is capable of jumping in and out of books. She is searching for her long-lost father whenever she goes into a book, with no luck so far of locating him. He gets her to take him to his favorite book so he can try and save the Magister. Everything turns for the worse and Bethany has to connect with her fictional side to help save herself, Owen, and the world.
    • 2/5
      This is a fantasy novel about story character and real people switching places.Everything bores Owen. He isn’t interested in anything except the series that he loves to read, and the final book is about to come out where one of the main characters has had to die. Owen notices a fellow student Bethany reading with chocolate in her hand. The book is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Curious, he runs after her only to find the book on the floor. He plans to return it to the library where his mom is the librarian. While there, the book jumps and moves and Bethany crawls out of it! Shocked, Owen insists on accompanying her into books, especially his favorite series.Once Bethany and Owen enter the book Owen wants to visit, Owen breaks his promise and interferes with the story, which leads to mass chaos. Bethany and the hero are in the real world while Owen takes the her’s place in the book with a cyborg, Charm. Both couples must save the book and the real world from uncontrolled magic.I’ll be honest. I didn’t care for this book at all. That’s not to say that no one will like it. I’m sure many of you will find it adventurous and fun. I think this book will appeal more 6th graders than 7th or 8th. If you’ve ever wanted to live in the books you read because the worlds are so exciting, give this book a try and see what you think!
    • 5/5
      STORY THIEVES by James Riley is an action-packed fantasy that blurs the line between real life and fictional worlds. What if you could literally dive into a good book? Bethany can. As the child of a real mother and fictional father, she’s able to disappear into any paper book. Bethany has spent years carefully exploring library books for her lost father. When Owen discovers her secret, they begin an adventure that breaks the “fourth wall” mixing the real world with fantasy universes. This clever new fantasy series will be a hit with a wide range of book lovers including those who enjoy fairy tales, magic stories, and science fiction. With many references to popular works of fiction, youth will be drawn into the premise and easily imagine themselves in the shoes of the main characters.Known for his fractured fairy tales, James Riley provides just the right balance of action and suspense to keep readers engaged in the story. He skillfully weaves together silly subplots, humorous dialogue, and witty references into a storyline perfect for middle grade readers. Youth will easily empathize with the well-developed characters who have dreams and desires that sometimes get in the way of making good choices.Fans of books like Fablehaven and Inkheart will enjoy the book’s premise, while science fiction and steampunk fans will love the characters from Owen’s favorite fictional series.Like Bethany and Owen, your children will want to dive into this exciting fantasy adventure.Edelweiss ARC used for review