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- The Thief and the Beanstalk
The Thief and the Beanstalk
Author(s)
Publisher
Genre(s)
Age Range
10+
ISBN
0689871732
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Editor reviews
2 reviews
And the tale continues...
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
N/A
Characters
N/A
Writing Style
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
P. W. Catanese's first novel is a continuation of the old favorite Jack and the Beanstalk. Years after the original story takes place, Jack is now a rich old man. His legendary exploits are just that the stuff of legends. He lives a quiet life. Nick, on the other hand, is an orphan barely able to keep himself fed.
He falls in with a bloodthirsty band of thieves who are out to rob Jack of all his money. With no choice but to do what they say, young Nick breaks into Jack's house in order to let the other thieves in. However, he's caught in the act and surprisingly, let go with a gift of magic beans from Jack.
Readers won't be surprised that Nick plants the beans, or goes up the beanstalk. He's a desperate kid. He finds that some things up above have changed, while others have stayed the same. The original evil Giant's sons are now the rulers of the roost and the kindly Giant's wife is their prisoner. The question is&will Nick follow in Jack's footsteps and steal his way to a fortune, or will he choose another path?
Full of ugly rat-faced giants, terrifying spiders with a thirst for human blood, and thieves that would as soon cut your head off as talk to you, this is a story to keep you on your toes. But, it's also a story with a great heart. We learn how Jack's early thievery has colored everything else in his life and the regret he feels over leaving the Giant's wife behind. We also see Nick fighting with himself internally over what kind of person he is.
I recommend this book for ages 8 and up. Those on the younger end may want to read this book with a parent due to some scary scenes, but if they can handle Harry Potter or the like, they'll be fine here too. I very much enjoyed Catanese's story it stays true to the original, but also forges new ground. I think you'll like it too.
Don't forget to enter to win a copy during May 2005.
He falls in with a bloodthirsty band of thieves who are out to rob Jack of all his money. With no choice but to do what they say, young Nick breaks into Jack's house in order to let the other thieves in. However, he's caught in the act and surprisingly, let go with a gift of magic beans from Jack.
Readers won't be surprised that Nick plants the beans, or goes up the beanstalk. He's a desperate kid. He finds that some things up above have changed, while others have stayed the same. The original evil Giant's sons are now the rulers of the roost and the kindly Giant's wife is their prisoner. The question is&will Nick follow in Jack's footsteps and steal his way to a fortune, or will he choose another path?
Full of ugly rat-faced giants, terrifying spiders with a thirst for human blood, and thieves that would as soon cut your head off as talk to you, this is a story to keep you on your toes. But, it's also a story with a great heart. We learn how Jack's early thievery has colored everything else in his life and the regret he feels over leaving the Giant's wife behind. We also see Nick fighting with himself internally over what kind of person he is.
I recommend this book for ages 8 and up. Those on the younger end may want to read this book with a parent due to some scary scenes, but if they can handle Harry Potter or the like, they'll be fine here too. I very much enjoyed Catanese's story it stays true to the original, but also forges new ground. I think you'll like it too.
Don't forget to enter to win a copy during May 2005.
User reviews
5 reviews
Overall rating
3.4
Plot
3.4(5)
Characters
N/A(0)
Writing Style
N/A(0)
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A(0)
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The Theif and the beanstalk
Overall rating
5.0
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Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
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Reader reviewed by tiffani
i think that this sroty is a great and fun story.i read it in class with my teacher and classmates.Its good that somebody thought of writing about the other side of jack and the beanstalk and what happened later.This is a book that ill tell everyone about.
i think that this sroty is a great and fun story.i read it in class with my teacher and classmates.Its good that somebody thought of writing about the other side of jack and the beanstalk and what happened later.This is a book that ill tell everyone about.
G
Guest
#1 Reviewer
Best thing since the original Jack!!
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
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Reader reviewed by Michelle Landrum
This book is so cleverly written and full of intrigue and suspense that they MUST make a movie of it!! My son needed to read a book for a project at school and chose this one. I have to admit, I kept him up a bit late some nights because we just could not put it down...you always want to know what will happen next!
This book is so cleverly written and full of intrigue and suspense that they MUST make a movie of it!! My son needed to read a book for a project at school and chose this one. I have to admit, I kept him up a bit late some nights because we just could not put it down...you always want to know what will happen next!
G
Guest
#1 Reviewer
Pleasantly Suprised
Overall rating
4.0
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Reader reviewed by Cheryl
I was not sure what to expect from this book. I am a huge fan of well-written fantasy, but I'm always a little hesitant to try this genre simply because there is so many poorly-written examples of fantasy out there. However, because I am also a sucker for fractured fairy tales, I thought I'd give this book a try. I was immediately hooked!
The story is well developed and characterized. It follows a poor orphan's self-discovery. Nick (the orphan) finds himself facing many choices that determine the type of person he is. He must choose between being the thief so many people tell him he is or the hero he is given the opportunity to become. I felt myself really wanting Nick to choose to be a better person.
I really liked this book because of the strong images painted by the author. I also enjoyed the themes of choice,forgiveness,and kindness presented in the book. However, because of the vivid imagery used to describe the spider scenes and a few other tense events, I would recommend this book for anyone 10 or older.
I was not sure what to expect from this book. I am a huge fan of well-written fantasy, but I'm always a little hesitant to try this genre simply because there is so many poorly-written examples of fantasy out there. However, because I am also a sucker for fractured fairy tales, I thought I'd give this book a try. I was immediately hooked!
The story is well developed and characterized. It follows a poor orphan's self-discovery. Nick (the orphan) finds himself facing many choices that determine the type of person he is. He must choose between being the thief so many people tell him he is or the hero he is given the opportunity to become. I felt myself really wanting Nick to choose to be a better person.
I really liked this book because of the strong images painted by the author. I also enjoyed the themes of choice,forgiveness,and kindness presented in the book. However, because of the vivid imagery used to describe the spider scenes and a few other tense events, I would recommend this book for anyone 10 or older.
G
Guest
#1 Reviewer
great
Overall rating
1.0
Plot
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Writing Style
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Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
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Reader reviewed by crystal
I have read this book and it is really good Will there be a sequel to it very good. Alll the excitment and every thing it made the story the best very very good i cant tell u how good it is thanx for making it.
I have read this book and it is really good Will there be a sequel to it very good. Alll the excitment and every thing it made the story the best very very good i cant tell u how good it is thanx for making it.
G
Guest
#1 Reviewer
really iffy
Overall rating
2.0
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Reader reviewed by chatterbox891
When I recieved this book, I was extremely excited! I could wait to sit down and devour the pages one by one.
It starts out with Nick, a young abandoned boy, who realizes that his only way of survival is to steal. Later, he joins a group of older thieves who intend to use young Nick to their own advantage. Thus begins the gripping story that is The Thief and the Beanstalk!
When I recieved this book, I was extremely excited! I could wait to sit down and devour the pages one by one.
It starts out with Nick, a young abandoned boy, who realizes that his only way of survival is to steal. Later, he joins a group of older thieves who intend to use young Nick to their own advantage. Thus begins the gripping story that is The Thief and the Beanstalk!
G
Guest
#1 Reviewer
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