Home › Books for Ages 9–12 › Story Thieves

Story Thieves

by James Riley

A library door into fiction

Regular price $13.59 USD
Regular price $22.65 USD Sale price $13.59 USD
Save 40%

Paperback New

Delivery to your door
In stock·Dispatches in 1–2 business days
Standard shipping* from $4.35
Standard shipping transit* 5–8 business days after dispatch

Faster options are available.

Rates and delivery estimates depend on your destination and item quantity. Estimates are informational only; the final shipping method and rate are selected at checkout.

Secure checkout
American Express Apple Pay DiscoverGoogle Pay Mastercard PayPalVisa
30-day eligible returns Returns & refunds policy

Awards & Recognition

  • Critical praise

    Kirkus Reviews starred review

    Starred review; praised as a clever opener likely to leave readers laughing and anticipating what comes next.

AlbakiReads Editorial

A library door into fiction

Owen’s ordinary school life changes when he discovers that his classmate Bethany can step out of books. Bethany is searching for her missing father, a fictional character, and Owen bargains for a visit to his favorite fantasy series in exchange for keeping her secret. The setup brings together a real-world friendship, a search that crosses fictional worlds, and the possibility that their trip could endanger the series itself. As the opening book in a fantasy series, it sets its adventure around the boundary between readers’ lives and the stories they enter.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Kids ages 9–12 interested in fantasy adventures
  • Readers who enjoy stories about characters crossing between the real world and books
  • Children looking for a series opener centered on a search for a missing family member

Themes

Fiction and realityFriendship and secrecyFamily searchStories and their worlds

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

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.
Shipping & returnsShipping options, delivery timing, and our return policy.

In-stock items normally dispatch within 1–2 business days. The ZIP-code estimator on this page is informational only; the final shipping method, price, and availability are confirmed at checkout for your full order.

For the initial delivery estimate we use these transit windows after dispatch: Standard 5–8 business days, Expedited 2–4 business days, and Priority 1–2 business days. Holiday delays are not included.

Eligible items can be returned within 30 days in accordance with our return policy.

Customer reviews