RE_3240_104

"Prosper stared at his hands. A child's hands. He thought of the condescending look he had received from the porter at the Sandwirth. He thought of his bulky uncle an how he had walked next to Bo, his hand possessively on his brother's thin shoulder. And suddenly Prosper wished that Scipio were right. He wished that out there, on that island, there really was something that could turn the small and weak into the big and strong. And suddenly he knew he what he wanted to do. Without another word he jumped into Scipio's boat." (p250 last paragraph)

I am really pulled into this scene with Prosper. I feel like I am him and that I completely understand what he is feeling and thinking. I really enjoy how i can just become a character in this novel.

I am very close with my family so when I read this they are the first and only thing that pops into my head. I can easily relate to the love that Prosper portrays here. I could not bare someone stepping in between my family and I. I would be furious.

What great memories this scene allows me to reminisce on. My brother and sister are protective of me and this lets me remember all the crazy things they did in order for me to understand that I really should not make the decision that i was about to make. T

This scene is very important because it is leading up to what is going to happen on the mystery island! But will or wont Prosper go through with becoming older?? That is the real thriller!!

At this point, deep down I hope Prosper does not go through with becoming older, because I feel he is going to regret it later.

I wonder why so many children just want to grow up and miss some of the best years. At the same time why do people want to get younger? I love just living in the moment and enjoying my journey/story.

The Thief Lord pg. 191-192
“Prosper could feel the snow in his hair, wet and cold. He remembered a faraway time, and an almost forgotten place. He remembered a hang gently wiping snow from his hair. He stood there, between Hornet and his little brother, and lost himself in this memory for a few precious moments. He realized to his amazement that remembering didn’t hurt so much anymore. Perhaps it was Bo and Hornet standing by his side, warm and familiar.”

This is my favorite passage from The Thief Lord. It is so descriptive. It was one of the first passages towards the end of the book that really provoked a good, homey feeling inside of me.

I love snow. I have fond memories of playing in the snow ever since I can remember. I used to love it when it snowed at home in Hickory because it usually meant we got the day of off school. It also meant that the whole day was going to be spent outside playing with my brothers.

Snow has a magical way of stopping real life and bringing people together. In this passage Prosper realizes how much he cares about Hornet and Bo. He feels comfortable and safe when he is with Hornet and Bo. Snow makes people take a second out of their hectic day and appreciate Mother Nature. Even up here at App snow captivates people’s attention and imagination.

Even though I love snow, the imagery isn’t even my favorite part of this whole quote. My favorite part is the sentence, “He realized to his amazement that remembering didn’t hurt so much anymore.” I love that sentence. It shows that Prosper is finally getting used to his new life and has moved on from his past. He has found a new family with Hornet, Bo, and the others.

This is one of the only parts of the book where it seems like Prosper is truly at peace with himself and the world. The snow gave him a brief moment of happiness that he deserved so much.

As I've been reading this book, I've found so many passages that stick in my head. Funke uses such wonderful words to create vivid imagery.

pg. 195..."She let the world snow melt on her tongue like a delicious, creamy chocolate."
When I read this, I literally pictured the receptionist letting the word roll off her tongue in a dreamy, soft manner, as if she was so delighted by the snow that she couldn't help but smile and think happy thoughts as she said it.

pg. 235..."She looked at the bare white walls that surrounded her. For the hundredth time, she closed her eyes so she could see another room in her mind's eye, one with a curtain full of stars, and a mattress surrounded by books that whispered their stories to her at night."
In this passage, I feel so sad for Hornet. She's stuck in this cold, plain place, but as she closes her eyes and pictures the other place, I can see it with her. I picture a room dressed in red, with bright yellow stars, and animated books smiling back at her, where she's sitting on a plush thick matress; almost like a queen.

pg. 247..."Prosper heard the canal water slosh against the base of the wall."
I just love her word choice; "slosh." I can really hear the water "sloshing" against the wall. There's no better word to describe the water.

This book has such great imagery. Cornelia Funke knows what she's doing to captivate the reader.

There were many beautiful passages about Venice, Italy but one of the passages that stuck with me the most was towards the end of the book.

The passage reads, "Fine. Here's one last condition." Victor finished a mint out of his desk drawer and popped it into his mouth. "You will tell your father." Scipio's face darkened. "What am I going to write to him?" Victor shrugged. "That you're all right. That you're going to go traveling. That you'll look in on them in ten years or so. You'll think of something." "Darn!" Scipio spluttered. "OK, I'll do it. If you teach me how to be a detective."

This passage haunted me because I can only imagine if I were Dottor Massimo how upset I would be to know that my child vanished without a trace. Even though he seemed cold and heartless throughout the book, he still seemed like he cared about Scipio. Unlike Esther, he clearly put in effort to find Scipio by announcing a missing ad in the newspaper. He seemed to really want to find his son, granted I am puzzled by the Dottor's overall character.

This passage really bothered me because I hope that Scipio honored his word and will write his father even if he doesn't want to live with him. His father may have treated him much younger than Scipio would have like to have been treated but it seems as if his father were always available unlike his mother.

p. 277

"But Prosper didn't move. Even though he could picture himself, tall and grown-up, striding into the Sandwirth and simply pushing Esther and his uncle out of the way, then marching out with Bo by his side, he still couldn't step on to the merry-go-round."

I found this passage to be a bit suprising. My first thought was that Prosper would ride on the merry-go-round so he could rescue Bo. I'm glad he didn't choose to do so though.

I can relate to how Prosper was feeling at that moment. When I was younger, I always wanted to grow up and be big, but at the same time, I don't think I would have changed a thing.

Through the entire book, the reader can sense how much Prosper loves and cares about Bo and vice versa. This passage illustrates those feelings because Prosper thought about giving up his childhood just so he could save Bo.

I wonder, what stopped Prosper from getting on the merry-go-round?

I had many favorite passages from the book but I chose one from page 180.
"'In return," Ida Spavento continued. ‘We will follow the Conte when he disappears with the wing. Perhaps we can find the merry-go-round of the Merciful Sisters. I’m saying we because I will be coming with you. That’s the deal.’ She looked eagerly at her visitors. ‘So, what do you say? I won’t ask for any share in your reward. I already make more money than I can spend with my photographs. I’d just love to see the merry-go-round once. Go on, please say yes!’”

I chose this passage because of the characterization of Ida Spavento. This is soon after Cornelia Funke introduces us to her character and while the children are still inside her house after they had broken in. I really liked the way Funke has Ida’s character transition back and forth from a gracious grown woman who didn’t turn the children in for breaking into her house to an excited and childlike character who wants to take a risky adventure to go see a merry-go-round. You learn that Ida is deeply connected to her past as an orphan and that is willing to take an adventure. In this passage Ida is a shining example of a person that has grown up but can still hold onto characteristics of a child. It gave me hope that if Scipio did use the merry-go-round that he would be able to do the same. I thought this was interesting because Scipio just wanted to grow up but he doesn’t realize how much he will miss being a child while at the same time Ida wants adventure and an opportunity to reconnect with her childhood by seeing the wing on the merry-go-round. It was a unique connection between the two characters who knew so little about each other.

p. 277 "But Scipio had already slipped off the lion's back and on to the sea horse. 'What are you waiting for Prop?' he called out impatiently. But Prosper didn't move. Even though he could picture himself, tall and grown-up, striding into the Sandwirth and simply pushing Esther and his uncle out of the way, then marching out with Bo by his side, he still couldn't step on to the merry-go-round."

I was really impressed with Prosper in this passage. I remember thinking to myself "If that had been me at Prosper's age I would have gone on the merry-go-round in a heartbeat". I was mainly impressed with the fact that he actually thought about why he shouldn't get on. He knew that he had Bo to take care of and he probably wanted to grow up with Bo in the normal way. This passage really shows Prosper's character as a person. He is a thoughful and responsible boy for his age.

I also wondered if Prosper would have jumped on the merry-go-round if he did not have a younger brother to take care of. I wonder if he would have been as responsible and thoughtful as he is if he didn't have a younger sibling. I feel that because Prosper was thinking of Bo he decided not to get on and become older so that he could take care of him. I think that Prosper would have gotten on had he not had a sibling.

"But not even her happiness could chase the sadness from Prosper's face. They had all tried in their own way: Riccio with his jokes, Mosca by showing Prosper all the strange things hidden behind the dark doors in Ida's house. Nothing helped: Not even Ida's candy nor Victor's reassurances that he would think of something to help Bo. Because if Bo wasn't there, Prosper missed him like a lost arm or leg". p. 246 par. 3.

This paragraph really makes you understand how sad Prosper is without his brother Bo. Everyone tries to make him feel better but nothing works. I can relate to this part because I always am the one person trying to make someone feel better when they are sad. I hate to see people upset or in a bad mood so I will always try to do something stupid or funny just to get a smile out of them.

The last sentence also really touched me because I have a younger brother that means the world to me. By just reading the sentence, anyone can relate to the simile about "missed him like a lost arm or leg" because we can just imagine what it would be like to not have an arm or a leg. But this sentence is really saying that missing a brother is like missing apart of you. There is an indescribable relationship between siblings and I think the sentence really explains it. So I agree with Prosper, missing a brother is like missing a huge part of you.

"The Hartliebs had been right: Prosper and Bo had indeed managed to ge to Venice. They had traveled a long way, squatting in rattling trains, hiding from conductors and nosy old ladies. They had locked themselves into stinking toilets, slept in dark corners, squeezed tightly together, hungry, tired and frozen. But they had done it, and they were still together."

I really love this passge from the Thief Lord. I feel that this passge really helps the reader set the stage for what the characters are experiencing. Setting is very important in a stroy. It allows the reader to imagine themselves in the characters position. Although Venice is often times described as a beautiful and magical place, it is important to realize that Prosper and Bo seen both sides of the city. Being runaways they had experienced the alley ways, cold, and dark places. I think this passage not only helps someone visualize the setting but it also shows some very important character triats of Prosper and Bo. Not to many would continue to be run aways and have to live in those conditions. Prosper and Bo were brave, young indivduals who perservered through the trying times. Their love and dedication to each other can be seen through this passage.

"The other three children missed the two boys badly. Bo cried his eyes out even though Hornet tried to tell him that they were, after all, staying in the same city. To take Bo's mind off things, Victor took him to St. Mark's Square to feed the pigeons. Ida showed Hornet the school she and Prosper would be going to in the spring. But every evening before going to bed, Prosper stared out of the window, wondering what Scipio was up to." p. 336 paragrah 4

This passage shows now close all the children were. They had formed a family and now part of their family was gone. They always looked out for each other and took care of each other and now that they are split up they can no longer do it. I wonder if they will ever see the two boys again.

Bo is too young to understand that the boys are still in the same city. When you are that age you have no concept of the fact they can be living in the same city as you. Hornet can try to explain as much as she wants but Bo won't understand until he is older.

Victor has come to love these children which he shows when he takes Bo to feed the pigeons to take his mind off of missing the two boys. Victor's character has completely changed from just looking for Prosper and Bo as his job to caring and helping the children out.

I like how Ida takes Hornet to see her new school. I think it shows that they have started a new life and will be able to be chidren instead of being the grown ups taking care of each other. I also think it shows that they are forming a new family. I wonder how Prosper and Hornet will like school and how Bo will take it when they are gone during the day.

I wonder like Prosper what Scipio is up to also. Has he found a job? Has he found somewhere to stay? Is he running around actually stealing things from other places this time to survive? If I was in Prosper's shoes I would also be concerned about what my friend was doing especially now that he was older.

"Dusty wire cables stuck out from the ceiling where there had once been large chandeliers. The children had strung a few naked light bulbs running on batteries throughout the large room, and even in their dim light you could see the plaster coming off the ceiling. Only the front three rows of seats remained and each of those was missing a few chairs. Mice had built their nests in the soft, red upholstery. The movie theater's screen was hidden behind a thick curtain embroidered with golden stars. The curtain was moth-eaten but it had kept its old splendor. The golden thread on the pale blue fabric still shimmered full of promise, and Bo had to touch the golden stars at least once every day."

I love this passage because it describes the movie theater, which is the runaways' home. Even though it is shabby and run down, it means a lot to the kids. It provides them with shelter, warmth, and a place for them to come together as a "family". Even the mice have built comfortable nests within this home!

I especially like the description of the golden stars on the fabric. The fabric shimmers "full of promise" and it seems to foreshadow that the children will be okay, that they will be able to live safe, fulfilling, and adventurous lives. The fact that Bo had to touch the golden stars at least once every day demonstrates the precious hope of a young child. Its almost as if he does this every day in order to ensure that good things will happen to him and his friends.

I felt like using the movie theater as a hideout was appropriate for the plot of the story because movie theaters are always full of mystery. Watching a movie is a way to be transported to another place and time. In a way, the runaways live in their own little world, unknown to those around them. Stepping into the abandoned movie theater is like leaving Venice and arriving at a safe haven for the children.

This passage made me wonder if the children would always feel this safe in their hideout. Would something or someone compromise the one place that they could call home? How long would it be before the police or a passerby spotted them entering the hideout? The fact that Bo touches the stars every day makes me feel like he might not always get to touch them, that someday he will be taken from his home.

"But just one round, to start with! Barbarossa shifted his massive body forward a bit further and grabbed a pole with his ringed fingers. "Who knows, if the stories are true...I mean, I wouldn't like to turn into a little midget like that one there," he said pointing down at Renzo, "but a few years..." stroking his bald head and laughing.."who wouldn't want to shed a few years, eh, Dottore?"

I loved this passage in the Thief Lord. I found it very interesting that Barbarossa was as eager as he was to jump onto the carousel and ride it to begin with, and then that he said he wanted to "shed a few years." Barbarossa was such a child at heart he was literally a child trapped in an adult's body. I was not surprised when Barbarossa turned into a child the size of Bo, for this is truly his real state. Even though Barbarossa wanted to become a child again I thought it was quite funny that he turned into such a small child with such immense limitations. Sometimes I think that being a child would be nice again; a carefree, a stress free, responsibility free life would be good at on certain ocassions, but you still lack the total control of your life. Barbarossa was basically a lazy adult who wanted the perks of adulthood but the responsibility level of a child. I feel Barbarossa got what he deserved, and I also feel that he will be a horrible "Thief Lord."

Prosper opened the door of the ermergency exit and shuddered as the cold air assaulted him. It was a starlit night and the moon shimmered on the canal behind the movie theater. The houses on the opposite side were dark-except for one window, where a light still shined. Someone else who cant sleep, Prosper thought. A few broad, worn steps led down to the water. They looked as if they led all the way to the bottom of the canal. Deeper and deeper, and into another world.

I love this passage! The fact that the word assaulted is used in context to describe the cold air is brilliant. While reading it makes you almost feel the cold air that Prosper is feeling. It sets the tone well as we learn Prosper is worried and cannot sleep. The cold air just gives a tight mood.

I love how every detail is described so well. The author uses the word shimmered which gives another great detail of imagery. In the next sentence we learn Prosper cant sleep and notices someone else in the surrounding houses cannot sleep as well.

The next part of the passage gives me chillbumps. The author speaks about the steps leading to the canal in saying, "deeper and deeper, and into another world." You cant help but to just want to jump into the page and hug Prosper. It sets the somber mood he is in as if he too would rather be in a different world.

"But the children just wandered off without paying him anymore attention. They only had eyes for the snow. The cold flakes settled on their faces and their hair. Bo gleefully licked one off his lip. He stretched his arms wide as if he wanted to catch them all. Hornet just looked up at the sky, blinking. It hadn't snowed in Venice for years. The people they passed looked just as enchanted as the children. Even the shop assistants stepped into the street to look up at the sky."

I love this description of the children in the snow. They seem to me like normal kids in the snow, enjoying that wonderful childhood pleasure that children become so enchanted by. To me, this brings back their innocence, since they are in the works to make the deal with the Conte at the time when the snow occurred. When Bo stretched his arms wide to catch all of the snowflakes, that picture is what I think of with any child in the snow. I believe I still do that today when I play in the snow. What a great childhood and adult ritual.

"All five of them were there: the unicorn, the mermaid, the merman, the sea horse, and the lion, who now spread both his wings as if he'd never lost one. They each hung on their pole beneath the wooden canopy, and seemed to float. The merman held his trident in his wooden fist, the mermaid looked into the distance out of pale green eyes, dreaming of the waters of the open sea. The sea horse with its fish tail was so beautiful, it made you forget that there were horses with four legs at all." (Page 275)

This description of the carousel is awesome. I can just imagine the detail and how strong each of the animals/merpeople must have looked. When Funke uses the word float it makes the image seem very still. Also the description of the merman made you imagine him as strong and powerful. The description of the mermaid made her seem sad and lost with the ocean. The description of the sea horse seems like it would be quite an amazing sight if it were to make you forget that horses have four legs. Funke amazes me with her descriptions throughout the book, with this one being my favorite.

One of the many passages that stood out to me in The Thief Lord was a paragraph found on pg. 57. This paragraph read:

"Riccio quickly stuffed two of Barbarossa's bills into his pocket and dashed off. When he came back with a plastic bag full of olives, bread, pepper-red salami, and a bag of mandorlati, the chocoloates wrapped in colorful paper that Scipio liked so much, the others had already spread the cushions and blankets in front of the curtain. Bo and Hornet had gathered all the candles they could find and their flickering light filled the movie theater with dancing shadows."

While reading this particular paragraph I got a visuable image of eveything that was going on. I loved how Funke described all the children gathered together for this fest. I can picture cushions and blankets in front of the curtain, and the candles that are flickering in the dark. I love how she compared the dark room to a movie theater with dancing shadows. It makes me want to be there.

This passage reminds me of when I was little and my twin sister and I would have sleepovers with our friends in our treehouse. The treehouse would be completely dark and all of us would gather together in our sleeping bags and tell stories with our flashlights. I always loved watching our shadows on the wall because they were so large. I love how Funke describes the children's shadows as dancing in the dark because that's what I remember most about having sleepovers in my treehouse when I was younger.