From the duo behind the bestselling Wildwood Chronicles comes a new adventure that illuminates a thrilling, underground world of pickpockets.

As the son of a consul general, Charlie Fisher lives a sheltered, sometimes lonely life in the marvelous city of Marseille. His days often consist of nothing more exciting than lessons with his tutor and social events with his father. But all of that changes one seemingly ordinary Tuesday morning, when Charlie happens to witness something extraordinary: a gang of young pickpockets pulling off a robbery in the middle of a crowded, public square. Charlie is mesmerized, and from that fateful day he becomes entrenched in the world of masterful thieves known as the whiz mob. But when this seemingly harmless new pastime leads Charlie into danger, he must decide if this life is really worth the risks that come with it.

Colin Meloy writes in a voice sharp with wit and precision, creating a rich and vibrant world complemented by Carson Ellis' art at every turn. Each member of the whiz mob is given a distinct voice and personality, making readers feel as if they are part of the crew themselves, learning the lingo and pickpocketing culture right alongside Charlie. This is a unique and uproarious reading experience, and one not to be missed.

 

This article was originally published in the November 2017 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

Meloy and Ellis (the Wildwood Chronicles) blend shades of Dickens, Rowling, and Robin Hood in the idiosyncratic tale of a 12-year-old American boy in 1960s Marseille. Charlie Fisher is the son of the American consul general and has bounced from country to country with his father after his mother, a German heiress/actress, decided she was done with parenting. This itinerant lifestyle leaves Charlie bereft of true friends until he saves a Lebanese boy, Amir, from being picked up by the police. Amir introduces Charlie to a world of pickpockets and grifting via the Whiz Mob of Marseille, a group of children and teens, graduates of an elite Colombian academy, the School of Seven Bells. What begins as a lark and a way to make friends quickly turns into something sinister, challenging Charlie's perceptions of the world. Themes of friendship and making amends are skillfully woven throughout. Although the ending is abrupt, the novel's extravagant vocabulary and Meloy's attention to detail vividly evoke the period setting and will reward ambitious readers. Art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Oct.)

Gr 5–8—Charlie Fisher lives with his neglectful diplomat father in Marseille, France, in 1961. Outside of the time he spends with his tutor, Charlie wiles away his hours alone—until the day he observes a group of child pickpockets at work and realizes he's been one of their marks. Instead of being angered by this, Charlie is curious. After following the boy who stole his pen and saving him from the police, Charlie asks Amir to teach him how to be pick pockets too. The more Charlie learns about the group, known as the whiz mob, the more he feels like he's finally found some friends and a place to belong. But as Charlie gets pulled further into their world, he discovers that this is no ordinary band of thieves. The whiz mob originates at the School of Seven Bells in Colombia, where all the group members were trained and tested. The whiz mob he knows is only one of many located all over the globe. Charlie's relationship with the mob changes dramatically when his new hobby suddenly has global implications and he finds that those he considers his friends may not have his best interests at heart. Meloy offers detailed descriptions of both Marseille and the young thieves. The unusual vocabulary makes the glossary at the end a necessity for understanding whiz mob dialogue. VERDICT With equal doses of humor and action, this is likely to attract a fairly wide range of voracious readers, especially fans of Meloy's "Wildwood Chronicles."—Heidi Grange, Summit Elementary School, Smithfield, UT