Stolen

Stolen by Vivian Vande Velde

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 158 pages
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Corp
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0761455159
ISBN-13: 978-0761455158

This is the first book of Velde's I have read and I found myself enjoying the story line. Isabelle is a young girl who has no memory of who she is. The story begins with Isabelle running in the forest with a pack of hunting dogs tight on her heels. Just when she thinks the dogs will be the death of her, she pulled into unconsciousness. Then she awakens she finds she has been taken in by a peasant family - Avis and Browley - and their young daughter, Ravyn.

Ravyn is a six year old who is determined Isabelle was a Princess stolen away by the legendary witch from the forest. Apparently this witch has been stealing away young children for many years - the children are never seen or heard from again. Ravyn enjoys weaving a new life for Isabelle out of her curious imagination.

Just when Isabelle is starting to feel comfortable with the peasant family, another family appears, claiming she is their daughter who was stolen away six years earlier. This poor family had recently has a second child stolen away, a newborn only one months old. The mother is determined that the young girl is her daughter, Isabelle, but the oldest daughter, Honey, is convinced this girl is not her long lost sister.

But all is not what it seems with Isabelle's "supposed" family and she begins to wonder if they are claiming her in order to gain an inheritance from a rich aunt, whom Isabelle is named after.

This book has a happy ending, but not the ending I was anticipating. Just when I thought I knew how the story would end, Velde gives the story an unusual twist.

This small book - 158 pages - was a different kind of young adult book and I read it in one sitting. Not your normal young adult fantasy book, this story is more along the lines of the wonderful fairy tales I read as a child. Stolen has increased my desire to read other books by Vivian Vande Velde.

The Lake That Stole Children

The Lake That Stole Children: A Fable by Douglas Glenn Clark

Paperback: 40 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1438243588
ISBN-13: 978-1438243580

"The Lake That Stole Children blends the magic of Disney's Pinocchio with the magnificent quest of The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. It begins with a sensitive boy's deep yearning for adventure. It concludes only after his fierce and protective father has gone to battle with a frightening force of nature - and himself."

This tiny book was a very quick read - less than an hour - but it was reminiscent of fables and stories I remember from my childhood. The story is about a Fisherman who is somewhat harsh with his son and daughter - heavy on the discipline, light on love and emotions.

When the Lake steals the Fisherman's only son, his zeal and determination to rescue, not only his son, but all the children captured by the lake, shines a different light on his character and his heartfelt emotions come shining through.

Full of descriptive and delightful prose, this fable begs to be read aloud. Although marketed to young adults, children of all ages will enjoy will enjoy hearing this story and will marvel at the important lesson the Fisherman learns.

**Douglas Glenn Clark has been the subject of feature stories in various New England and Midwestern newspapers. He has also written for the theater and his plays have been produced at the Old Globe Theatre, as well as the Chester Theatre Company in the Berkshires. He has received writing awards from the Massachusetts and Michigan arts councils and his journalism has been published in daily newspapers, and online publications.**