
The Thief and the Beanstalk
by P. W. Catanese
I think this is the first book written by the author of The Brave Apprentice. Both books, and presumably The Eye of the Warlock
also, belong to a series called “Further Tales.” The Brave Apprentice is the further tale of what happened after the classic tale of
the Brave Little Tailor. And naturally, The Thief and the Beanstalk is the further tale that happens after “Jack and the Beanstalk.”
Here’s the idea. Everyone knows the story of Jack and the Beanstalk. A certain thief named Finch has found evidence that there really was a
Jack, who may or may not have robbed a giant who lived on a cloud. At any rate, a very rich man named Jack lives in a fortress-like house in
the northwest country. Finch and his band of cutthroats go in search of Jack’s fortress, they find it, and they hatch a plan to break into
it. They only need one thing to make the plan work. They need a nimble, light-weight boy to climb the vines clinging to the walls of the
house, a boy who will then let the thieves into the house to do their murdering, stealing worst.
Finch believes he has found such a boy in a starving orphan named Nick. But when Nick actually gets inside the house, he discovers that the
old man is really the Jack, who really did climb a beanstalk and slay a giant and steal a hen that laid golden eggs, etc. Jack
is now a miserable old man, haunted by regret. And since Nick wants nothing more to do with Finch and his gang, and Jack wants to believe in
second chances (and not just for Nick), he lets the boy escape with a handful of magic beans.
Before you know it, Nick is in the castle on a cloud that Jack looted so many years ago. Only it is under new management now: a couple of
ogres named Gnasher and Basher who have their own dreadful designs on the world below. Nick has big problems, including a swarm of maneating
spiders, a diabolically clever giant, and a certain thief named Finch who has cold-blooded murder on his mind. The outcome, not only for
Nick but for all the “little people,” will depend on what sort of stuff Nick is made of—thief or hero?
Catanese takes a classic fairy tale further, and he tells it well. I think you will find Nick, and his story, growing on you. I also think
you, like me, will be looking out eagerly for further "Further Tales" by P. W. Catanese.
Robbie Fischer
USA
Recommended Age: 12+
If you would like to contact Robbie, you may do so here.
08/10/2005
MuggleNet is an unofficial Harry Potter fan site. Please email us if you have any questions or concerns. MuggleNet's original layouts were designed and created by Navy. All subsequent layouts by Dylan Spartz.
© 1999-2008 MuggleNet.com. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy | COPPA Policy | Feedback | Credits Random Addresses
|
1,689 muggles currently online
|
|