The Diamond Thief

Gr 8 Up—Sixteen-year-old Rémy Brunel is under dual obligation to her "Master" Gustave: maintaining a public persona astounding London audiences as a circus star called "Flying Bird," and working undercover as a stealthy cat burglar. Using her acrobatic skills and powers of deception, she almost manages to snatch the legendary jewel, Darya-ye Noor (Ocean of Light), until a rival thief, Lord Abernathy, tricks her and detective Thaddeus Rec out of that conquest. Rémy and Thaddeus are initially on opposite sides of the law with two completely different goals for the famous diamond, but ultimately unite against the diabolical Abernathy who is trying to attain power and domination over London. This action-packed novel features almost as many unexpected twists as the heroine's high-wire act, beginning with her illustrious circus antics, continuing with the risky attempt to steal the jewel, and her daring escapade to restore it. Gosling sustains suspense by introducing new surprises at every turn, such as an underground society of slaves and a submarine fueled by the magical gem. There are more than a few puzzling threads that aren't completely explained, such as Rémy's ability to hear other people's thoughts. Abernathy's evil nature and motivations warrant a more detailed description. Rémy's circus performance is intriguing and well-written, but scarcely relates to the main gist of the novel. Megan Whelan Turner's The Thief (HarperCollins, 1996) is a more solid choice for a thief's adventurous tale—Etta Anton, Yeshiva of Central Queens, NY