Winner, IP Picks 2009 Best First Book.
A creative and well-crafted fantasy story for young adults, and takes the reader on an entertaining ride as it looks at magic curses, good and evil, and the challenges of dealing with the adult world.
An exceptionally well-written, engrossing, compelling and easy to read novel. Jessica Webster’s characters are believable and fully developed, and the storyline is absorbing and exciting.
Humour flows throughout the piece, quirky and always clever, and invests the story with liveliness, originality and charm.
The book will appeal to young adults aged 15-18 years and older as well as readers of fantasy.
IP (Interactive Publications Pty Ltd) –
“The Secret Stealer is a wonderful imaginative tale exploring what could possibly happen if someone knew your deepest, darkest secret. Children will delight in picturing James floating through the air and going through walls, eavesdropping on fellow school mates and adults and travelling the globe without the need of a plane. What marvellous fun.
Nine year old James Winchester IV should have never spoken to the strange and charming man in a morning suit, top hat and VERY shiny shoes. How was he to know that this man was the Secret Stealer and James would become next in line.
Once your deepest secret has been stolen from you, the Secret Stealers can manipulate you for wealth and possessions. There is one small problem. Secret Stealers are invisible to all but a few and they cannot touch or hold anything. It is like they are a ghost. So what good are wealth and possessions to them?
Domenic Mancini has been stealing secrets for over 200 years and has tired of it. He has found his true love and wants to be able to hold her in his arms. All he needs is to trick someone into taking over his role. Poor James Winchester IV is the target.
What Domenic didn’t consider was who might be there to help James. Could a nine-year-old outsmart a 200-year-old Secret Stealer?”
– The Reading Stack