A Handful Of Thieves

by Nina Bawden

When a confidence man disappears with Fred's grandmother's savings, the five children of the committee set out to find the man and recover the money.

Genres: Fiction, Childrens

144 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1967

About the author

Nina Bawden was a popular British novelist and children's writer. Her mother was a teacher and her father a marine.

When World War II broke out she spent the school holidays at a farm in Shropshire along with her mother and her brothers, but lived in Aberdare, Wales, during term time.
Bawden attended Somerville College, Oxford, where she gained a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.

Her novels include Carrie's War, Peppermint Pig, and The Witch's Daughter.

A number of her works have been dramatised by BBC Children's television, and many have been translated into various languages. In 2002 she was badly injured in the Potters Bar rail crash, and her husband Austen Kark was killed.

Bawden passed away at her home in London on 22 August 2012.

Reviews

[Sportyrod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who better to work the case of the Gran, robbed of her savings, than young Fred and his school mates? Fred’s Gran is too proud to go to the police. But don’t worry, the kids will find a way to help her….

I was smitten with this book. The character work in the set-up was amazing. Gran’s daughter likes to say ‘I told you so’, so Gran hides what happened. There were so many cute sayings like, “What the eye doesn’t see, the heart doesn’t grieve over”. The formation of the kids’ detective group provided dimensions and gave scope for minor conflicts.

The plot mystery was so good and just what I needed. I normally roll my eyes and scream out “as if” to myself during most crime stories/mysteries but this one was viable, unpredictable, undulating and clever. Being kids, they had great ideas but lacked agency so they got caught up in some mishaps. They also took some missteps by following the advice of an adult, realising the plan was to keep them safe and not be on the real lead. Their successes were also typical of their age, involving biking around, stakeouts, and tricks.

The interrelationships grew in depth. One of the kids was too-pressured by his family and this was an ongoing theme. It even got quite dark, like what he would rather do than face his parents if certain things happened. The group/gang also played some nasty/funny tricks on some poor guy, who became entwined in the story, providing more personal growth. I guess kids’ books need a moral of the story, and several were provided tastefully.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 1967 children's novel from one of the finest story-tellers of this or any age! Nina Bawden always captures the true sensibilities of childhood, and treats her juvenile subjects with commensurate respect. This tale follows the exploits of a gang of disparate boys & girls...the handful of thieves!...who just about rub along together but come to rely on each other as the adventure with a thief & conman reaches its climax in a hue-and-cry along the banks of an urban river, with a ferocious dog & the local constabulary!. Wonderfully well-pitched dialogue & the grasp of childrens' motivations when put to the test are amongst the particular skills of Nina Bawden's art & a very enjoyable story is almost a guarantee. I found myself transported back to my own youth, contemporaneous with the protagonists of this novel!...& I can't say more than that to recommend its value in appreciating neglected writers from an age before modern technologies had taken their baleful toll on childrens' imaginations. I once had tea with Nina Bawden at her house in Islington when visiting her husband, Austen Kark; she was a gentle soul, & has her place in the firmament of twinkling stars of fine writers who never neglected their younger readers.Gone but never forgotten!

[Hemavathy DM Suppiah-Devi · Rating 4 out of 5]

First rate, as the kids would have said in 1960s Britain.

And I agree, all stories should end with everyone at a party, and everyone happy.

[Milley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as an adult and really liked it. I am going to recommend it to my niece.

I liked the variety in kids and adults behaviours. Sometimes the kids are just plain mean and sometimes the adults are.

I liked the mystery and the real fear the kids had in the middle of it.

I love scholastic!

[Sadieb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this at school after the author came in to our class and talked to us about it, I bought a copy and she signed it.
Very exciting children's book.

[Sarah Thornton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intrigue, suspense, a precocious narrator, all the elements for a good crime story.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming young readers book I picked up on a whim. Five friends work together to solve the mystery of who stole Fred’s grandmother’s savings. A fun adventure in the spirit of Trixie Belden.

[Betsie Bush · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute British (jumble sale) book.

[Sabina M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Small easy book to read when you're on the train or waiting a bit longer than an hour. Didn't specifically enjoy it, didn't hate it either, it's a sort of bland rice pudding, nice when you feel like it, really boring when you make yourself do it.

[Christine Ru · Rating 3 out of 5]

pretty good but a bit scary at times