Angel Thieves

by Kathi Appelt

An ocelot. A slave. An angel thief.

With interconnecting stories ebbing and flowing, this jewel of a novel from Newbery Honor–winning author and National Book Award finalist Kathi Appelt is a striking depiction of family devotion, a harsh cry for freedom, new love, oh, and an ocelot.

Sixteen-year-old Cade Curtis is an angel thief. Abandoned by his mother, he and his dad moved to the apartment above a local antique shop. The only payment the owner Mrs. Walker marble angels, stolen from graveyards, for her to sell for thousands of dollars to collectors. But there’s one angel that would be the last they’d ever need to steal; an angel, carved by a slave, with one hand open and one hand closed. If only Cade could find it…

Zorra, a young ocelot, watches the bayou rush past her yearningly. The poacher who captured and caged her has gone away, and Zorra is getting hungrier and thirstier by the day. Trapped, she only has the sounds of the bayou for comfort—but it tells her help will come soon.

Before Zorra, Achsah, a slave, watched the very same bayou with her two young daughters. After the death of her master, Achsah is free, but she’ll be damned if her daughters aren’t freed with her. All they need to do is find the church with an angel with one hand open and one hand closed…

A soaring, searing novel from Newbery Honor–winning author and National Book Award finalist Kathi Appelt, Angel Thieves weaves together stories across time, connected by the bayou, an angel, and a universal desire to be free.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical, Fiction, Audiobook, Contemporary

336 pages, Paperback

First published March 12, 2019

About the author

Lives in College Station, TX with husband Ken and four adorable cats.

Two sons, both musicians.

Serves on the faculty at Vermont College of Fine Arts in the MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults Program.

Reviews

[Sara (A Gingerly Review) · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars

I have zero idea what took place during this one because one POV voice was from *a river*

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Full review can be found here: https://agingerlyreview.wordpress.com...

I have a really strong feeling that I was not the right reader for this book. Why do I start my review that way? Simple: I did not understand what was going on and therefore did not enjoy the book. I wanted to because it had everything necessary to make a good story, but it never hooked me. I really believe one of the reasons I did not enjoy this as much was because one of the POV voices was that of a river. You read that right… a river.

I believe this story was about several smaller stories woven together throughout time to make one larger story. Those are difficult to manage and for me it was not successfully done here. There were three voices that I could pinpoint: a river, an ocelot, and some’s life that has something to do with an angel headstone. I know that’s rather vague, but the entire story felt vague. While the strange POV chapters – and I do mean strange, an ocelot as a voice? – felt scattered and flat, the entire story itself was not told in any particular order. I’m a pretty open minded reader but I could not get behind an ocelot and a river going on about how they keep their secrets year over year.

The bigger part of my reader brain really wanted more focus on the historical side of this story – the angel headstone. I wanted that to be the focus and while it was, the writer took the long way around her thumb to get to her elbow. Meaning, she took way too long to get to the point. There were several chapters that felt very unnecessary and went on for much longer than they needed to. I wanted character development… no, I needed it but it was nowhere to be found. I wanted the story and history of why the angel headstone was so bloody important to be given more depth but it was just not meant to be.

While this was a very quick read, it was the most confusing thing I have read in a long time (aside from Welcome to Night Vale). I’m not sorry I read it but I am gravely disappointed by what I read. I know several other readers have read and sincerely loved this book and it makes me wish I could have read it through their eyes. This was just not for me.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

(This review will be on my blog All the Ups and Downs soon.)
--
I really enjoyed Kathi Appelt's writing style in her children's picture book Max Attacks, so when the chance to read and review her Young Adult novel Angel Thieves presented itself, I decided to give it a read. I'm really glad I did because I fell head over heels in love with this book!

I very much enjoyed the plot of Angel Thieves and found myself immersed in the story from the very first page. It is told from different perspectives including humans, an ocelot, and a bayou which definitely made this book even more interesting! The narrative is told from 1845 through to present time. It all takes place in Houston, Texas. Every perspective is interwoven with each other. We learn about a teenage crush, a father and son duo who steal marble angel statues to make a living, an ocelot who was poached from her home and caught in a hurricane where she's left starving and unable to escape from her cage, a former slave who is trying to help her young daughters escape from being slaves themselves, a bayou who has seen it all, and some other points of view from others throughout Angel Thieves. I was constantly memorized by each chapter, and I was on pins and needles wondering what would happen next. It also helps that the author, Kathi Appelt, is such a fabulous writer who makes all her words come to life with her extraordinary talent! There weren't any major plot twists, but this isn't a book that needs to rely on plot twists to keep it interesting. The writing itself is strong enough to hold its own. There are no cliff hangers, but I would have liked to know a little more about Achsah and her children. There is some mention of them at the end, but I was heavily invested in Achsah's story where I really wanted to know more. However, this doesn't take away from the appeal of the book by no means. Because the prose is so beautifully written, the pacing flows very well. The chapters are mostly all short as well, so it's easy to read this book in one sitting. The world building was done fantastically, and it was obvious that Kathi Appelt had done her research when it came to the plot of her story. In fact, I even learned something when it came to Texas history! I'm also grateful that Kathi Appelt included an author's note at the end of Angel Thieves. It's definitely worth reading even if you don't normally read author's notes. This will give you more of an insight about the real life history that her book is based upon.

I felt like the characters in Angel Thieves were well written and fleshed out perfectly. Kathi Appelt even made a bayou feel like a real person which goes to show how much of a talented writer she really is! I felt Soleil's frustrations with trying to get Cade's attention and her hurt when it came to losing someone close to her. I felt her joy when she was happy. Cade was a great character too. I loved his relationship with his dad. It was obvious how close the two were. It was interesting to see Cade's conflicting emotions when it came to stealing marble angels. One one hand, he wanted to make his dad happy, but he also knew that what they were doing wasn't right. I enjoyed reading about how he dealt with his feelings about that. Zorra, I absolutely loved. My heart went out to this lovely little ocelot who was helpless and taken from everything she'd ever known. I was always hoping she'd be rescued when her next chapter was up. Out of all the characters, my favorite to read about was Achsah. As a mother, I could relate to wanting to keep her children safe no matter what. As a former slave, she had her freedom when her master died, but her daughters were to become slaves to her master's friend. Achsah couldn't and wouldn't let this happen, so she risked everything to keep her girls safe. I felt like Achsah had the most interesting story to tell. I was constantly wishing good things for Achsah and her two little girls. Unfortunately, Achsah's story is based in truth on what happened with a lot of slaves during that horrible period in American history.

Trigger warnings for Angel Thieves include slavery, minor profanity, stealing, a mention of child rape (although not graphic), and some violence (nothing too graphic).

All in all, Angel Thieves is highly interesting read that is also partly educational. It definitely taught me things about Texas that I didn't even know, and I grew up in Texas! Angel Thieves also has such strong characters, and Kathi Appelt's love for this story is apparent on each page. I would definitely recommend Angel Thieves by Kathi Appelt to those aged 14 and older who love getting lost in a good book. This is one book that's very easy to get lost in! An easy 5 out of 5 stars for Angel Thieves!
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(A special thank you to Kathi Appelt for providing me with a hardback of Angel Thieves in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.)

[Queen Cronut · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who would've thought angels, ocelots, and runaway slaves could make such an amazing story? Binge read this one in one sitting because it was so good!

Angel Thieves is told through multiple perspectives whose stories parallel across the span of a century.

Cade: An angel thief... literally. He and his dad steal angels from graveyards to make ends meet. I think he was my favorite character in this book.

Soleil: A nice Christian girl and love interest of Cade. I liked her character but wasn't too crazy about her (though I did love the story about her honey bear tattoo!)

Zora: Who would've thought an ocelot could make a compelling narrative? My heart broke for her...over and over again.

Achsah: A runaway slave trying to escape to Mexico with her young children.

And these characters are brought together by the bayou. Although it may not seem so, these narratives are seamlessly interwoven. The angel motif/symbolism is quite evident- I liked how the angel represented something different for each character.

Additionally, I really liked the format of the novel. This book is not told chronologically and jumps through time, revealing information only was absolutely necessary which added to the story's intrigue. The chapters are short and alternate in POVs. Each brief story adds something new to the overall plotline and wonderfully portrays characters' motivates/development.

I think the only issue I had was the ending- it ends so abruptly and leaves the reader hanging for those unanswered questions.

This book surprised me (in a good way!)- a brilliant and very well-researched and well-written book. 9/10 would recommend.

[Teresa Barrera · Rating 2 out of 5]

Where do I start...
I didn't love this book, nor did I hate it either. I just found myself thrown around too often by the multiple POV'S.
There's some good parts and interesting parts, but since the POV's kept flipping so often, I felt disconnected.
I wanted to like this book, I really did, but I just couldn't really get into it, I'm sorry to say.
On a positive note, the characters have interesting stories and I did want to get more of a feeling, a connection to each character. It just was a little tough for me to connect.
I'd say give it a read for yourself because each reader has different tastes and might enjoy this book.

[ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recieved a copy of Angel Thieves in return of an honest review...

This is my first Kathi Appelt book however, it most certainly wont be my last! She is ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT! Angel Thieves is told from multiple point of views, Cade (an angel thief, Zorra the ocelet, Soleil Broussard (a preacher's daughter, Achsah(slave), and the Bayou, each with their own stories and minor characters, yet they are all intertwined in some fashion.

The story is not in chronological order, instead, the timelines are all jumbled, however I feel that was the intention. I felt that there were some individual stories that left the reader with questions, at least in my case. It is apparent that a lot of time was put into researching different parts of history (slavery and Texas' fight for independence from Mexico) and integrating it in her book.

The story is divided into short chapters, if you want to call them that, some are only a paragraph and others are several pages. I found that this layout made the book a fast read.

I loved EVERYTHING about this book, there are no complaints except I want more.

[Padma Venkatraman]

Another novel by masterful plotter Kathi Appelt, in which, yet again, she braids together seemingly disparate narratives, just as she in her Newbery Honor Winning and stunning debut, THE UNDERNEATH. Also, similar to that novel, in this work, as well, we see the stories of humans and animals - an enslaved woman, an ocelot, and a thief. In this narrative, Appelt also interweaves the stories across time, knit together by the themes of hope, faith and a desire for freedom. And, as with THE UNDERNEATH, the lyrical beauty of her prose is enthralling. Once again, Appelt makes the langauge sing.

[Marochka · Rating 3 out of 5]

5/10

[DaNae · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was lovely writing here, but I had a hard time tying all the threads together. Appelt can make me fear for an animal's safety like no other.

[Clueless Gent]

By the time I finished reading Angel Thieves, I was utterly drained. In my opinion, this story by Kathi Appelt really packs an emotional punch! Why? Because there are several storylines taking place in two different periods, and each storyline has its own variety of conflict.

I’ll admit, I was hooked by this story before I finished the first page. This was my first read by Appelt, and I was delightfully impressed. She has an amazingly unique writing style. I don’t recall ever reading anything quite like this (style-wise) before. Some of her phrases are quite poetic. Yet others are as short as one word. But let me warn you, some of those one-word sentences really get your emotions going. (Curious? Check it out!)

The storylines in Angel Thieves are all “loosely” related. Some of the storylines impact the other storylines directly, while others are indirectly connected. I thought the author was very imaginative in how she connected all the stories.

The Cast and Setting of Angel Thieves

This book has quite a diversified cast. In addition to humans, there are also non-human cast members. Typically, non-human cast members would be something like a dog or a cat. In this story, however, we have an ocelot. I’m not quite sure if there’s ever been a story before with an ocelot sporting its own storyline!

Another interesting character with her own storyline is the Buffalo Bayou. This place actually does exist. This bayou flows through Houston, Texas, and empties into Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. However, in her note, the author admits that many of the references to the bayou are fictional.

The bayou is the only cast member that exists in both time periods. The other characters exist in either the mid-1800s or current time. In case you’re curious - and I don’t really think this is a spoiler, there is no direct connection between the 1800s cast and the current time cast. (Not that I could find, anyway.)

The main human characters in the current time consisted of a very young single father, that father’s non-teenage son, an older widow who never had children of her own, as well as a teenage girl who has been tied to the church all of her life, but is now questioning her relationships.

The 1800s cast is predominantly slaves or slave keepers. As you may suspect, these storylines touch on some deep emotions.

The author also included a little history about the importance of slaves during the Texas Revolution (1835-1936). I found that very interesting.

Technically Speaking

The book was well edited. Taking into account the artistic license the author took with some of her prose, I did not come across any SPAG issues.

Kathi Appelt did a tremendous job of keeping all the storylines moving, keeping the pace consistent, and bringing all the stories to a simultaneous climax. The style of the book kept jumping from one time period to the other. She did that very well, and the story never lost my interest.

You may be wondering why, with such a good review, I only gave this book four stars, when it is clearly five star worthy. Well, it’s the ending. I thought the author should have included more of the post-climax story. What happened to the characters? As it is, Appelt left the story aftermath largely to the reader’s imagination. I’m sure this was intentional, and I may be the only reader who feels this way. However, I will give the author credit for including a Note at the end of the book that discusses how the different storylines came about.

This is a great read, and despite my personal (and picky) opinion of the ending, I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys great storytelling!

[Lorilei Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a little eerie reading Angel Thieves amid all the rain and flooding here in Houston. While I normally think of my city’s flooding as a byproduct of excessive precipitation mixed with overdevelopment and trash, Appelt’s novel clued me in to the fact that this area has a history of floods and how the path of the Buffalo Bayou has relocated many times because of them.

But more on that in a bit; let’s talk art for second. The book jacket has that distinct YA look and is very appealing with its shiny, black background and light blue mixed with white in the text and imagery. The angel statue has line drawings within it of a manacled wrist, an ocelot, and a slave woman with a headwrap. I really dig the font used, graffiti-like with black paint splattered on it. When you take the jacket off, there’s a beautiful surprise of a bright white background with a blue ocelot filling most of the front cover and spine. Within its image, you see the same line drawings from the jacket – it looks like an expansion because now we can see both manacled wrists, the full image of the ocelot and slave woman, in addition to a treble clef staff, a chapel, a slave girl picking cotton, and the words “Reward” and “Wanted” – all important parts of this story.

Appelt’s writing style can be compared to flood water – it flows quickly and sucks you in before you realize just how strong and deep it is. The chapter lengths vary depending on whose perspective we are reading from. Thankfully there are cues to location and time period at the top of each chapter. Ever wondered what it was like to be an ocelot or a body of water? After reading this book, I sort of feel like I kind of do. I must confess, it took me a little while to get my bearings because each new chapter was a revolution of the revolving door that brought out a different character. I really liked the distinction between each character and their unique names.

I am always amazed when I read books that weave so many different stories together into one beautiful literary tapestry. Appelt accomplishes this effortlessly and I was truly invested in each story line. I am impressed with the amount of research that went into writing this book, and how she took random ideas and turned them into a captivating story. As seamlessly as the author tied up the loose ends, I still wished to know more about the details of Achsah’s journey and whether Cade ultimately found what he was looking for. Ok, maybe I don’t want to read more from the perspective of the bayou, but I could read more about the ocelot.

I really don’t have many notes on this book because I thought everything was executed so well. I did have one question though: twice in the book, “I’m here for you” is crossed out and “There’s love enough” is written in its place. Will this be done in every printed copy of this book or did I just get an early version that didn’t have the correction in it? I ask because, while I like the line better, its first use in the book doesn’t set up the following chapter the same way that “I’m here for you” does. The revision disrupts the flow of the story a bit in my opinion.

This book is joining the modest sized YA section of my bookshelf. I plan to reread it on rainy days and can’t wait for my son to grow up and read it as well.

[Christena · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The bayou giveth and the bayou taketh away. You can’t
trust her, not for a minute. Give her the sun and she’ll
blind you. Give her the rain and she’ll swallow you. Give
her a storm and she’ll claim your highways and your
bridges. She’ll breach your shiny new buildings, your
waking nightmares, your broken heart.
The bayou’s no angel, that’s a fact.”

This is a book I wish I had tangibly held in my hands while reading it for this review. The pages of the book hold a story unlike any other I’ve read. Instantaneously, this phantasmagorical and often heart-wrenching story captivated my attention from the first few chapters until the final words. Angel Thieves lands on my memory shelf as one that will not be forgotten.

Various character stories — from a teenage boy stealing cemetery angels with his dad to a young girl who has a faith I only wish I had to a young girl’s slavery story — makeup Angel Thieves. While you think you are only getting snippets here and there from the often very short chapters, each piece and turn of the page connects the overall story. Being the wildlife and nature girl that I am, by far the most poignant stories for me were of the ocelot and the bayou. Giving Buffalo Bayou and the ocelot voices are what captured and tugged at my heart the most.

All the stories intrinsically wind up connecting with each other in ways that I did not expect. All my guesses were wrong where I thought this story was headed. With each passing chapter, Kathi Appelt’s well-crafted mystery weaves and unfolds, all the while hiding the secrets quite well.

Kathi Appelt is now an author I will constantly follow with all her books. Her storytelling voice in this book shows her as an original and incomparable because it stole pieces of my heart. One thing is for certain: I will never again look at a body of water the same way and most certainly not a wild animal. Who are we to know that they indeed don’t have their own voices? Thank you, Kathi!

An extra tidbit on ocelots!

Here is an interesting ocelot fact:

Fur and pet trades have decimated the ocelot population. In the United States, fewer than sixty ocelots remain in two small populations twenty miles apart in south Texas near the Mexican border.

Hopefully, with the ocelot connection to Zorra’s story in Angel Thieves, it will bring awareness to the need for their continued conservation. I could even see a separate illustrated story about Zorra.

[Elizabeth Mcdermott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good, very different sort of story. If you're looking for something high action, or thick with plot, this probably isn't for you.

BUT, if you're open to a sweet, often heartbreaking, but ultimately hopeful story of how so many lives and times and worlds can intersect, then Angel Thieves is worth the time.

I absolutely loved the nearly poetic prose of Appelt's writing, and the way she managed to weave together so many disparate, yet ultimately interconnected stories. This was not a book in which two people were amazingly connected by a lost angel and time. This was a story about how the search for one angel could lead to hard decisions and impossible dreams, and ultimately hope for the future (even if it isn't always the hope we thought we would have), all watched over by a loving bayou that remembers every name that has passed through her waters.

Kathi Appelt has built a beautiful, lyrical, heartwrenching and heartwarming story with Angel Thieves. 4/5 stars.

[Hayden · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25/5

Kathi Appelt did not give herself an easy job. A fiction novel, rooted in a dynamic, multi-perspective narration, does not allow for any true, appreciable characterization to occur. It was difficult to empathize with any of the novel’s characters, simply because I was never able to witness enough of their personality & character to truly establish a connection to them. There were multiple missed opportunities to truly create compelling, moving literary scenarios due to the rushed movement from one unrealized character perspective to the next. Kathi will also beat the reader over the head with any signaling she can that this story is based in Texas. I would skip this and move to the next book on your wish list.

[Gabriella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wait what? I...what?

That was me reading this book. I was confused about the ending. Well, it was more like a non-ending. By the time I came to the last page the story still wasn't done. The book concept was great and it had good writing (which is why this is a 2.5 and not a 2), but the weaving of the story, particularly the (non)ending was not there


True rating: 2.5

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my favorite authors, always beautiful descriptions and characters- I enjoyed book but felt the end was rushed and I didn’t feel enough satisfaction with all the characters seperate stories. Still great and worth reading, just wanted a bit more!

[Anne V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The author weaves history, nature, spirituality, and a teen romance, telling her story through multiple time periods and points of view. Masterful.

[R. G. Nairam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful experience to read, though I wanted more from it as a story.

[Shawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was weird. I had hoped all the characters played a part in the story. What made me buy and read the book was the Angels and the Ocelot.

[Lissa Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angel Thieves so effectively demonstrates how our present lives are deeply intertwined with the recent as well as the distant past. Many beautiful threads are skillfully interwoven into a compelling homage to the author‘s beloved hometown of Houston, Texas. The multiple storylines are easy to follow. Alternating among the various characters and their POV chapters was an effective way of increasing the suspense. I was caught up with the current character, but in the back of my mind, I was wondering what was going on with the others. Specifically, what's happening with the cat? 😁

No spoilers here. As in real life, some won; some lost; and some were quite literally rained out. Kudos to this award-winning author for a deftly handled transition into the land of YA.

[Ruthie Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was originally published on Lone Star Literary Life.

Angel Thieves is a striking depiction of familial devotion, the harsh cry for freedom, and tender new love. In this beautiful novel, the Buffalo Bayou in the Houston area is the watery thread that connects the seemingly disparate narratives throughout. As the stories unfold, they begin to gently flow and intertwine, even though they are separated by time, culture, and indescribable heartache.

At the core is the modern story of young Cade and his father, Paul, and Cade’s classmate, Soleil Broussard, who is drawn into Cade’s orbit as he is into hers. This modern drama is skillfully joined with the past narrative of a young slave and her two daughters who are searching for the stone angel along the bayou that will guide them to freedom. Dropped into the modern mix is an entrapped ocelot, harshly and viscerally representing the very heart of the story: Freedom. Angel Thieves is a multi-faceted journey that hinges on that desperate plea for freedom: freedom to choose the difficult path and raise a child alone, freedom from the misery of a small cage, freedom from broken promises and an evil world, and freedom to see a miracle in something as unassuming as a honey bear jar.

Paul and Cade are the angel thieves. Right or wrong, they are noble and exquisite in their thievery as a means of survival. The stone angels standing sentinel in forgotten cemeteries have served their dead well, but their work is far from over. And perhaps even stone angels need to be unmoored and set free.

The legendary stone angel that eludes Cade and Pete was carved by a young slave in the 1800s. His trademark design has his angels with one hand open and the other closed. This extraordinary stance can be interpreted in many ways, but fitting to the overall story is the idea of the fist representing the close-minded evil of greed, hate, and captivity, and the open hand representing mercy, hope, and ultimate love. No matter the interpretation, the angel surely embodies the dualities of behavior between good and evil, choice between right and wrong, and tendency between love and hate.

Even with the narratives’ intricate back-and-forth motion, Angel Thieves is not a difficult story to embrace and appreciate. The author’s ability to paint a complete picture by smoothly interlocking the pieces is exceptional and satisfying.

The writing style is fluid and lyrical, with the interconnecting stories ebbing and flowing, mimicking the winding Buffalo Bayou as it swells and consumes untold treasures and then parcels out its benevolence as it sees fit. Angel Thieves is a literary Texas jewel that tantalizes with its unusual construction, fascinates with its symbolism and imagery, and encourages deep thought on humankind’s motivation either to help others in need or ignore them or even submerge them deeper into despair. Because sometimes those who struggle to survive and be free have no one else except an angel, a bayou, and a kind person with an unselfish heart.

[Melody · Rating 1 out of 5]

Audiobook DNFed at 22% - An hour in and I don't see or understand what this book is about. But there sure is a lot of a people of color suffering historical tragedies! There's also a lot of names for things from different languages and an overall random and disjointed collection of POVs. I'm also a little put off by the idea of yet another bland ass book by a white lady that prominently features a black woman's pain.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing book with so many threads weaving in and out, sometimes clearly intertwined and sometimes not so much. Author Kathi Appelt sets her YA novel in Houston, TX and spans the 1840s to present day using a church on the bayou, a single dad and his son, an antique store run by a kind widow, a freed slave woman and her two young unfreed daughters, a sweet 16 year old girl with a crush, and a wild cat. The themes of freedom and cages of different types run through all the stories and sprinkled in with the realistic and heavy human drama is a far amount of Texas history. I read steadily and quickly through this one because I was anxious to see how all the loose ends came together in the end. In some ways the conclusion left me pleased and in others, not so much. Appelt's characters were fully fleshed out and I found myself wanting only the best for all of them, but the POV switching between one character to another and from one time period to the other were more disjointed than in other books of similar genres--Munoz-Ryan's Echo and Gratz's Refugee, to name a few. This book is clearly YA with its 4 F-bombs that are completely unnecessary to the scene or character and is likely why some librarians of readers grades 6-8 may have to skip purchasing "Angel Thieves", but there will definitely be an audience for this Texas-based novel with readers in grades 8-10 who are looking for historical and/or realistic fiction with a bit of a mysterious air.

[Lone Star Literary Life]

Reviewed by Ruthie Jones for Lone Star Literary Life.

Also featured on Lone Star Book Blog Tours. Lone Star Blogger Team average rating: 4.8.

[Dede Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her language is as lovely as ever. I learned much about Texas by reading this book, things not mentioned in history books written by white men. The Houston setting spoke to me too.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Parts of this had gorgeous imagery reminiscent of my favorite parts of Maybe a Fox that made me want to love it, but overall it felt disjointed.

[Josephine Sorrell · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too many threads and voices. A very confusing book and not fun.

[Kristine Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Print and Audio Book Review. Before readers ever read the first page of ANGEL THIEVES, they will know it’s unique. There’s the jacket illustration, there’s the amazing hidden gem beneath the jacket, and of course, just the book’s description sets it apart from what readers expect in books written for the young adult audience. Don’t be fooled by all the white space. Read a few pages, and it’s clear that Kathi Appelt trusts her young readers to think and process and absorb higher level concepts. That white space has purpose.

The stories in ANGEL THIEVES are told through very short chapters that give impactful snippets of story, characterization, and deeper meaning. Each chapter is powerful and so descriptive that more words aren’t needed. Reading Kathi Appelt’s lyrical prose is almost like reading poetry. Every. Word. Counts. Each sentence is a morsel to be slowly ingested, not devoured.

“Below him, the bayou slides toward the sea. The ancient haints rise from the water’s silver surface, linger for a moment, then disappear into the morning air.”

Houston’s Buffalo Bayou guides readers and characters through the passage of time and along its ever-changing channels forged by weather and man-made events. The bayou is both a physical and a mystical presence. It holds secrets and ghosts and memories, and it’s always watching and calling out – and even saving those who will pause and hear its voice.

In the same way that the waters of the bayou flow in unexpected, inconsistent ways, so do the lives of the other characters. There is serenity and volatility, clarity and murkiness. But both waters and souls are ultimately flowing one direction: towards freedom.

Appelt doesn’t shy away from bringing to light the characters’ barriers to freedom. For example, her thorough research (check out the bibliography at the end) reveals to readers the unsettling, shameful history of slavery in Texas. The story lines will make readers squirm at times, and that’s a good thing. We need to be reminded of where greed and lust for money and power and control can lead.

ANGEL THIEVES covers a wide range of really heavy topics and draws some uncomfortable parallels showing how history repeats itself. Appelt doesn’t sugar-coat ugly, and she makes some clear statements about the state of our world, but it is all incorporated organically and feels natural for the situations and characters. (Including the scattered F-bombs dropped by sixteen-year-old Cade. Like it or not, teenagers swear in real-life.)

ABOUT THE NARRATION: Perfection. Laurel Kathleen, the narrator of the audio book version of ANGEL THIEVES, treats listeners to an outstanding performance. Pacing is precisely what it should be (I listened at regular speed, which is a rarity), and she seamlessly shifts between characters and voices. She’s a natural storyteller, and especially when the bayou is calling, listeners will be mesmerized.

I highly recommend ANGEL THIEVES, and in a perfect world, read it AND listen to it for two entirely different but fully satisfying storytelling experiences. You won’t have loose ends neatly tied up, you won’t have clear answers, but you’ll have that ocean full of possibilities to think about, and that’s a rich gift.

Thank you to Lone Star Book Blog Tours for the opportunity to help share this book with the world and the publisher and author for providing me a gorgeous, autographed print copy (and photo op) at the Texas Library Association Annual Conference to do it. In exchange, I share my honest opinion – the only kind I give. This full review and other special features on Hall Ways Blog

[Jenn Belden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was provided a copy of the book for review purposes. I gave this book four-and-a-half stars, rounding up to five here.

I honestly don’t know where to begin with author Kathi Appelt’s latest young adult novel Angel Thieves! The structure, the characters, the writing – they all come together to make something magical. This isn’t just one story, but several separate stories that slowly intersect, with the common tie amongst them being Bayou.

This was a book that DEMANDED I sit down and savor it. The synopsis was intriguing but admittedly, going into I could not figure out how the different characters and smaller storylines would relate. The plot unwinds slowly, and Appelt doesn’t divulge much of anything at first. Instead, the details are handed out slowly and carefully, not unlike how my son, as a toddler, would carefully and meticulously share Goldfish crackers from his snack cup, placing each tidbit in your hand with studied intent. The story does jump between points of view, and the timeline does as well (hop around, that is) don’t expect a tidy unfolding of the story.

That said, it’s a book with which you need to be patient and just let the story flow. And flow it does, with language that is simply beautiful and lush. Some of the most beautiful passages belong to her characters which have been anthropomorphized, the Buffalo Bayo and Zorra the ocelot, and the chapters on the marble field and the marble carver.

Give us Georgia after the long march, after the thin boy and his people were forced out of their mountains and all they knew, when the marble lay there untouched, quiet, just as it had when it formed on the bottom of the ancient sea floor, pressed down by water and ice, pressed first into limestone and then into marble. Metamorphic. Silent. Rising up through the receding waters until it sat just beneath the Georgia dirt, waiting. Waiting for a new carver.
– from Angel Thieves by Kathi Appelt

The Bayou’s chapters serve to pull the timelines together, present-day and Achsah’s and the era of slavery in Texas after winning its independence from Mexico. It has a mind of its own, traps things in its depths, spitting them up for others to find when it wills it.

The bayou’s no angel, that’s a fact. But who’s to say she hasn’t seen one or two, their tattered wings, their tangled hair.
– from Angel Thieves by Kathi Appelt

The story was eye-opening from a historical standpoint - I was not aware that one reason behind the Texian fight for independence from Mexico was to allow slavery in Texas, necessary for the success of the wealthy landowners to grow cotton and sugar-cane. (Neither did I realize that slavery was illegal in Mexico). It was also new information to me that the underground railroad also ran south to Mexico, allowing slaves in Texas or Louisiana to flee to freedom.

Needless to say, I love any novel that I can walk away from having learned something new. This book offered the opportunity in multiples all the while entertaining.

The different POV wind around each other and wrap up quickly. I confess I did want a little more from Soleil’s story, particularly as it intersected with Cade’s. Overall, though, this book was a delight (you just have to stop asking “what is going on” and let the stories unfold on their own. Angel Thieves is a novel of what we do for those we love, of what makes a family, and of survival.

[Carol Royce Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK, I will say from the start. I loved Angel Thieves, but it would take a lot for Kathi Appelt to top her incredible masterpieces, The Underneath and True Blue Scouts of Sugarman Swamp. Those two novels will never be replaced as some of my favorite children's novels. Angel Thieves is written with much of the same style as those books, part realistic fiction, part fantasy, part historical fiction, woven through with several stories and a myriad of narrators. One is of two sixteen year olds with crushes on each other but struggling through those awkward feelings of "Does he/she like me, too?" Caide fears that if Soleil every found out the truth about him, that he helps his father steal angels from cemeteries, that she would never want to be with him. There are important reasons that Caide and his father, Paul steal angels, and no one twists Caide’s arm to help. But he strongly believes it is wrong and there has to be a better way to live. Soleil is afraid that inviting Caide to a church celebration, and her stupid note, "Would you like to know about Ultimate Love?" is going to send him running far, far away. Then there is Achsah. At her master (Captain’s) death she is now a freed black woman. It’s a day she’s been waiting for since she was purchased by him at the age of twelve to be his “treasure,”, but he has deceived her. Yes, she is free. But her two daughters, ages three and five were signed away to the wife of one of his friends. So before anyone knows the Captain is dead she must run. LIke Achsah, Zorra is a captive, too. Taken from her home land by a dart that plunged her into darkness and into a too-small cage. Unlike Achsah though, Zorra is not a person, she is an ocelot poached by an exotic animal dealer. She is not meant for this cage, she is meant to sleep in the arms of the jacaranda tree and run through the fields and thicket of her Launda Atascosa. And certainly, she is not meant to eat the slop given her by the caretaker, but should be hunting her own food, Only the Bayou knows all of their stories and how they connect through place and through centuries. Only the Bayou knows the words to say to drive encourage each and to move them towards their destination,, and how a statue carved by a slave named Luc Bel James can lead them all to their dreams.

[Marsha Rafalski · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5 rounded to 4.0)

Cade Curtis, 16, works with his father to steal angel statues from cemeteries, parks, and garden. The main story centers on Cade and his father’s relationship. It is one of two parent-child relationships explored in the book (the second one is that of Achsah and her daughters). Cade also has several other adults who performed some part of a parent’s duties. Most of the time, Cade is the one tasked with finding the best angels to steal and physically removing them from their homes. This responsibility was weighing more heavily on him every day. The intensity of the mother-child bond, as shown by Achsah and her daughters is a rich element, and I enjoyed exploring their relationships.

The third and fourth main characters are unusual—an escaped ocelot and as a constant observer, the Bayou. The author handles the development of these characters well. I wish there had been more opportunity for further development but with this book there is a need for an economy of words to allow coverage of all four PoVs. It would have been tempting to pack the writing. But the author disregarded this tendency and the language was concise and lavish in the careful selection of words instead of just more words. Here the descriptions and concise chapters were perfectly matched with this narrative.

This is a character driven story with plot elements that are downplayed. Strangely my favorite character was Zorra, the escaped ocelot, who was vulnerable described with lavishing careful selection of words. Her short descriptions and compact chapters were perfectly matched with this narrative.
This narrative by Appelt is rich with interesting characters, a memorable setting, multiple story lines and beautiful language. This was a better-than-average but not a great one. The change in PoVs was somewhat disconcerting and the characters could have been more fully developed.

However I did enjoy the story and am glad I read it. In the end it was summarized by the last words about Cade.

“It wasn’t what he was looking for;
But it was what he found.
And Cade Curtis, thief of angels and teller of lies,
does a very big Something Good.”