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The Memory Thief
A magical, spine-tingling novel about a girl who wants to escape her memories and a troll who is desperately trying to remember his, from the award-winning author of Conrad Cooper's Last Stand and The Impossible Boy
A lonely troll and a fierce, spiky girl form an unlikely alliance in Leonie Agnew's extraordinary novel for children aged 9 years and up.
Seth has been trapped behind the iron bars of the public gardens for as long as he can remember. By day he’s frozen as a statue of a shepherd boy, but as soon as the sun sets he roams the park, ravenously hungry. He is a troll, and the food he seeks is human memories.
Then he meets Stella. There’s something so different about her — Seth doesn’t want her memories. He simply wants to talk to her. But there’s someone else in the garden who sees Stella as a threat...and a meal.
Captivating, spine-tingling and surprising, this is a novel that holds you spellbound. What is Stella trying to forget? What are the memories that Seth is piecing together? And will he ever escape the lonely garden and start truly living?
A lonely troll and a fierce, spiky girl form an unlikely alliance in Leonie Agnew's extraordinary novel for children aged 9 years and up.
Seth has been trapped behind the iron bars of the public gardens for as long as he can remember. By day he’s frozen as a statue of a shepherd boy, but as soon as the sun sets he roams the park, ravenously hungry. He is a troll, and the food he seeks is human memories.
Then he meets Stella. There’s something so different about her — Seth doesn’t want her memories. He simply wants to talk to her. But there’s someone else in the garden who sees Stella as a threat...and a meal.
Captivating, spine-tingling and surprising, this is a novel that holds you spellbound. What is Stella trying to forget? What are the memories that Seth is piecing together? And will he ever escape the lonely garden and start truly living?
256 pages, Paperback
Published July 2, 2021
5 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
July 15, 2021
Leonie Agnew is one of my favourite New Zealand authors because each of her books is so different. Leonie can write funny stories, stories about kids standing up for what they believe in, and stories with touches of magic and darkness. Leonie’s latest book, The Memory Thief, is unlike anything I’ve read before and I can’t stop thinking about it.
Seth is a troll. By day he is frozen in stone, but after the sun goes down he comes alive. His home is a suburban park, surrounded by an iron fence. Iron burns Seth, so he can’t leave the park. He can’t eat normal food, but keeps his hunger at bay by eating the memories of humans. The only one who understands life as a troll is Celeste, the other troll who lives in the park. One night, however, Seth meets Stella, a girl who lives beside the park. Stella becomes the closest thing to a friend that Seth has ever known, but their relationship changes when Seth confesses his secret. Stella has a lot of painful memories that she would rather forget, and she forces Seth to eat them. With each bad memory that Seth takes, both him and Stella change. Seth realises that he has caused so many troubles taking memories and that only he can put it right.
The Memory Thief is an amazing story that captivated me from start to finish. It is a story infused with imagination, wonder and magic. This is an ancient kind of magic though, that feels more dark than exciting. I loved every minute of this story, but I also feel haunted by it, days after finishing it. It is one of those stories that you keep thinking about and want to keep coming back to. Seth and Stella are complex characters, who you are constantly trying to figure out as the story progresses. Like a troll eating a memory, Leonie gives us tantalising details about the characters to keep us wanting more.
Leonie’s reimagining of trolls is fresh and brings them in to the present day. The trolls in Leonie’s story eat the memories of humans, turn to stone during the day and wake at night, and live in a city park. Seth and Celeste are both trolls who live in the park, but they have different outlooks. Celeste has no qualms with eating the memories of humans, whereas Seth doesn’t want to hurt anyone by taking memories. He knows that he has to take memories to stave off his hunger but he doesn’t like doing it. Seth gets forced to take Stella’s bad memories, which make him sick and starts to change him. Seth doesn’t remember much about his past, which adds to the mystery of the story. How did he come to be living in the park? Has he always been a troll?
Kieran Rynhart’s cover is absolutely stunning! It is the best New Zealand children’s book cover that I’ve seen for a long time. Kieran has perfectly captured the tone of Leonie’s story and brought her characters to life. The cover has a haunting feel to it and draws you in. I especially like the composition, with Seth staring out from the middle of the cover, and the way that his eyes catch the light. Kieran has also created some atmospheric illustrations that are spread throughout the book, and the trees and gate of the park weave around the chapter headings.
The Memory Thief is one of those New Zealand books that will have worldwide appeal and I hope it gets published far and wide. It would be a great read aloud or class novel for Years 6-8.
Seth is a troll. By day he is frozen in stone, but after the sun goes down he comes alive. His home is a suburban park, surrounded by an iron fence. Iron burns Seth, so he can’t leave the park. He can’t eat normal food, but keeps his hunger at bay by eating the memories of humans. The only one who understands life as a troll is Celeste, the other troll who lives in the park. One night, however, Seth meets Stella, a girl who lives beside the park. Stella becomes the closest thing to a friend that Seth has ever known, but their relationship changes when Seth confesses his secret. Stella has a lot of painful memories that she would rather forget, and she forces Seth to eat them. With each bad memory that Seth takes, both him and Stella change. Seth realises that he has caused so many troubles taking memories and that only he can put it right.
The Memory Thief is an amazing story that captivated me from start to finish. It is a story infused with imagination, wonder and magic. This is an ancient kind of magic though, that feels more dark than exciting. I loved every minute of this story, but I also feel haunted by it, days after finishing it. It is one of those stories that you keep thinking about and want to keep coming back to. Seth and Stella are complex characters, who you are constantly trying to figure out as the story progresses. Like a troll eating a memory, Leonie gives us tantalising details about the characters to keep us wanting more.
Leonie’s reimagining of trolls is fresh and brings them in to the present day. The trolls in Leonie’s story eat the memories of humans, turn to stone during the day and wake at night, and live in a city park. Seth and Celeste are both trolls who live in the park, but they have different outlooks. Celeste has no qualms with eating the memories of humans, whereas Seth doesn’t want to hurt anyone by taking memories. He knows that he has to take memories to stave off his hunger but he doesn’t like doing it. Seth gets forced to take Stella’s bad memories, which make him sick and starts to change him. Seth doesn’t remember much about his past, which adds to the mystery of the story. How did he come to be living in the park? Has he always been a troll?
Kieran Rynhart’s cover is absolutely stunning! It is the best New Zealand children’s book cover that I’ve seen for a long time. Kieran has perfectly captured the tone of Leonie’s story and brought her characters to life. The cover has a haunting feel to it and draws you in. I especially like the composition, with Seth staring out from the middle of the cover, and the way that his eyes catch the light. Kieran has also created some atmospheric illustrations that are spread throughout the book, and the trees and gate of the park weave around the chapter headings.
The Memory Thief is one of those New Zealand books that will have worldwide appeal and I hope it gets published far and wide. It would be a great read aloud or class novel for Years 6-8.
July 19, 2021
This book is up there for my Book of the Year.... I absolutely adored it from go to woah, and as I read I could picture it as a Tim Burton movie - dark, atmospheric, quirky, complex and utterly brilliant.
Seth is a troll, trapped within the gothic iron fences of the botanical gardens (it doesn't say it is Dunedin, but the clues point to these, at the very least, being the inspiration.) During the day he is a stone statue on a bridge spanning the Leith river, but by night he is a boy who can roam the gardens... or at least the part of the gardens allocated to him and not to Celeste, another troll, who gave me real Cruella de Vil vibes and who I could imagine being played by Helena Bonham-Carter!
Seth is always hungry... but what a troll needs to survive are human memories, and when he meets Stella he doesn't feel right taking hers. He wants something different from her... he wants to talk. He wants company. He wants a friend.
As the Seth and Stella get to know each other, their lives intertwine in ways which become increasingly complex and complicated.
This is not a simple story, with simple solutions. It requires depth of thought about some serious subjects... the nature of friendship, memories, sadness, dementia, death, bullying... and not everything is tied up neatly at the end (sequel?? Yes please!!)
Seth is a troll, trapped within the gothic iron fences of the botanical gardens (it doesn't say it is Dunedin, but the clues point to these, at the very least, being the inspiration.) During the day he is a stone statue on a bridge spanning the Leith river, but by night he is a boy who can roam the gardens... or at least the part of the gardens allocated to him and not to Celeste, another troll, who gave me real Cruella de Vil vibes and who I could imagine being played by Helena Bonham-Carter!
Seth is always hungry... but what a troll needs to survive are human memories, and when he meets Stella he doesn't feel right taking hers. He wants something different from her... he wants to talk. He wants company. He wants a friend.
As the Seth and Stella get to know each other, their lives intertwine in ways which become increasingly complex and complicated.
This is not a simple story, with simple solutions. It requires depth of thought about some serious subjects... the nature of friendship, memories, sadness, dementia, death, bullying... and not everything is tied up neatly at the end (sequel?? Yes please!!)
February 12, 2022
The troll lore underpinning this book advises the reader that trolls don't eat people, just their memories. What a relief we think - yet as the book progresses we come to realise that maybe this isn't so benign after all.
It took me a while to get in to the book - there are a lot of things up in the air to begin with and I wasn't sure how to navigate the story. But the dots started to get connected and the shape of things gradually became clear. Seth is an adolescent troll living in Botanical Gardens. By day a statue, by night a living thing always searching for an unsuspecting human who can provide him with memories to satisfy his continual hunger. Only trouble is, once Seth has eaten the memory the original owner can no longer recall it. When he meets Stella, a girl his own age living on the edge of the gardens, she triggers new thoughts inside him and he begins to question his world. And everything begins to change.
Author Leonie Agnew always guarantees us an interesting ride. There are themes of what it is to be human, of dementia and the impact of bullying, of family and being free. There is a lot to chew on here. And the story is punctuated by the lovely artwork of illustrator Kieran Rynhart. A very fresh and original novel for young folk which will give them lots of food for thought.
It took me a while to get in to the book - there are a lot of things up in the air to begin with and I wasn't sure how to navigate the story. But the dots started to get connected and the shape of things gradually became clear. Seth is an adolescent troll living in Botanical Gardens. By day a statue, by night a living thing always searching for an unsuspecting human who can provide him with memories to satisfy his continual hunger. Only trouble is, once Seth has eaten the memory the original owner can no longer recall it. When he meets Stella, a girl his own age living on the edge of the gardens, she triggers new thoughts inside him and he begins to question his world. And everything begins to change.
Author Leonie Agnew always guarantees us an interesting ride. There are themes of what it is to be human, of dementia and the impact of bullying, of family and being free. There is a lot to chew on here. And the story is punctuated by the lovely artwork of illustrator Kieran Rynhart. A very fresh and original novel for young folk which will give them lots of food for thought.
August 6, 2021
Seth is a young boy, but he is also a troll and by day is a statue of a shepherd boy in a park. When the sun goes down he is free to roam the park in search of memories to quell his hunger. The park and gardens are surrounded by an iron fence, something that he cannot touch as it burns. One night he meets Stella. There is something different about her and Seth doesn’t want to take her memories. He just wants a friend.
A lovely captivating story of friendship. I loved it.
A lovely captivating story of friendship. I loved it.
October 16, 2021
Never read a book quite like this before.
Was so engulfed in it, I finished it in a few hours. It was amazing.
Leonie Agnew is a wonderful writer. I love how she captures emotions.
I cant help wondering what happened to Celeste though...and if Seth ever finds what he was looking for.
Wish there was a sequel.
I'm so glad I decided to get this book
Was so engulfed in it, I finished it in a few hours. It was amazing.
Leonie Agnew is a wonderful writer. I love how she captures emotions.
I cant help wondering what happened to Celeste though...and if Seth ever finds what he was looking for.
Wish there was a sequel.
I'm so glad I decided to get this book
August 23, 2021
The Memory Thief is about a lonely statue boy who meets a girl with memories she'd rather not have.
It's a tale infused with beauty and a melancholic magic, and has a bittersweet yet hopeful ending. It's unusual and unforgettable and I loved it!
It's a tale infused with beauty and a melancholic magic, and has a bittersweet yet hopeful ending. It's unusual and unforgettable and I loved it!
August 17, 2021
Seth is a troll. Not the ugly, warty, smelly type of troll, but a troll that looks just like a normal boy. Looks are deceiving however because Seth survives by eating human memories. Seth is a stone statue by day and only roams free at night. Don't worry though, he lives behind the iron gates of a park which are locked when the sun goes down.
Early one morning, just before dawn, Seth hears a voice. A girl is calling for someone. Seth investigates and comes face to face with a dark haired girl looking for her cat. He can tell this girl named Stella is different, and for once his need for company outweighs his need to feed.
The more time he spends with her, the more he feels he is changing - on the inside. He has to concentrate in order to not feed on her memories, enjoying his first ever friendship. Stella might be safe from Seth, but he's not the only threat in the gardens. Something older, more experienced and hungrier lies deeper between the trees.
Stella is not only different, she's clever too. When she offers Seth a deal, he takes it, not knowing he will learn more about himself and the world beyond the park gates, than he's ever known. Does he have a past and can he really trust himself around his new friend?
The more I read, the more intrigued I became, gobbling The Memory Thief up in one sitting. Leonie Agnew has done it again, giving readers an imaginative, thought-provoking novel (this time with a bit of creepy stirred in). Memories are important to us all, even the bad ones - but you'll have to read The Memory Thief to learn why.
Based on a Scandinavian Troll myth, The Memory Thief is set in a NZ garden where tui call out over the characters and geckos scramble around concrete statues. The opposite natures of the characters draw you into their friendship, as you get to know Seth (Main POV), and wonder about Stella's past.
Sometimes what you wish for isn't really what you want. Tension and awareness build up to a nail-biting and unexpected conclusion.
Brilliant NZ Children's fiction which will undoubtedly be up for awards as with Leonie's previous novels for children - Super Finn (2011), Conrad Cooper's Last Stand (2014), & The Impossible Boy (2016).
Kieran Rynhart's double spread illustrations capture moment's in the novel and also provide a lush beginning to each chapter, not to mention the eye-catching cover!
Early one morning, just before dawn, Seth hears a voice. A girl is calling for someone. Seth investigates and comes face to face with a dark haired girl looking for her cat. He can tell this girl named Stella is different, and for once his need for company outweighs his need to feed.
The more time he spends with her, the more he feels he is changing - on the inside. He has to concentrate in order to not feed on her memories, enjoying his first ever friendship. Stella might be safe from Seth, but he's not the only threat in the gardens. Something older, more experienced and hungrier lies deeper between the trees.
Stella is not only different, she's clever too. When she offers Seth a deal, he takes it, not knowing he will learn more about himself and the world beyond the park gates, than he's ever known. Does he have a past and can he really trust himself around his new friend?
The more I read, the more intrigued I became, gobbling The Memory Thief up in one sitting. Leonie Agnew has done it again, giving readers an imaginative, thought-provoking novel (this time with a bit of creepy stirred in). Memories are important to us all, even the bad ones - but you'll have to read The Memory Thief to learn why.
Based on a Scandinavian Troll myth, The Memory Thief is set in a NZ garden where tui call out over the characters and geckos scramble around concrete statues. The opposite natures of the characters draw you into their friendship, as you get to know Seth (Main POV), and wonder about Stella's past.
Sometimes what you wish for isn't really what you want. Tension and awareness build up to a nail-biting and unexpected conclusion.
Brilliant NZ Children's fiction which will undoubtedly be up for awards as with Leonie's previous novels for children - Super Finn (2011), Conrad Cooper's Last Stand (2014), & The Impossible Boy (2016).
Kieran Rynhart's double spread illustrations capture moment's in the novel and also provide a lush beginning to each chapter, not to mention the eye-catching cover!
June 25, 2023
I read this story 3 or 4 weeks ago but woke up this morning as though I was back in the book . It has a powerful lingering effect- my brain buzzing trying to untangle the themes of memory, forgetting and their connection to empathy and feeling. It’s a deeply haunting tale.
Seth is a young troll who feeds off memories. He lives in a park as a shepherd boy statue by day and roaming by night. He cannot leave because of the tall iron fence surrounding the gardens, gates locked at night which burn his skin if he touches them. But when he meets a girl whose property backs onto the park, his lonely existence is changed as she discovers his secret and with secrets of her own demands something of him. Recommended 9-12yrs.
Seth is a young troll who feeds off memories. He lives in a park as a shepherd boy statue by day and roaming by night. He cannot leave because of the tall iron fence surrounding the gardens, gates locked at night which burn his skin if he touches them. But when he meets a girl whose property backs onto the park, his lonely existence is changed as she discovers his secret and with secrets of her own demands something of him. Recommended 9-12yrs.
September 22, 2022
This is a very ambitious book with complicated ideas and plot twist and unreliable narrators. The story focuses on two characters- a moving boy statue troll and a troubled adolescent girl. He eats her memories, she tries to fool him, he’s not a bad guy but he’s hungry, she’s not a bad kid but she’s hurting. The whole novel is a confusing but interesting back and forth set in the Dunedin botanical gardens. It wasn’t a pleasant story but I think it will appeal to some really imaginative clever kids.
October 26, 2021
Another excellent book for young readers by Leonie Agnew. What I enjoyed most about this story was the unusual point of view (the story is narrated by a troll), the atmospheric setting of the Dunedin botanical garden and the unpredictable plot. The pace increases slowly and surely to an exciting climax and although slightly scary there are touches of humour. As a child, I would have loved the odd characters and the strangeness of the story. Overall, a thought provoking, imaginative, and well written novel for young readers. Highly recommended.
July 3, 2023
It's pretty good for a children's book.
A couple plot holes and the ending felt a little sudden/rushed, but other than that, I enjoyed it.
A couple plot holes and the ending felt a little sudden/rushed, but other than that, I enjoyed it.
January 1, 2022
I picked this up randomly in the children’s section of the library while my daughter was drawing. It looked interesting, but I don’t usually enjoy stories written for younger readers. But I’m sooo glad I did!
As I started reading I kept thinking the setting (a botanical gardens) sounded very familiar. From the bird aviary up the hill, to the band stand next to the playground. And it turned out the author had made one of my absolute favourite places the main setting in her beautiful story. The Dunedin Botanical Gardens. I have spent much of my childhood exploring this wonderful place, from the herb garden, to the maze of the upper gardens, and now as a mother, I have enjoyed these things and created new memories of the gardens with my daughter (whose favourite part is, coincidentally, all of the incredible stone statues scattered around.)
Aside from my obvious bias, the story itself is beautiful and sad, it’s thought-provoking and and deals with heavy topics such as grief, regret, loss of self and the balance our experiences, both good and bad, creates within to form our identity.
A very easy 5/5*, what a great way to start off 2022!
As I started reading I kept thinking the setting (a botanical gardens) sounded very familiar. From the bird aviary up the hill, to the band stand next to the playground. And it turned out the author had made one of my absolute favourite places the main setting in her beautiful story. The Dunedin Botanical Gardens. I have spent much of my childhood exploring this wonderful place, from the herb garden, to the maze of the upper gardens, and now as a mother, I have enjoyed these things and created new memories of the gardens with my daughter (whose favourite part is, coincidentally, all of the incredible stone statues scattered around.)
Aside from my obvious bias, the story itself is beautiful and sad, it’s thought-provoking and and deals with heavy topics such as grief, regret, loss of self and the balance our experiences, both good and bad, creates within to form our identity.
A very easy 5/5*, what a great way to start off 2022!
January 19, 2022
Leonie Agnew has created a fast paced eventful story with an unusual premise that leaves you thinking about the value of your own memories. Seth is a troll, a statue by day and boy by night. He is restricted to a fenced public garden but dreams of being able to explore the world. The twist is that he swallows memories, any memory said out loud is immediately lost by the person who said it and absorbed by Seth. Against this backdrop he meets Stella, a girl he desperately wants to befriend but can he keep her safe from his own unwanted power? Or will she turn out to be an even greater risk to him in turn? I thoroughly enjoyed the Memory Thief and would recommend it for ages 10-14 especially.
September 21, 2022
The Memory Thief – Leonie Agnew
New, genuine, innovate, original… NZ! Evokes similar feelings from having read ‘The Binding’. I am usually very restrained in my ratings but I think this deserves 5 stars *****
I think I had a friend once, even for just a night or two, and her name was Stella. That’s worth remembering .. holding onto her memory with my teeth.” (p52)
“It’s like sniffing at memories you can’t eat.” (p124)
“… emotions that burned with the fierceness of swallowed sunlight or fluttered like opening flowers inside my chest.” (p163)
“I’ve swallowed a thousand flavours of happiness, confession, amusement and hope, all on my own.” (p205)
.
New, genuine, innovate, original… NZ! Evokes similar feelings from having read ‘The Binding’. I am usually very restrained in my ratings but I think this deserves 5 stars *****
I think I had a friend once, even for just a night or two, and her name was Stella. That’s worth remembering .. holding onto her memory with my teeth.” (p52)
“It’s like sniffing at memories you can’t eat.” (p124)
“… emotions that burned with the fierceness of swallowed sunlight or fluttered like opening flowers inside my chest.” (p163)
“I’ve swallowed a thousand flavours of happiness, confession, amusement and hope, all on my own.” (p205)
.
March 31, 2024
Leonie Agnew has written yet another excellent book. This story had me rooting for Seth from start to finish. I had no idea how the story would wrap up and it left me in a space where I couldn’t put the book down! I was impressed with the dialogue the whole way through as it had me considering how often we share memories in our day to day conversations. I would certainly lose all my memories if I met a troll!
Excellent story for intermediate age all the way up to adults. I would give this book 10 stars if I could!
Excellent story for intermediate age all the way up to adults. I would give this book 10 stars if I could!
April 19, 2025
Leonie Agnew is one of my favourite New Zealand authors because her books are so different and cover a vast array of topics and themes. This story is mysterious, magical, heart wrenching and heart warming all at the same time. The way this author captures emotions and allows you to feel each characters heart and soul is simply stunning. I took way too long to pick this one up from my TBR pile and so very glad I did these school holidays. Another special book by a special NZ author.
August 16, 2021
Would you be friends with a troll? Stella faces this challenge as she befriends a lonely boy in the park across from her house. What at first seems to be a great friend also comes with challenges, read on to see if you would do the same as Stella.
September 5, 2021
Would I have liked it more if I was a child? Lots of similes and metaphors but I found the start of the book very confusing. Dementia - stolen memories - sad but would children relate to this? The pace increased in the second half of the book and I enjoyed the last few chapters.
April 26, 2024
Great book. Very unique and interesting premise. I enjoyed how the big bad wasn’t really all that bad and the main character wasn’t perfect. The characters are flawed and so incredibly human. I loved it
January 20, 2026
A fantastic children’s book full of mystery, excitement and emotion. Leonie Agnew really understands how children think and communicate, so this novel feels authentic while full of fantasy. A great read for children 9+
September 14, 2021
I would recommend this to younger readers in our library Y7-8
October 20, 2021
Perfect for intermediate aged students
February 17, 2022
Good concept, but found the storyline tended to plod along.
March 13, 2023
This middle-grade fantasy adventure was unlike anything I'd read before. There were twists and turns and Seth is a wonderfully unique unreliable narrator.
May 20, 2024
Lovely to be set in the Dunedin Botans, great idea!
December 2, 2025
A lovely young adult story about the importance of memories, good and bad, to make us empathetic to others feeling.
And a New Zealand author!!
And a New Zealand author!!
August 9, 2021
PopSugar Reading Challenge 2021 Prompt #11: A book about forgetting.
An enjoyable read with some life lessons thrown in. Nice to have NZ birds and trees mentioned throughout the story. The illustrations were great too.
An enjoyable read with some life lessons thrown in. Nice to have NZ birds and trees mentioned throughout the story. The illustrations were great too.
June 11, 2022
A very interesting way of looking at trolls eating humans, eating memories instead of flesh. And a very intriguing read. Celeste reminds of the angels from Dr Who. Also proof that kids are better at understanding stuff than parents. I really liked Connor, he was adorable! I enjoyed this story, it is well told, a little creepy and a little heartwarming and I will look for her other books.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews