Thieves

Thieves #1

by Ella West

Fast-paced young adult fiction about a group of young people gifted with an extra-sensory talent. The first novel of a 'thriller' trilogy.Nicky is asked to read some of her work aloud in class. She dreads it-and, just as she starts-she finds herself elsewhere. Transported. For Nicky is one of a select few people who can will themselves away not just in mind, but in body. She has the gift of teleportation. It's a rare, genetic ability, and a sinister, anonymous group called the Project want to use her 'gift' for their own ends. Nicky finds herself whisked off to a nameless desert site. Here, she and four other teenagers, who are also 'travellers', are educated and trained for search and rescue missions. As these missions grow more frightening, more perilous, the five start to form closer friendships. Yet it is only when they realise that the Project wants them to breed more travellers like themselves, that Nicky, Paul and the others, find the impetus to form an escape plan. In a stark, direct style, Thieves pulls you right in to this strange, sinister world of gifted young adults exploited by an anonymous group. This novel is above all a thriller. It comments on much that is surreal in our own supposedly ordinary times. A remarkable and original debut and the first in a trilogy that includes Anywhere But Here (2008) and Real Life (2009)

.". . . the best teenage science fiction novel I have read this century." Trevor Agnew, Magpies"My teenager read it almost in one sitting (getting up at 5am to continue)." Tania Roxborogh, Otago Daily Times"Not many debut novels make it onto the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards shortlists, but Thieves, by Ella West, fully deserves its place." Tessa Duder, the Australian Women's Weekly"As readers we are in the same predicament as the five teens and we are left to grapple with the sort of questions and interesting possibilities raised by novels such as Slaughterhouse 5 and more particularly The Time Travellers Wife." Steve Langley in English in Aotearoa

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Paranormal, Magic

Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Multi-award winning author Ella West lives in New Zealand on a rural property near Dunedin.

Reviews

[Arie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would love to find this again - I remember it seeming completely fantastic when I read it... Oh, maybe 8 years ago now? And then it vanished off my bookshelf and I couldn't find the name until Goodreads came to the rescue. I hope it's worth looking for again.

[Emily🧚‍♀️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haven’t stopped thinking about these books for 15 years, cannot wait to finally read the fourth one 😌

[Caitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book about a girl who can "travel" which means she can disappear from one place and appear in another place with thought. This book her special talent is discovered and she gets taken to this isolated spot where there are other people like her. Confused and with nothing being explained this is her adventure.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from the very start. It’s a small read, which means it’s easy to get through. Not only is it short and sweet, but it’s also relatable! Nicky is a character who struggles to fit in and cope with her feelings. So when she discovers The Project, she finds her friends who help her along the way. I feel as though many people can relate to her, as plenty of teenagers feel as though they don’t fit in in some way or another. Overall, this novel is perfect for people who want an easy, but interesting read!

[Treeshula Turnbull · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story line is so perfect, not too long but keeps you hooked the whole time I was set by the first page! The amount of detail makes you believe you're there with the people, I couldn't put the book down - Immedietly went to read the second book.

[Saibhe Armstrong · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good a little rushed at the end

[Reema · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a bit of a bore to me... Nothing really interesting happened throughout the story and the ending was just bland. I personally found the writing a little old-fashioned and the characters too young for my liking. But for a first-time author, I'd say it wasn't bad but definitely needs improvement here and there. While reading, I actually found myself thinking of better ways to make it interesting!

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is AMAZING!! I read it two years ago and fell in love with it, just the whole concept of it. A few days after I watched the movie JUMPER(a great movie, I recommend it to all)and the 'jumping' to places is very similar!

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

rereading this book two years later is very satisfying but I am annoyed that I can't find real life, though there is a fourth on Ella Wests page called finders seekers which i am avidly awaiting the finish for.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

good

[Seth Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it

[Angela Armstrong]

This series was so easy to keep reading.