The Shadow Thieves (Cronus Chronicles) (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Eric Fortune (Illustrator)
Key Phrases: enchant the shadows, shadow army, Grandmother Winter, Uncle John, Samantha Golton (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7-9-With a wit and cynicismthat will enchant most readers, Ursu weaves an extraordinary tale filled with Greek gods, sick and shadowless children, and a plot to overthrow the Lord of the Dead. Charlotte Mielswetzki is in such a bad mood that she doesn't notice a freakish man in a tuxedo following her home from school. But something extraordinary is about to happen. Charlotte's cousin Zee lives in England, where all of his friends are becoming mysteriously and seriously ill. Sent to Charlotte's family in America, he discovers that the same thing is happening to his new friends. It turns out that Philonecron, born in the Underworld, is determined to overthrow Hades and builds an army from children's stolen shadows, getting at them through Zee. The quick-paced novel takes readers on a danger-filled journey from the Midwest to Hades, where Charlotte and Zee make their final stand against the evil threatening to destroy the world of the dead. The Shadow Thieves is a great addition to this newly popular Greek-myth genre. Readers of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians series (Hyperion) and Jane Yolen's Young Heroes series (HarperCollins) will delight in this new helping of myth-based fiction.-Lisa Marie Williams, Fairfax County Public Library System, Reston, VA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 5-8. Forget heaven and hell, the Greek underworld isn't a myth! When it's time to leave the corporeal world, everyone makes the journey to Hades' realm, where they spend eternity as a Shade, first waiting in line to cross the river Styx, and thereafter roaming aimlessly. All is status quo until power-hungry Philonecron resolves to reanimate the dead with blood from the living, create an army from the shadows of living children, and usurp Hades' throne. Enter Charlotte Mielswetzski, unwitting accomplice; her cousin Zee, a boy with an unusual bloodline and an unusual shadow; and a kitten named Mew. The cousins come to understand they are at the center of a nefarious underworldly plot, and must protect themselves, foil Philonecron, and reunite the children with their shadows. This story is charmingly silly, but has enough serious moments to carry the plot forward. It unwinds with such unabashed cheerfulness and gusto that readers will find much to enjoy, especially if they can connect with its mythological base. Holly Koelling
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum (February 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416905871
• ISBN-13: 978-1416905875
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #554,490 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shadows dark against the wall, May 9, 2006

By	E. R. Bird "Ramseelbird" (Manhattan, NY) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Anne Ursu has penned two adult novels as of this review. With the understanding that adult authors are often completely incapable of writing children's books (to say nothing of children's fantasy novels) I approached, "The Shadow Thieves" with the greatest of trepidation. The first in a series called, "The Cronus Chronicles" (a particularly interesting name when you consider that Cronus never makes an appearance), the book yet another addition in the Greek mythology trend sweeping libraries and bookshelves nationwide. "The Lightening Thief" and "Corydon" were just some of the first of these. What sets "The Shadow Thieves" apart is that we're looking at a whole new setting. It's Hades, ladies and gents! And Ursu, for the record, is doing a fabulous job of bringing its various charms to our attention.

Two kids. Two stories. On the one hand you have Charlotte. She's been having kind of a crappy time of it at school. She's not popular, she doesn't like her new English teacher, and she didn't get into the school play. So when she finds a new kitten, she feels a little better. And when her cousin Zee comes to live with her family (and he's cool) things seem okay. Of course there's that thing where all the kids in school have started getting some bizarre wasting disease. Add onto that Zee's story, and suddenly things don't seem so hunky-dory after all. Apparently Zee has provided a supervillain by the name of Philonecron (call him Phil) with the means of raising the ultimate army. The army is made out of the shadows of children and with it he means to conquer Hades. Yup, you heard me. Hades is real. The Greek gods are real. And it's basically up to two kids to save humanity from a fate worse than death.

I got one word for you: compelling. Ursu knows how to set up suspense, drama, and a great deal of fear. Her bad guy is bad. Her good guys are conflicted. And most importantly? The entire endeavor is shot through with a healthy dose of humor. Sometimes this can be a little much. The narration is fond of putting in a word or a joke where words and jokes are not necessarily needed. But by and large I was relieved to find myself enjoying the story thoroughly. Standing at a healthy 424 pages, the book is actually quite a quick read. The illustrations at the beginning of the chapters don't hurt a bit either.

One of the nicest things about, "The Shadow Thieves" is the fact that while you can see a sequel as coming, the first book doesn't leave you hanging. Some fantasy series ("Door of Time" I'm looking at YOU) use their first book merely as a set-up for future titles. Ursu doesn't do that. Honestly, "The Shadow Thieves" could be a stand alone novel and it wouldn't be any the worse for it. Maybe a little depressing, considering what happens to us all when we die (think harpies), but no more so than the existence meted out in Philip Pullman's, "The Amber Spyglass". Ursu writes at a steady clip without sacrificing character or emotional resonance to plot.

Being a former resident of Minnesota I was pleased as punch to see that wonderful area of the country finally given a little attention kiddie lit-wise. And what better place to put the door to the underworld than in The Mall of America? Oddly, Ursu never calls it "The Mall of America" in so many words. It's just "The Mall" (which makes me wonder if legal issues came up in some way). Not that it's hard to recognize. Legoland and the late-lamented (but now glorified forever thanks to this book) Cereal playground. The amusement park, the movie theater, and the fact that The Mall is located near the airport? It could only be one place and that place could only contain the door to the Underworld itself.

2006 seems to be the year of the shadow thefts. You have it in "The Shadow Thieves", Dave Barry's lamentable, "Peter and the Shadow Thieves", and Larry DiFiori's amusing picture book, "Jackie and the Shadow Snatcher". It never rains but it pours. Now far be it from me to point out some of the more familiar aspects in this tale, but bear with me. In this book the villain Philonecron has multiple deadly servants. They are tall with bald heads and they wear superb tuxes. They also go around stealing shadows from children, sometimes by reaching into those kids' very chests. Oh, and by and large they do not speak. Now anybody who's ever seen the best-known "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" episode entitled, "Hush", will realize that I'm describing The Gentlemen. I don't think Ursu actually ripped off "Buffy", but the similarities are striking. Add onto that the fact that Phil likes to call Zee "Zero". Zero is a black character in "Holes" of African-American descent. Zee too is black. And then there's the whole shadow stealing business. That in particular seems similar to the work done in "His Dark Materials" by the Oblation Board. But again, these are just some tropes of the genre. Ursu has a highly original head on her shoulders. Just don't get too surprised if something becomes familiar here or there.

So how old a readership are we talking here? Well, this puppy fall squarely into the middle readership category. Which is to say, kids anywhere from eight to eighteen might get a kick out of it. There's a kind of gruesome sequence involving someone getting Prometheus's fate (though you never actually SEE his liver get gnawed on) and some threats lobbed by the bad guy, but all in all this puppy's fairly gore-free. Definitely a good title for those kids suffering Percy Jackson withdrawl. Fun book. Fun new author. Fun time.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A chapter book for summer reading for the grandkids!, June 16, 2006

By	Betty Spaulding "--Grandmother and Avid Reader" (Signal Mountain, tn USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

OK, I'm not a kid. In fact, I am a 65-year-old grandmother.

That said, I am also looking for a summer read for the various DGC's who stop by for a chapter or two most afternoons. You know, front porch, fan breeze, iced tea and soft drinks, sometimes a store-bought cookie or two. Or even a homemade something-or-other, if the older DGC's want to make one, then eat it.

This is it. They'll LOVE it!

I like the idea that the story can stand by itself--no cliff-hangers here. Especially since we're going to have to wait a year for the next volume, then another year for the third one. (Harry Potter, anyone?)

Then, the humor will definitely appeal to my pre- and early-teen DGC's--it did to me! Having worked many years in bureaucracies (as we all do, these days) Hades was very familiar, and more apt than most kids are likely to realize!

The writing is good. There's enough suspense to prickle the neck, but not so much as to give nightmares to the littlest ones. (I wouldn't give Neal Gaimon's CORALINE to a really sensitive child, for instance, and I hae me doots about several others . . . .) On the other hand, have you SEEN what cartoons are like on TV these days? Sheesh.

I suspect that many conservative Christians will have great trouble with the premise of the book--that the Greek version of the afterlife is the 'real' one, but remember, this is fiction!

I think kids ALWAYS understand the difference, if one explains.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, March 30, 2006

By	Brian Allard (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book slots straight into my personal top 10 list. I can't tell you how fantastic it is.

The best thing about this book is that it respects and entertains the reader, no matter what age. Ms. Ursu uses the occasional big word, and trusts that the reader will know it, or will take the time to learn it. And adult or child, this book will teach you so much about British terminology, without you ever knowing it's happening.

And the story! This is truly a story written by someone who loves stories. I was torn - keep reading reading reading til it's over, or set it aside after every chapter so it isn't over soon.

This is a great book for adults and kids, and it's a great book for teachers.