Sunday 4 August 2013

Peter Nimble and his Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier

Peter Nimble is a skilled young thief and this is a story about how his ordinary life as a house thief turns into something different altogether...

Peter Nimble is a orphan. A blind orphan who got his eyes pecked out by ravens. As you should all know blind children make especially good thieves. Peter was rescued by a couple of sailors fishing. (Peter was floating in a basket at the time.) They took him back to shore and the council of a nearby port town gave him a name and threw him out on to the streets to fend for himself. Peter Nimble from that day on started learning the art of thievery. One day when Peter was out in the market stealing some food, a man called Mr Seamus spotted Peter slipping in to the crowd and stealing an apple from the apple store as if it was second nature. Mr Seamus had to give up his lifelong dream of becoming a pickpocket and instead become a Beggarmonger (someone who takes children off the street, bribes them to come with him\her and then tells them to go out and beg for him\her.) Mr Seamus saw that Peter had talent and did the usual bribing and pleading. In fact, he sold all his other children to devote himself to Peter's life in thievery.

One day when Mr Seamus shoved Peter out of the front door to do some grocery "shopping" Peter spotted a crowd. He went to investigate. The crowd was listening to a Haberdasher selling goods. Peter new that this would be a perfect chance to do some pickpocketing since pickpockets thrived on crowds. Peter slipped in and got to work. By the time he was a halfway through his burgle sack was almost full to the brim with purses overflowing with jewellery. The Haberdasher was talking about faraway lands but Peter didn't believe in them. "You don't think they're there, do you?" the Haberdasher said. Peter whipped around, "M-me sir?" "Yes lad, I thought I could steal you away for a moment?" Peter stood stock still. "Come and pick your way to the front," the Haberdasher said. So the haberdasher carried on with his sales while Peter just stood there looking like a moron. Soon the crowd began to thin out and soon there was nobody left except Peter and the Haberdasher. Peter turned around but the Haberdasher wasn't there. All that was left was a carriage that belonged to the Haberdasher. In the carriage was a small wooden box. Peter grabbed the box, slid his finger into the lock and felt inside. He thought they were eggs but what they really were was something far more fantastic, Peter was holding the box that contained the fantastic eyes! What follows are adventures for Peter which delve deep into magic and mystery!

This was probably one of the best books I've ever read and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading - it's that good!!
RATING: 10/10!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!       

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