The Thief Who Sang Storms

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Pub Date 31 Mar 2022 | Archive Date 1 Apr 2022

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Description

From the bestselling and multi-award-winning SOPHIE ANDERSON comes a magical, timely new adventure about bravery and new beginnings.

The Island of Morovia is shaped like a broken heart. The humans live on one side of the island, and the alkonosts - the bird-people - live on the other. But it wasn't always this way...

Linnet wishes she could sing magic, like her father, Nightingale - and bring the two sides of her island together again. For her land has been divided by a terrible tragedy, and Linnet has been banished with her father to the deepest swamps, leaving behind her best friends, Hero and Silver.

So when her father is captured, Linnet must be brave and embark on a treacherous journey. Through alligator pools and sinking sands, she finds new friends. Yet without her singing magic, Linnet discovers something even more powerful. Something that could save her father, and heal the broken heart of her island once more...

With themes of grief, trust, love, and that we have more in common than that which divides us, this is a heartfelt book filled with adventure and stunning storytelling from bestselling Sophie Anderson.

From the bestselling and multi-award-winning SOPHIE ANDERSON comes a magical, timely new adventure about bravery and new beginnings.

The Island of Morovia is shaped like a broken heart. The humans...


Advance Praise

SOPHIE ANDERSON’s novels have sold over a quarter of a million copies in the UK, and have been translated into over twenty languages.

Sophie has won the Independent Book Award and the Wales Book of the Year Award, and has been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal twice.

Praise for The Thief Who Sang Storms:

“Themes of division, community and kindness are woven into a spellbinding adventure from one of my favourite contemporary children's writers.” The Bookseller

Praise for Sophie Anderson:

“Anderson’s talent as a weaver of magic and creator of evocative landscapes is growing with every book.” The Daily Mail

“The kind of enchanting escapism which salves and soothes.” The Big Issue, on The Castle of Tangled Magic

“Pure, glorious escapism.” The Times, on The Castle of Tangled Magic

“Marvellously-drawn characters and a timeless style of prose.” Book Trust, on The Girl Who Speaks Bear

“Timeless and urgent, full of tenderly dispensed lessons about belonging, home and wildness. A wondrous tale that will win readers for generations to come.” Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The Girl of Ink and Stars, on The Girl Who Speaks Bear

“A magical tale… a captivating and original retelling of a traditional story straight out of folklore. Beautiful escapism.” Sunday Express S Magazine on The House with Chicken Legs

“This magical adventure story has the feel of a modern fairytale.” The Week Junior on The House with Chicken Legs

SOPHIE ANDERSON’s novels have sold over a quarter of a million copies in the UK, and have been translated into over twenty languages.

Sophie has won the Independent Book Award and the Wales Book of...


Marketing Plan

PREPARE TO BE ENCHANTED by a world-class consumer marketing campaign, reaching readers young and old, far and wide, with a message of kindness and unity.

Pre-order Sophie Anderson’s The Thief Who Sang Storms to be in with the chance of winning a limited edition wooden decoration hand-stamped by the author, and an A5 The Thief Who Sang Storms print illustrated by Joanna Lisowiec. Simply email marketing@usborne.co.uk with proof of purchase, and your postal address to enter. 500 prizes available, first come first serve. Closing date for entries 31st March. T&Cs apply.

https://usborne.com/media/usborne_pdfs/competitions/The_Thief_who_Sang_Storms_pre-order_terms_and_conditions.pdf 


PREPARE TO BE ENCHANTED by a world-class consumer marketing campaign, reaching readers young and old, far and wide, with a message of kindness and unity.

Pre-order Sophie Anderson’s The Thief Who...


Available Editions

EDITION Paperback
ISBN 9781474979061
PRICE £7.99 (GBP)

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Average rating from 62 members


Featured Reviews

As with Sophie Anderson's other stories, this fantasy is a modern, relatable twist on a traditional Russian folktale - this time based on a poem called Nightingale the Robber about a mysterious man with bird-like features and a powerful, dangerous whistle. In The Thief Who Sang Storms, the magic is centred on a thirteen-year-old girl who attempts to bring together two opposing sides of her island while also trying to save her persecuted father.

Readers of the author's previous books will enjoy spotting a familiar old friend. There's always a myriad of new details too to delight readers in Sophie Anderson's fantasy worlds. It's easy to melt away into this story's world of shipwrecks, floating islands, fortresses, swamp homes and magical bird-people. Underneath the fantasy sit a number of highly relatable themes - divided societies, grief, prejudice and the power of finding hope in dark times. It's a mesmerising story that has many layers to unpack.

We also see a protagonist who is frustrated at not yet having received the 'singing magic' that she feels will empower her to make a difference. For a middle-grade readership on the threshold of puberty, the feeling of waiting to be big enough to make an impact is likely to be a familiar one - but the author has a message of encouragement for her readers through Linnet's story. We may get frustrated when we lack agency to change the world around us, but often it's the power of the smallest decisions and actions that lead to the biggest impact when we follow our hearts, seek to bridge divisions and pursue what is right.

Thank you to the publisher for sending us an early review copy. Our review features on our Spring 2022 Ones to Watch list: https://www.booksfortopics.com/post/ones-to-watch-new-children-s-fiction-for-spring-2022.

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Another beautiful book from Sophie Anderson. Her descriptions flow from the page into your imagination immersing you in the character's lives on Morovia from the start. The conflict and challenges between the alkonosts and humans faced by the lead character, Linnet, are palpable so that you are willing her forward and giving her strength to succeed with her plans. The clever cross over with a previous book by Sophie Anderson adds to Linnet's story and would intrigue you to read that after if you haven't done so already.

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Based on an intriguing Russian folk poem, Nightingale the Robber, telling of a mysterious man with bird-like features and a powerful, dangerous whistle, The Thief Who Sang Storms, is a captivating story of grief, finding hope in even the darkest of places, and the importance of unity in diversity. Readers will be completely mesmerised by the emotion of the story and carried on wings of magic.

Thirteen-year-old Linnet is an alkonost – a part of a community of bird people who have feathers instead of hair and sing magical songs that can change the world. At one time, her people lived in harmony with humans on the island of Morovia. Three years earlier, a terrible tidal wave caused a shipwreck, killing the queens of Morovia and Linnet’s mother. The Crown Heir Vasha was too young to rule so Captain Ilya of the royal guards took control and created a land of fear, division and sadness. Linnet and her father, Nightingale, were forced from their home into a life of exile.

Linnet wants nothing more than to restore the island to the wonderful place it used to be. The only trouble is her magic hasn’t arrived yet. She dreams of singing a song that will show everyone the error of their ways and bring her friends and family back together. Her desperation and hope take the reader on a heart-stopping adventure where everything is at risk.

This story is full of meaning. Linnet learns that no matter what happens, we always carry those we love in our hearts – even if we are separated, they are always there.

Thank you to Usborne for this beautiful book!

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