The Memory Thief
Twin brother and sister Benji and Kelly wander off at the local county fair after witnessing their parents argue. When Benji runs into a group of bullies, he escapes into a tent called The Memory Emporium, where he meets a strange old man inside named Louis. The old man shows him a magically vivid memory of a fighter pilot, in the hopes of getting Benji to pay to see other memories Louis has collected from people over the years.
Benji quickly realizes the ability to take memories could help his parents stop fighting with each other, and he asks Louis to teach him how to become a “memory thief.” But Louis isn’t the only person with the ability to show and manipulate memories. There’s also the mysterious Genevieve, a Memory Thief with much more nefarious motives.
Benji learns how to manipulate memories himself, but having that power comes at a cost to his family, and possibly to his own mind as well. Genevieve’s powers get out of control as she steals more and more memories from people in town―including Benji’s sister, Kelly. Benji must learn to use this newfound power, as he is the only one able to stop Genevieve.
Reviews
“Moore crafts a compelling premise and a plot that delivers more than might be expected […] With interesting twists, captivating action, and a down-to-earth lead, this adventure is sure to become a new favorite.”
“With a fast pace, a clever premise, a likable main character and just enough danger to keep readers reading The Memory Thief is a must read.”
“A fun adventure that readers of all ages will enjoy, The Memory Thief was an action-packed story about a boy trying to save his family and the rest of his town, whilst trying to adjust to his newfound skills in memory navigating. While this worked well as a standalone I’m secretly (well, not so secretly now!) hoping that there will be a sequel, or even a series. Don’t miss out on this one!”
“There’s so much wrapped up in here. The importance of family, the concept of honor, dealing with deception, and even a healthy dose of conflict resolution. Definitely a lot for a young reader to soak up, and yet it’s all tied up in a perfectly action-packed story line.”
“This is a good book about growth, family and friendship that I think anyone would enjoy.”
“I challenge you to not devour it in one sitting, because I am almost certain you will! […] I can definitely see fans of J.K. Rowling and Tim Burton gobbling up this tale.”
“Middle grade readers will love this fast-paced tale and, as I did, enjoy thinking about the complications of erasing knowledge and experience from the minds of others.”
“Not only does this fabulous story provide a fascinating and exciting plot, but there is a powerful theme here of the morality of ‘fixing’ things by taking things that don’t belong to you. This makes for a great read for young fantasy lovers who are ready for something a bit different.”
“This is the best middle grade book I’ve read in years. Buy it for all your friends!”Dan Wells, The New York Times bestselling author of Partials