Wednesday, May 16, 2018

A Bandit's Tale by Deborah Hopkinson - OPTIONAL

Hopkinson, Deborah A Bandit's Tale: The Muddled Misadventures Of A Pickpocket, 304 pages. Steven Malk, 2016. $17. Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG. 

Rocco is an eleven year old boy who has been taken away from his poor family in France to earn in America. While being taken away from his abusive Padrone, Rocco learns how to pickpocket. On the streets of New York City, Rocco is supposed to play a metal triangle to earn at least $1 a day. While his Padrone isn't looking, Rocco pickpockets many people who aren't paying attention to their valuable belongings. Rocco is very dirty and can only take a bath once a month and he never gets new clothes. In the streets of New York, Rocco doesn't know how to speak English and only French. 

I didn't like how the book doesn't explain things very well and makes you feel very confused. I liked how the main character, Rocco, doesn't give up and keeps pushing forward to earn money for his family. 

EL, MS - OPTIONAL 7th grade student reviewer CK

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