Booknotes: Stolen by Vivian Vande Velde
Last fall a publisher sent me a review copy of Stolen, a middle-grade novel by Vivian Vande Velde. I would probably have picked up the book sooner but for the cover: the spooky-scary black-and-white image of wickedly clawed witch’s hands looked like something out of The Blair Witch Project and gave me the impression this was a creepy horror novel. It isn’t. It’s actually a kind of cross between fairy tale and mystery, and I enjoyed it a great deal once I finally stopped judging it by its cover.
The novel opens with a bang: a group of villagers are burning down the house of the “old witch” who lives in the woods at the edge of the village. She is believed to have stolen a baby, and indeed she takes a baby with her when she makes a hurried escape out a back window. The house burns to the ground, and there is no sign of either witch or infant. But on the same day, a twelve-year-old girl appears in the woods, lost and disoriented. She does not know who she is, not even her own name. Kindly villagers take her in and tend to her wounds—she was attacked by a hunting dog, but the injury is not severe—and the old couple’s six-year-old granddaughter is convinced that this lost girl must be another of the witch’s kidnapping victims who managed to escape in the confusion. Indeed, another young girl disappeared some years back, and this lost girl is exactly the right age to be the long-lost Isabelle.
Isabelle’s parents come to claim her, but her re-entry to home life is not easy. She remembers nothing; neither her mother’s tearful embraces nor her older sister’s sharp tongue sparks any hint of memory. That older sister, Honey, seems suspicious and hostile toward Isabelle. Isabelle searches for some kind of connection to her old life and wonders if there is really anything left of “Isabelle” at all, since she can’t remember any of the people around her or the stories they tell. If you don’t remember anything about yourself, are you really you?
The narrative moves quickly, and even though I thought I’d figured out the mystery, there were twists I didn’t expect. I think Jane will enjoy this one, and maybe Rose, though there’s a plot point I anticipate will trouble her somewhat and will generate a big discussion. I can’t say more without giving away the book’s secrets, but maybe later I can do another post with big spoiler alerts plastered all over it.
sarah says:
I think I can guess where it goes. I wonder if I am right! Looks like I’m going to have to find the book to see.
On March 8, 2009 at 10:43 pm
MelanieB says:
Sounds like it needs to go on my wish list. I’m really fascinated by changeling stories, stolen children, that sort of thing.
On March 9, 2009 at 11:23 am
Beth says:
Ooo, V(3) is one of our favorite authors — well, not for 9 and 6 — will have to look this one up. Have you read Heir Apparent? That’s quite a good one.
On March 9, 2009 at 12:59 pm
jen says:
Melisa,
We read this at your suggestion. My 13 yo son loved it. I’m going to hold off letting my sensitive 10yo daughter read it.
I also thought I had it figured out. I can’t wait to read your spoiler post…
On March 18, 2009 at 4:36 pm
Melissa Wiley says:
Jen, so glad you enjoyed it! My 13yo loved it too. My 10yo looked at the cover and said thanks but no thanks.
On March 19, 2009 at 6:49 am
khia says:
Melissa,
I read the book and I think it is truly amazing! I am 13 years old.I like how they lead you on to think something but then it’s like completely different. I couldn’t put it down, I wanted to know what was going on. And when I got to the end, I couldn’t believe what it really was. I couldn’t believe it because I thought a completely different thing! I recommend this book to people who likes mysteries.
On May 17, 2009 at 1:43 pm
alexis says:
who is the witch i got confused when reading the end of thhe book?
On October 20, 2010 at 4:39 am
Marielle Doucette says:
I’m in 8th grade and read this as an english choice book. i was expecting a horror book but i was very surprised in how it really was. even though it wasn’t at all what I expected, it was a great read and I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a fast moving book with lots of twists.
On January 19, 2011 at 11:56 am
Kyleigh Peeples says:
What is the climax? Who is the protagonist? Who is the antagonist?
On January 22, 2011 at 10:46 am
scott (the other one) says:
What is the rising action? What is the falling action? What is the denouement? How do you pronounce denouement? How do you spell denouement?
On January 22, 2011 at 8:15 pm
dakota says:
where did you get the idea of stolen?\
On October 25, 2011 at 8:08 am
Eleanor Hauth-Schmid says:
I am going to read this book for my Book-Club, and really can’t wait!!!!!! Do you have any other recommendations by Vivian Vande Velde?
On December 12, 2012 at 2:51 pm
Eleanor Hauth-Schmid says:
Also… how creepy is it? I absolutely LOVE creepy books! One of my favorite genres.
On December 12, 2012 at 2:53 pm