Sneak Thief

Reviewed by: Mary Lehmer - Freeport Community Library, Freeport, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: August 7, 2018

Review

Hush lives in an RV park with a very abusive mother. Her mom locks her out of the RV, calls her names and doesn't provide her with food or protect her from the boyfriends she has over. These things have made Hush resourceful but quite possibly lead to a problem Hush can't control- she steals things. And not because she needs or wants them, she can’t help it, she just has to do it. When she gets caught one day, Hush gets a chance to change. With the help of her new friend Desiree and temporary foster mom Mabel, she might be able to. Hush is a wonderful character. A thief yes but pretty honest about things otherwise and the way she deals with things was real, sad and funny at times. Her friendship with Desiree is genuine and key to the success of this story. But it's the care and love of foster mom Mabel that will win readers over. Mabel gets Hush and loves her for who she is, which is what Hush needs. The mom's change was a bit unreal at the end, but young readers might not be as bothered by that as adults will be.

Overall Book Score: very good