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.

Blog Posts

I write a daily blog that touches on pretty much everything imaginable, and that includes my books! Check out all the posts I’ve written on The Memory Thief over the years.

Reviews

Kirkus: With interesting twists, captivating action, and a down-to-earth lead, this adventure is sure to become a new favorite.
Dan Wells, NYT Bestselling Author of Partials: “This is the best middle grade book I’ve read in years. Buy it for all your friends!”
The Crazy Bookworm: “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.”
Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile: “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.”
Middle Grade Mafia: “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.”

Awards

2016 Cybils Awards Finalist: Middle Grade Speculative Fiction

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