Thief Girl

Gr 6 Up—Avvy Go lives and works in Chinatown, Toronto, where the immigrant community struggles, but she goes to school in a beautiful, wealthy neighborhood that features large houses and entitled peers. When she finds a bank gift card loaded with money, the dualities of her life really begin to pile up. Avvy becomes the keeper of many secrets but she longs to tell them. She wants friends but also wants to go through school unnoticed. She wants to do the right thing and help her family but cannot find a way that does not involve stealing. Lee's tale provides all the angst of young adult fiction with a reading level appropriate for struggling readers, which is laudable. However, the story and characters are developed in a facile manner. The narrator tells readers that Avvy is conflicted but this confliction is never demonstrated. Ultimately, the story feels too light and cannot carry the necessary weight needed to propel the characters.—Naphtali L. Faris, Youth Services Consultant, Missouri State Library, Jefferson City, MO