About This Book
Reach for this book when your teenager is grappling with the complexities of trust or feeling disillusioned by the unfairness of the world. It is an ideal choice for the teen who enjoys high-stakes strategy but also needs to explore the nuances of collaboration and the idea that one does not have to face systemic challenges alone. The story follows a cynical conman and a brilliant magical inventor in a reimagined 1800s London. Forced into an uneasy alliance to rob the Great Exhibition, they must navigate their mutual distrust while confronting a society that undervalues them. Parents will appreciate the focus on agency and intellectual problem-solving, while the narrative serves as a sophisticated entry point for discussing classism, the ethics of theft for survival, and the slow process of building genuine vulnerability with others. It offers a realistic yet empowering look at finding community in the margins.
