The Thief and the Beanstalk cover

The Thief and the Beanstalk

Author: Catanese, P.W.

Reading Metrics

Grade Level Middle Grades (MG 4-8)
Book Level 5.7
Points 10.0
Fiction/Nonfiction Fiction
Word Count 63250
Points per Word 0.000158
Page Count 288
Points per Page 0.034722

Description

Everyone knows the story of Jack and the beanstalk, but this book takes place long after Jack's original adventure, when he has become an old man living in a lavish white castle. The story follows Nick, an orphan who joins a band of thieves in hopes of finding warmth and protection. Nick is tasked with helping the thieves break into Jack's castle, which is rumored to contain the vast riches Jack accumulated from his climb up the beanstalk.

Quick Summary

A thief named Nick scales a magical beanstalk in a fresh spin on the classic fairy tale, but this time the giant's world has evolved into something far more treacherous than Jack ever encountered. Kids will root for Nick's clever tricks and near-misses as he navigates a kingdom where the rules of magic have completely changed. If your kid loves the kingdom-building adventure and witty humor of the "Hero's Guide" series, they'll devour this beanstalk reboot. Perfect for fourth through seventh graders who enjoy clever protagonists and fairy tale twists.