I didn’t realize that PDFs downloaded to Adobe Editions expired, so I’ll be unable to review this title.

In order to get past this point, I’ve given it the average star rating on Goodreads.

ANGEL THIEVES by Kathi Appelt intrigued me initially because of its references to old cemeteries and the way in which angels were used to guide runaway slaves. Unfortunately, my access to the digital preview copy expired before I had a chance to accurately record my opinions so I am going to give this young adult novel a neutral 3-star rating. Booklist, recommending the title for grades 7 to 10, gave ANGEL THIEVES a starred review while other professional reviewers (Kirkus and Publishers Weekly) were less positive, mentioning instead that this Texas bayou story seemed difficult to follow due to the multiple narrators and time periods.

It's an risky choice, giving voice to inanimate objects to highlight aspects of a character's story and Appelt is doing this two fold: using multiple objects and telling multiple stories. That aspect is fairly well handled but I wonder if it's too involved. There's too much going on for any of these stories to get much depth. Characters have a single objective and in some cases it doesn't even appear until the final third of the book.

I love Kathi Appelt's writing style and this book didn't disappoint. Couldn't put it down! I really enjoyed the alternating points of views from different periods of time and understanding the connections the characters had.

Set in Texas near the Buffalo Bayou, this book follows several different perspectives and storylines, set in contemporary times and the mid 1800s. This book follows a former slave escaping with her two little girls who were sold into slavery, Cade and his father, who steal marble angels from graves to sell in the antique store they work in, Soleil and her interest in Cade, an ocelot trapped by flood waters, and a boy in slavery who carves marble angels. Somehow all of these stories fit together.
I thought this was a unique book, but at the same time I thought there was too much going on. I would've liked to read just about the slaves escaping or Cade and Soleil. I found myself skimming through the book just to get to the end. The writing was descriptive and realistic at times, but I didn't care for the profanity, I disagreed with some of the viewpoints, and I was turned off by the way a certain political agenda was being pushed. I usually read for enjoyment or to gain information, not to encounter more political agendas (there's more than enough of that already). That being said, I think some people will enjoy this book for its uniqueness.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Posted on all links in my profile as well as the discord app.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster/Atheneum for an ARC for an honest review.

Angel Thieves is Kathi Appelt's first foray into young adult novels. It encompasses three interwoven stories told non-chronologically, a bayou that holds more secrets than a confessional, "Angel Hunters," and the plight of ocelots being poached for their skins in Texas. Appelt wraps it all up in stylistic prose that reads like a great storyteller spinning tales with cold lemonade, on the porch, in mid-July. As you continue reading my review you'll notice there is a lot to like in this book. </p>

That's the thing though. There's just so much book in this book.

To be fair this is the first book penned by Appelt that I've read so I can't compare it to books aimed at a more middle grade audience. I can say that when she decided to aim for an older audience, she swung for the fences in character arcs, themes, contemporary parallels and literary technique.

Scenery and setting burgeon into characters while characters from different time periods collide through themes that run true through all time periods. Strength of spirit, belief, hope and the faith that it can come together to bring forth justice, and peace; these are the common threads that are interwoven throughout their stories, binding them together.

Slavery, immigration, non-traditional families, devastating natural disasters, poverty and animal cruelty are all addressed throughout Angel Thieves. All hold a place for the recurring themes of faith, freedom, spirit, hope and justice. Despite the different time periods, plot lines and character arcs, none of these parallels feel forced or out of place. These issues are perfect vehicles for the themes Appelt revisits throughout the story. </p>

Throughout all these stories, in ever time period, the bayou observes. It watches and it remembers. Every name, everything and every occurrence. It knows these people, their trials, successes and torments. It will tell you its stories if you are willing to listen and sometimes it may even call upon you to bring salvation if you are lucky enough to hear it whisper your name.

There are clear-cut villains but most characters fall on some spectrum of the rainbow like all of us. We are both capable of great good, great mistakes and doing what we have to, to survive. </p>

If by now you are thinking, um... can you get on with what the bottom line is here? I don't blame you. The problem is I don't think I can because I'm not sure I know and that is the largest fault with Angel Thieves. It kind of reminds me of Infinity War where you just can't believe how much movie is in that movie. The difference being that where Infinity Wars doesn't lose you in all that movie, ultimately Angel Thieves lost me in everything it tried to do.

To Appelt's credit, she tried to do a lot but you can't do it all in one book. A couple hundred pages into the story and you start wondering what is even happening because every time you think you the plot is picking up steam? The back story of another character or another timeline or another theme or event is introduced and it all becomes just too much.

I really wanted to love this book. In the beginning I found myself caught up in the beautiful style of writing, the themes and contemporary world parallels. I thought the mysterious connections through a hundred years would be epic. And Zorra, the ocelot. How could you not care for her and root for her to be safe?


There is an audience for Angel Thieves. It will sit better with those that like the more atmospheric writing styles. It is a quick read and there is a lot to be gleaned from it. If you are thinking about reading it then you should.

For me? I'm going to get frustrated when we hit around 200 pages of 350 and more voices, time periods, settings and characters are being introduced without being any closer to understanding the characters and mysteries already introduced.

I’m not sure how I feel about this one.

“Angel Thieves” tells multiple stories that are all weaved together through the bayou and a pink angel figurine with one hand open and another closed just begging all those who see her to wonder what it is she’s hiding.

This book has multiple point of views and tells their stories in a patchwork style that doesn’t go in chronological order but rather jumps through time as all of these characters find themselves looking for something be it a home, safety, love or peace.

Each story adds something new to the overall arc of the book with these people having very different motivations for their actions and the lengths they go to see them through with the bayou being the only thing that keeps their secrets and treasures of years past and waits for them to drop new trinkets or tales that belong to their future.

The angel plot was also interesting and I’m not sure how critically we’re supposed to look at it because on one hand you can draw a contrast between the strength it gave to one character as she desperately tried to give her daughters a life she couldn’t have and escape slavery to that of the present day characters who are down on their luck sure but they have no problem stealing angels of their own and doing what they can to find the lost piece that would make them a fortune. There’s clear villains in this story but I think there is room for a long discussion about the larger themes at play with those two contrasting attitudes towards the pieces but I will say I enjoyed the final point of view when we figure out where the lost angel is.

This is an odd one because I’m not sure where to place it and how hard we’re supposed to look into it if that was the goal at all so I look forward to seeing how other readers feel about it.

**special thanks to netgalley and the publishers for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**