The only boy in a sea of eight sisters, Colm has developed a knack for hiding, sneaking, and escaping. He is also a deft pickpocket. His honest father is horrified when he learns of his thieving, but before he can turn Colm in, a mysterious adventurer intervenes. Finn Argos, a self-professed rogue, observes Colm's pilfering talents and bargains with the magistrate to apprentice him to a guild of dungeoneers. Colm is whisked away to Thwodin Castle, where he is paired up with other trainees: a warrior who faints at the sight of her own blood, a mageling who stutters his spells, and a druid who can speak to animals but is afraid of most. As Colm's team trains to conquer treasure-filled dungeons (and the monsters that guard them), others scheme to sabotage the guild. Anderson mines fantasy convention for its best bits and presents them with humor and depth. Beneath the lighthearted cleverness is a thoughtful examination of loyalty, betrayal, and fairness, bolstered by lovable characters and unpredictable plotting.

Gr 4-7 Living with eight rambunctious sisters has primed Colm Candorly to be the perfect pickpocket: stealthy and quick. Not only that, missing a finger lets his hands slip easily into others' pockets. When one of his sisters becomes ill, Colm decides to use his talents to pick the pockets of the wealthy in the village square, amassing a pile of gold. The problem comes with explaining the gold to his stickler father. Colm's dad insists that he come clean to the magistrate in hopes that his son will be dealt a lenient punishment. Enter Colm's savior, Finn Argos, a smooth-talking rogue who whisks Colm off to a school where such talents are valued, a school for treasure-seeking dungeon raiders. There the real adventure begins. Colm is paired with a redheaded barbarian girl, a stuttering mage, and a timid druid to form the ideal dungeoneering party configuration. Trolls, goblins, and orcs pose the obvious danger for dungeoneers, but what hidden danger lurks behind the castle walls? Colm and his friends are engaging characters with distinct personalities. VERDICT Anderson's latest fantasy is an exciting examination of friendship, morality, and loyalty; readers will look forward to Colm's future exploits. Tiffany Davis, Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh, NY