The Language Thieves is a young
adult fantasy by Marc Remus. Sixteen-year-old Daniel is none too happy about
his father’s decision to move the family from Arizona to a remote Scottish
island, of all places. His mother was stricken by a mysterious illness that has
rendered her incapable of communication. Daniel speaks English and Irish Gaelic
although he isn’t too keen on overtly displaying his Irish roots. Once on the
island, he meets two new friends, Jenny and Connor, who are as suspicious as he
is about a strange, elusive tribe that inhabits a part of the island: the Cerebrals,
with their own unique culture, obsession with language, and their worship of
the brain. The Cerebrals keep themselves apart from the rest of the population,
and don’t want their kids to have anything to do with the locals. A bit
difficult when Daniel finds himself falling for the cute Emily, who just
happens to be a Cerebral. What is the mystery behind the Cerebrals, and do they
have anything to do with Daniel’s mom’s affliction? How can they possibly be
dangerous?
This is a young adult fantasy
that is quite different from the norm. The plot dives back into ancient history
and draws together some very intriguing theories. Young adult fans of Atlantis
and ancient civilizations will devour this story. The plot is full of twists
and turns and although I am not usually surprised, this book made me sit up.
The action starts right away, aboard the ferry en route the island, when a
young teen is attacked by strange men. The pace is steady and escalates as the
youngsters team up to resolve the mystery behind the Cerebrals, their mission,
and how it will affect the whole world.
Daniel is the most well developed
of the trio, but Jenny is a solid sidekick gifted with IT skills and Connor is close
behind as the loyal friend willing to follow first and ask questions later. The
teens sound and behave mostly as one would expect teens to do and this adds
realism to the plot. The romance between Daniel and Emily is sweet but
underplayed so that it does not overshadow the main plot. The intrigue and
mystery behind what the kids discover will certainly have young readers doing
their own investigations into history, culture, and the value and place of
ancient languages in society. I liked this thought-provoking angle – just how
many ancient languages are still spoken today, and how many have been lost in
the last century? The descriptions of the Cerebrals and their culture, dress
and architecture are unique and showcase the author’s incredible imagination. A
great cover and good layout and editing add to one’s reading pleasure. Themes
of friendship, loyalty, teamwork and family abound. This is an intriguing
fantasy by Remus and perfect for the young adult market.
