A hilarious, action-packed New York Times bestselling series launches with a story-within-a-story, from the author of the Half Upon a Time trilogy. Life is boring when you live in the real world, instead of starring in your own book series. Owen knows that better than anyone, what with the real world’s homework and chores. But everything changes the day Owen sees the impossible happen—his classmate Bethany climb out of a book in the library. It turns out Bethany’s half-fictional and has been searching every book she can find for her missing father, a fictional character. Bethany can’t let anyone else learn her secret, so Owen makes her a deal: All she has to do is take him into a book in Owen’s favorite Kiel Gnomenfoot series, and he’ll never say a word. Besides, visiting the book might help Bethany find her father… …Or it might just destroy the Kiel Gnomenfoot series, reveal Bethany’s secret to the entire world, and force Owen to live out Kiel Gnomenfoot’s final ( very final) adventure. Gr 4–6—When Owen sees Bethany climb out of a book, he learns that she is half fictional and is searching for her missing father. While Owen sympathizes, he also immediately sees the possibilities for fame, fortune, and glory. Owen's real life is boring, his mother works too much, his teacher gives him stupid assignments, and his classmates don't get him at all. If Bethany would just take him into the new Kiel Gnomenfoot book, he'd save the day and be a hero. When Owen sneaks into the story and sets in motion a series of really terrible events, he realizes he wasn't ready for fame and glory. Owen learns a lot about how to be a true friend and what courage really is in this fast-paced, action-packed tale. A fun book for fans who enjoyed Riley's "Half Upon a Time" (Aladdin) series.—Terry Ann Lawler, Burton Barr Library, Phoenix, AZ *"A droll and clever opener likely to leave readers breathless both with laughter and anticipation." ( Kirkus Reviews, starred review ) Strangely enough, James Riley, author of the Half Upon a Time books, doesn't actually exist. There's no record of "James Riley" before his fairy tale series came out, and sources say that the man in author photos is just an actor. It's almost as if someone made up this fictional "James Riley" identity solely to hide his identity. But why? And who would go to such lengths? Certainly Nobody comes to mind.  Story Thieves CHAPTER 1 Owen wanted to scream at the horror before him. But the sound wouldn’t come and the nightmare only continued, forcing Owen to ask himself, deep down, one question: “Can anyone tell me what three-fourths times two-thirds is?” Mr. Barberry stood at the board at the front of Owen’s classroom, his arms folded, waiting for a hand to raise. No, not that question. The real question was this: Was there anything in the world that could possibly be more boring than fractions? Owen frowned as Mr. Barberry gave up on volunteers and just picked someone. “Mari? Three-fourths times two-thirds?” Being locked in a room with no windows or doors, without anything to do, while wearing a blindfold and being forced to name various types of trees? That’d be pretty boring, but not fractions boring. “One-half,” Mari answered, and Mr. Barberry nodded. Maybe if someone gave you enough soda to keep you awake for hours, then read furniture building instructions to you? In another language? Except what if you accidentally started to learn that foreign language without realizing it? That’d almost be considered worth it to some people. So that was instantly out. “Owen?” Mr. Barberry said. “How about you? One-third times two-thirds.” “Two-ninths?” Owen said, faking enthusiasm. “That’s right,” Mr. Barberry said, and turned back to the board while Owen let his mind wander again. Maybe being stuck home sick and too feverish to think or do anything except watch TV, and the only channel that came in was an infomercial for other infomercials. That would be pretty boring. “One-third times one-third?” Mr. Barberry asked. “Gabriel?” “One-ninth?” Gabriel answered, his eyes glazed over. Nope, fractions still won. And by a lot. If only the bell would ring early from some freak electrical surge. Sure, it had never happened before, but Owen was nothing if not optimistic. And that was something he was pretty proud of, since it wasn’t easy to be optimistic in the face of all these math problems. “How about four-fifths times one-eighth?” Mr. Barberry asked. “Bethany, want to take this one?” There was no answer, so Mr. Barberry turned around. “Bethany?” Owen threw a look over his shoulder and saw Bethany hunched down behind her math book, her head not even visible. She wasn’t actually sleeping, was she? That’d be brave. Dumb, but brave. Either way, at least something was happening, and that meant class got just a fraction less boring. Owen covered his smile with his hand. Fraction. Ha! “Bethany!” Mr. Barberry shouted. Bethany jerked back