The School for Thieves - by Peter Burns (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A New York Times bestseller
Winner of the Barnes & Noble Children's and YA Book Award

A young pickpocket gets recruited into an elite group of thieves in this "page-turning, edge-of-the-seat" (Publishers Weekly, starred review) upper middle grade boarding school adventure full of heists, danger, and secret plots perfect for fans of Spy School and Keeper of the Lost Cities.

Tom Morgan's life on the streets of London consists of shining shoes, picking pockets, and keeping his group of street kids out of the hands of snatchers. When he fails at the last and their home is raided, Tom is the only one not carted off to the workhouse. He's determined to rescue his friends, but breaking into the workhouse is a nearly impossible task, let alone breaking back out.

Tom is at a loss until he's approached by a mysterious figure claiming to be an accomplished thief and Tom's ticket to the best training in the clandestine arts in the world: an elite international boarding school that would teach him all the skills necessary to help his friends. Without any better ideas--and his curiosity piqued--Tom accepts the invitation.

Whisked away to the snowy Alps, Tom enters a thrilling world of intrigue and heists. But the deeper he gets into the Shadow League, the harder it becomes to leave. Tom has to learn fast and uncover the nefarious secrets within the league to have any chance of saving himself, his friends--and maybe even the world.

Review Quotes

"A mix of Dickensian atmosphere, Bond-like stunts and boarding school rivalries, this is a must for Harry Potter or Percy Jackson fans."--The Daily Mail "06/27/2025"

"Brimming with adventures, daring missions, and fierce friendships, this fast-paced story will keep fans of Stephen Gibbs's Spy School and other spy thrillers gripped and hungry for the next installment."--School Library Journal "7/11/25"

"Clever and gripping, this fast-paced boarding school story will appeal to fans of the Mysterious Benedict Society and Spy School series. A thrilling first installment in an adventurous new series."--Kirkus Reviews "6/1/2025"

"In his children's debut, Burns deploys propulsive pacing and action-packed plotting to spin a page-turning, edge-of-the-seat adventure. Meticulously unraveled secrets and personable characters will have readers clamoring for the next volume of this enthralling series starter."--Publisher's Weekly STARRED REVIEW "6/2/2025"

"Morgan leads readers on a fast-paced journey of jewelry heists and boarding school brawls, delivering a dabbling of dark academia to the middle-grade audience."--Booklist "07/01/2025"

"This high-octane, fast-paced debut will be impossible to put down, especially for 9+ Skandar fans"--The Guardian

About the Author

Peter Burns is the author of ten critically acclaimed nonfiction sports books and has been nominated for numerous awards--twice for the prestigious William Hill Sports Book of the Year. The truth, however, is that he's always wanted to write children's books, so The School for Thieves is a dream come true. Peter studied English at the University of St Andrews before gaining a master's in publishing at Napier University. He lives in Edinburgh with his wife, four kids, and a slightly nervous cocker spaniel. He isn't a thief, a spy, an assassin, or a politico. Or is he? Visit him at PeterBurnsAuthor.com.