The Thief is a young adult fantasy novel by Megan Whalen Turner published in 1996 by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of William Morrow (later, of HarperCollins).

[4] In 2012, The Thief was ranked number 13 among the Top 100 Chapter Books in a survey published by School Library Journal, a monthly with a primarily U.S.

[5] The main character, a boy named Gen (short for Eugenides), is released from prison by the magus of the King of Sounis.

The magus' plan is to use the long lost tradition embedded within the stone in order to claim the country of Eddis for his king.

Agreeing, Gen risks death in a daring attempt to steal the stone from an almost inaccessible temple, while the entire party is pursued by the Guard of Attolia.