“I was so ill-equipped to set out into that world alone. I could read and write, but I knew none of the skills needed to survive in the unfamiliar, perhaps hostile lands that lay beyond the fields and folds of our little parish. And so I waited, and worked, and wished. If I had had any notion of what actually lay in store for me, I might not have wished so hard for it.” (p. 8)
Blackwood, Gary. The Shakespeare stealer. New York: Puffin. 1998.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Review:
The year is 1601 and fourteen-year-old Widge, an orphan has been taken on as an apprentice. His new master, Dr. Bright teaches him to write in a language of his own invention thus allowing Widge to secretly copy others’ sermons for him. Unhappy with his life in his care, Widge wishes for something—anything else. He soon regrets that wish as he is taken on as an apprentice to another and given a dangerous task—to steal Shakespeare’s new play, Hamlet. When he is caught by a member of the acting troupe, Widge lies and soon gets caught up in theatre life. Will he now be able to steal from his new friends or will he risk the wrath of his master?
This interesting historical novel will appeal to young teens that enjoy a bit of historical fiction. The plot is fast-paced, the characters are interesting, and there are a few plot twists along the way. This book is a good way to supplement or introduce Shakespeare’s plays as different aspects of the time period, theatre life, and old time London are woven into the novel—Shakespeare himself even makes an appearance or two.