When the plague shuts down the Globe Theatre, Widge must find something new to keep him occupied and soon finds himself working alongside Shakespeare as he writes a new play for the Queen of England. By the author of The Shakespeare Stealer. Read more Continue reading Read less FROM SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
Grade 5-8-In this sequel to The Shakespeare Stealer (Dutton, 1998) , Widge has become a "prentice" to the Lord Chamberlain's Men, Will Shakespeare's acting troupe. Besides acting many of the female roles, the youngster uses his skills in "swift writing" to decipher Shakespeare's scribbles and provide individual scripts for each actor. When the plague closes the theatres in London, the players take to the road, but uncooperative company members, brigands, fire, and hostile officials make traveling a challenge. In addition, Widge loses some key roles to an uppity new prentice and wrestles with his emotions as he meets a man who claims to be his father. Through it all, he learns to recognize his own worth and the importance of true friends, and this, of course, is the crux of the story. As with his earlier title, Blackwood has created a vivid portrait of Elizabethan England via wonderful period details, along with plenty of references to the plays and life "upon the wicked stage." The story is extremely well structured, with several interesting subplots; the chapters end at just the right moment, leaving readers eager to plunge ahead. The characters are well developed, with Widge being particularly memorable. The dialogue is realistic, and the humorous plays on words add another level of interest. An exciting, well-written tale that is sure to leave young thespians clamoring for more.
Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, LaSalle Academy, Providence, RI
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. FROM BOOKLIST
Gr. 5-8. In this sequel to The Shakespeare Stealer (1998) , apprentices Widge and Sander arrive at the door of the Globe Theatre and discover a notice announcing the banning of public performances. With the plague on the rise in London, the Lord Chamberlain's Men take their company on the road to look for towns where they can perform. On the way, the troupe finds uses for Widge's skills in medicine and writing, along with the acting and physical labor required for the theater. Finding a man he presumes to be his father, Widge struggles with questions of identity, slowly discovering who he is and who has become his family. As in The Shakespeare Stealer, Blackwood sweeps readers along in a fast-paced tale convincingly set in Elizabethan England. Rich language and descriptions of places, along with many details of actions contribute to a setting that goes deeper than costumes and props to genuinely reach back into the reality of another place, another time. Narrator Widge and many of the other characters emerge as memorable, complex individuals that children will want to meet again Carolyn Phelan
Copyright American Library Association. All rights reserved ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gary Blackwood is a playwright and the author of many books for young readers, including, Curiosity, Mysterious Messages: A history of Codes and Ciphers and Around the World in 100 Days. He is best known for the bestselling Shakespeare Stealer series. He lives in Nova Scotia.
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