I hate this book. I had to read it in class and i was so bored with it. I read Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and it was good(even though it has nothing to do with this book).
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The Shakespeare Stealer
(1998, Fiction - Historical Fiction, Written by Gary Blackwood)
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Is it age appropriate?
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Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 9; suggested age 9. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
A fresh look at Shakespeare for young readers.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 9 and Up
The good stuff
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
About The Shakespeare Stealer
Parents need to know that this book includes some swordplay that leads to wounds and death. There's also some teen drinking, lying, and a mention of an affair.
Read our full review by Matt Berman
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about the ethical dilemma Widge is in: to risk his life or betray his new friends. With a little luck, children may want to know more about the Shakespearean plays mentioned here.
Our Members Say
See all 20 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give itMy concerns are:
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
Oh No No No No No!!!
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
Not bad.
Well, I had to read this book for summer reading. I honestly thought it was going to be terrible, and the first few pages were. but after I actually got into it, I could not put the book down. I really recommend this book if you can stand a couple of bad beginnings.
- I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
ggg
uyuy
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
The best book I have ever read!!!!
This book is about a boy named Widge, and he is an orphan. He gets sold to a man who wants him to steal the play of Hamlet by William Shakespeare. So Widge has to find a way to get the book without getting caught. He ends up doing some other tasks so he can get the book. This thriller book shows friendship, wisdom, and adventure. Does Widge decide to steal the book, or does he have a change of heart? You will have to read the book to find out.
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
Fun and interesting Shakespeare tie-in; some anti-Semitism depicted
Quite enjoyable. The Shakespeare tie-in is nicely done: not only with some language, and background of particular plays being performed, but even that the particular plays being performed relate to some degree to the themes of the book; for instance Hamlet (Widge has to decide what really matters to him, and what he really wants to do), and The Merchant of Venice (with some ambiguity about the "villain" of the story). But parents should be aware that some anti-Semitism is expressed (true to the time) by characters and never really challenged, and it's left rather ambiguous whether the villain of the book himself had some Jewish background. Especially with younger kids, this probably needs some discussion with parents. An older teen's excessive drinking is criticized. A "bad" character dies in a sword-fight; it's treated as a serious, sad event, not merely as a righteous "triumph".
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