This book provides a wonderful back door entry in to the world of Shakespeare. It gives a realistic idea of what it was like to live during that period. It shows just how brutal poverty could be at that time and how a few good people could help set a child on the right path. It allows a perspective on Shakespeare that would otherwise be hard to acquire. It also gives another insight on plagiarism.
The Shakespeare Stealer
(1998, Fiction - Historical fiction, Written by Gary Blackwood)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
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
This review of The Shakespeare Stealer was written by Matt Berman
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.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- 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.
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More on The Shakespeare Stealer
Book Summary
When orphaned Widge is apprenticed to Dr. Bright, he learns the doctor's method of shorthand and is bought by Simon Bass, who wants Widge to steal Shakespeare's newest play, Hamlet, by transcribing it secretly.
Once inside the Globe Theater, Widge is enthralled by the play and taken in by the company as an apprentice. Soon Widge is torn by his fear of his master, his loyalty to the people who have treated him as a friend, and his growing desire to continue as an actor.
Is It Any Good?
What more could you want in an adventure: There's a plucky orphan finally finding a home, some swashbuckling swordplay, Elizabethan theater, a girl posing as a boy, and a dastardly villain who is not what he seems. As a nice bonus, Gary Blackwood's THE SHAKESPEARE STEALER also illuminates an interesting problem: the stealing of plays in Elizabethan England. With its fast pace, unusual setting, and even more unusual crime, this has found a ready audience among the upper elementary and middle school set.
Publisher’s Details
Publisher: Dutton Children's Books, Publication date: 5/1/1998
Number of pages: 216, Price: $15.99 (hardcover)
Read Aloud: 9+, Read Alone: 10+
Number of pages: 216, Price: $15.99 (hardcover)
Read Aloud: 9+, Read Alone: 10+
Our Members Say
See 21 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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Kids ages: 12
I rate this title on for age 11 and give it- My highlights are:
- Educational
Another side to Shakespeare
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I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
Oh No No No No No!!!
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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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.
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I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
ggg
uyuy
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I rate this title on and give it
A great book that had me reading it tell the end!!!!
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Ratings at a Glance
| 50% | of parents say it's educational |
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