 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Shakespeare Stealer
- By Gary Blackwood
- Genre: Historical Fiction
Common Sense Media says
A fresh look at Shakespeare for young readers.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
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.
What's the story?
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.
What 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.
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AGE
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.
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AGE
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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AGE
it was fun
its a good book about the olod days and adventure
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AGE
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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AGE
A great book that had me reading it tell the end!!!!
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AGE
A Great Book with Twists and Turns
I had to read this book for school, and I loved it! It was definitely the kind of book I like to read (adventure, twists in the plot, betrayal, and a little bit of mystery). I have friends my age who hated it, though. I can see where they are coming from. They said that Widge (the main character) was such a lame character. They also said that something else should have happened with Julien. I didn't think that at all, but some people may think the way my friends think.
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AGE
I am surprised the CS review does not address the themes of anti-semitism in the Shakespeare Stealer. While historically accurate, there is no context or perspective for younger readers. One of the subplots is hatred of Jews--while a lot of books deal with racism or bigotry, there is usually balance or a moral. Not so here. Not that the author is advocating, just that the negative stereotypes are presented as a matter of fact with no offsetting perspective. By the end of the book (in which the subplot plays a part), the anti-semitism felt gratiutous and, in terms of the ending, a bit ridiculous. I found a lot to like about this book--it is a fun introduction to Shakespeare and life in London during the middle ages. But the ending (which is simply a medieval version of a car chase and shoot out) and the unbalanced portrayal of Jews, makes this hard to recommend, particularly for younger readers (10 and under).
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Kid, 12 years old
February 2, 2011
AGE
Tweens
More than an affair is mentioned, including cheating, nd teen love. There is also a TON of fighting, a little cursing, and cruelty. But it teaches about Shakespeare, Widge is learining about control of his life, and there are a lot of positive messeges. :)
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| Author: | Gary Blackwood |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Historical Fiction |
| Publisher: | Dutton Children's Books |
| Publication date: | May 1, 1998 |
| Number of pages: | 216 |
| Hardcover price: | $15.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 9 - 12 |
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