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Books For Youth - Fiction - Historical Fiction
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Shakespeare’s Spy.
Blackwood, Gary (author).
Oct. 2003. 280p. Dutton, hardcover, $16.99 (0-525-47145-6). Grades 5-8.
REVIEW.
First published September 1, 2003 (Booklist).
This sequel to The Shakespeare Stealer (1998) and Shakespeare’s Scribe (2000) is narrated by Widge, an orphan boy who acts with the Lord Chamberlain’s Men at the Globe Theatre. Widge, at the precarious age when his changing voice jeopardizes his ability to play women’s roles, becomes infatuated with an older woman, Mr. Shakespeare’s daughter, Judith, and begins to write plays in hopes of impressing her. Soon he proves his acting ability offstage by taking on a secret mission for his employers. Blackwood goes beyond mere costume drama here, bringing together actual people, events, and details of daily life from the period and infusing them with an Elizabethan outlook. In an appended note, Blackwood separates fact from fiction. Characters and themes from the earlier books reappear in this story, while the increasingly mature Widge grapples anew with his identity and his place in the world. With a more convincing portrayal of its period than most historical novels, this book is a solid addition to a rewarding series. — Carolyn Phelan
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