Shakespeare's Scribe

Rating:
Summary: The first good sequel I've read
Review: From the beginning, this sequel to the masterful THE SHAKESPEARE STEALER bodes ill (literally), with grim references to the devastsating outbreak of the plague that swept London in the early 1600s. Widge is back, with a cast of other great characters, and together they perform a startlingly real and profound tale of finding ones self and ones true family when just finding money enough for your daily bread is difficult enough. As the Lord Chamberlain's Men tour Northern England, the hardships of the gypsy life soon became apparent. As the players were turned back from town after town, I became as frustrated and bitter as Widge. When Redshaw appeared, I began to hope for Widge that he wouldn't have to end up choosing between his blood and his adopted family. And as Sal Pavy (known with the two names side by side throughout the book) stole part after part from his peers, I was angry. Whether you enjoy a good adventure or a puzzling mystery, you will enjoy this book, which well lives up to its predecessor.

Rating:
Summary: Slowest Book Ever
Review: My friend ... had read this book for the monthly book report. She reccomended to everyone! So I checked it out and started to read. Like 2 hours past and nothing really was going on...i was only on page 109 but still! I dont like it at all because it was so s l o w (slow). I reccomend it only to the people who have a lot of time and like books with alot of acting.

Rating:
Summary: Even better than the Shakespeare Stealer.....
Review: This book is an excellent read! IT is even better than the shakespeare stealer. After the plague becomes a threat to Lord Chamberlin's men they have to travel and preform plays in order to keep everything running. Sander decides to stay behind to take care of the orphan children and Widge goes. Widge however has a new threat. This new actor, Sal Pavy, who is as rude as anything is stealing all Widge's roles. Of course Widge is a good actor but is the new Sal Pavy even better? And to make matters worse Mr. Shakespeare breakes his arms and has to have Widge scribe for him. If Widge already doesn't have 2 much 2 do-- he also become a small physician for the Chamberlin's men since he was an apprentice to a physician, Dr.Bright, before. And then widge meets someone who claims to be his father. Is he really who he says he is? If so will Widge leave the company to be with him? This is a must read.

Rating:
Summary: WOW
Review: This book was just as good as the first one. The troop, or most of it, hits the road as they have to shut down due to the Plague. The realism of the Plague is present in the book and the readers are not spared from some authentic detail. The quest for Widge's parents begins and thickens. What makes a man is the question, one that Widge tries to answer for himself. Oh and you know that blonde headed boy Widge sees singing in the first book? He has a much larger role in this one.

Rating:
Summary: Really good book
Review: This book, a sequel to Blackwood's Shakespeare's Scribe, is a worthy follow-up, but does not surpass the fun and excitement of the first volume. Slightly sluggish, somewhat bloated, "Scribe" is surprisingly slower than "Stealer", despite the opportunities for high drama given the subject matter. The main character, Widge, discovers the man who may -- or may not -- be his father. As he did in his first volume, Blackwood offers Widge a number of moral dilemmas which make for very interesting reading for the target audience, young teens. As a father who read this book out loud to his two sons, I appreciate the historical accuracy of Elizabethan England that Blackwood includes, incorporating issues of poverty, starvation, and the Plague, all of which were prevalent during this time. With a little tighter editing and about 30 fewer pages, this could have been a stronger overall effort.

Rating:
Summary: Greatest Novel I've Read in Awhile
Review: This clever novel was one that I couldn't put down! It was
exciting and fun to read. I read it in about 4 days, and
I totally enjoyed it. This book covers tough topics, while
being an enjoyable read. I would reccomend it to both boys
and girls ages 11 and up because of some material in it that
may be tough to understand. Read and Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: As good as its predecessor!
Review: This is an absolutely fantastic sequal! It leaves a lot of room for a third book though, and we can only hope that we won't have to wait too long.

Rating:
Summary: Terrific Adventure Story
Review: When my twelve year old son recommended The Shakespeare Stealer to me, I put it aside for a while, but, gosh, my son doesn't recommend books very often to his English teacher mom, so I read it. The colorful characters and swift-moving plot kept me involved, so I was ready when my son handed me the sequel. I found it even better! Swordfights, the plague, and a mysterious, suspicious character enliven the plot. And Will Shakespeare himself has more of a role. What a fun and I must say educational (the dreaded E word) read for this age group! I'm ordering the next in the series today!