The Shakespeare Stealer

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1998

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The Shakespeare Stealer

Genre: Fiction; Historical adventure
Originally Published: 1998
Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 840L; Grades 5-8
Structure/Length: 25 chapters; approximately 216 pages; approximately 5 hours, 16 minutes on audiobook
Protagonist/Central Conflict: The novel is set in Elizabethan England and follows Widge, an orphan trained as a “cutter”—someone skilled at writing shorthand. Widge is sent by his “master” to infiltrate a rival theater company and steal the script of William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. However, Widge finds himself becoming attached to the troupe and torn between loyalty to his “master” and his newfound friends. The central conflict revolves around Widge’s moral dilemmas, the value of friendship, and the pursuit of individual identity.
Potential Sensitivity Issues: Child abuse; murder; ethnic, gender, and religious prejudice; loss of parents; bullying; deceit and theft. The source material uses the term “master” to describe the rankings of some characters, which will always appear in quotes throughout this Teaching Guide.

Gary L. Blackwood, Author

Bio: Born 1945; American author of children’s and young adult books; known for historical fiction and adventure novels; explores themes of identity, friendship, and morality; has written numerous books for young readers, including The Year of the Hangman and The Book of the Lion; received praise for his engaging storytelling and ability to transport readers to different historical periods
Other Works: The Midwife’s Apprentice (1995); The Good Times Are Killing Me (1989); The Year of the Hangman (2002); The Book of the Lion (2000); Curse of a Winter Moon (2010); The King’s Ransom (2015)
Awards: School Library Journal Best Book of the Year (1998); ALA Best Books for Young Adults (1999)