The shakespeare stealer is a fast paced novel for kids and teens. The shakespeare stealer by gary blackwood say what. Tales from shakespeare lexile find a book metametrics inc. No doubt most authors put a great deal of thought into the titles they give to their books. Timothy bright, widges first master, teaches the young boy a form of scriptography that he calls charactery, a type of shorthand designed to help the listener. On a scale of 110 ten being the best, how would you rank the shakespeare stealer as a title. The title includes shakespeare, but not much is said of the playwright in the novel. The shakespeare stealer is a historical fiction novel released in 1999 by gary blackwood. The shakespeare stealer trilogy by gary blackwood is a lot of fun. You could call these things character life boxes, because they reveal something about a.
Readalikes for the shakespeare stealer by gary blackwood. Problem the problem of the story is that widge is commanded by two evil masters that want to steal. Blackwood knows how to capture all of the excitement, villainy, emotion, and action of a shakespeare play. Gary blackwood, the author of the shakespeare stealer has a loud voice in this book.
In this sequel to the shakespeare stealer, the black plague has closed the globe theatre, forcing the acting troupe to take to the road. So widge works his way into the globe theatre, where shakespeare s troupe rehearses and performs. Problem the problem of the story is that widge is commanded by two evil masters that want to steal the shakespeare plays in shorthand. The shakespeare stealer paperback this is a book i picked up to read to my sons prior to a trip to london, in the hopes of giving them a sense of, not only the history of london, but of one. The shakespeare stealer 2000 read online free books in. The shakespeare stealer lexile find a book metametrics inc. So widge works his way into the globe theatre, where shakespeares troupe rehearses and performs. This latest from blackwood beyond the door, 1991 is a delightful and heartwarming romp through elizabethan england. The shakespeare stealer is a 1998 historical fiction novel by gary blackwood. Taking place in the elizabethanera england, it recounts the story of widge, an orphan whose master sends him to steal hamlet from the lord chamberlains men. This was about a young boy widge that was placed in orphanage at a very young age when his mother died, the orphanage was ran by mistress macgregor. 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.
As a nice bonus, gary blackwoods the shakespeare stealer also illuminates an interesting problem. Narrator widge, 14, resigned to leading the unremarkable life of an orphan, is bought by the selfserving dr. Widge is an orphan with a rare talent for shorthand. Bright to learn his new charactery shorthand, and become his secretary. A delightful adveture full of humor and heart set in elizabethan. Shakespeare stealer test questions flashcards quizlet. Jul 01, 2000 the shakespeare stealer is a fast paced novel for kids and teens. This novel starts when a boy named widge is adppted by a doctor but then widge is sold to another master. The shakespeare stealer by gary blackwood, paperback barnes.
Shakespeare was born in 1564 in stratford, england. The shakespeare stealer by gary blackwood abebooks. The shakespeare stealer was by far one of the best historical fiction books i have ever read. Methinks the best book about shakespeare, for nine to fourteenyearolds, to be gary blackwoods the shakespeare stealer, published in 1998. Heminges setting the shakespeare stealer takes place mainly in old england. The shakespeare stealer by gary blackwood chapters 12 before you read the chapter. His exact date of birth is uncertain, but it is thought to have been april 23. Get an answer for examine the presence of metaphors in a scene or character in chapters 2124 of the shakespeare stealer. The best, peatslathered, writers on the dark stories and stark geography of these inhospitable regions. It was the first curriculum we ever researched and, after looking into dozens of others and using some of them, the one we came back to. Though you would probably think by the name of the book the problem would be that this young boy has to go steal a play. The story stars widge, a young scribe who is bought by a new master due to his training in writing charactery, a shorthand alphabet that allows him to transcribe words as fast they are being spoken. Widge was born in 1757 and lived in an orphanage with mistress macgregor.
Fourteenyearold widge is an orphan living in a small village in elizabethan england read more. Widge desired for someday a real family to claim him as there own, as and orphan child would have. For each selection, look for each selection, look for the authors use of puns and word play. Read the selections below, from the shakespeare stealer by gary blackwood. The objects people carry around can tell a lot about them at that precise moment in time. Widge has no choice but to follow orders, so he works his. Nonfiction subjects hes covered include biography, history, and paranormal phenomena. The shakespeare stealer historical fiction, trade book, lexile 840 widge is an orphan living in elizabethan england. The shakespeare stealer, originally published in 1998, is a youngadult novel by gary blackwood. Gary l blackwood a young orphan boy is ordered by his master to infiltrate shakespeare s acting troupe in order to steal the script of hamlet, but he discovers instead the meaning of friendship and loyalty. Although the vast majority of books that have lexile measures did not change, a small subset of books required updated lexile measures.
Synopsis sheet for shakespeare stealer the literary link. Books similar to the shakespeare stealer shakespeare stealer. The shakespeare stealer the shakespeare stealer the shakespeare stealer the shakespeare stealer the shakespeare stealer the shakespeare stealer. Ive never had a proper name never known me mum or dad, neither. The shakespeare stealer by gary blackwood overdrive.
The shakespeare stealer by gary blackwood discussion guide 1. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Examine the presence of metaphors in a scene or character in. William shakespeare books, author biography, and reading. Top 10 novels inspired by shakespeare books the guardian. Fourteenyearold widge is an orphan living in a small village in elizabethan england. Several have received special recognition and been translated into other. I started off by having to read this book for school but i enjoyed it so much that i went on to read shakespeare s scribe and shakespeare s spy. The shakespeare stealer is a book about a poor orphan boy, called widge, living in shakespearean england who can write a rare coded language in which symbols for.
It follows the story of widge, an orphaned apprentice, in england during the 1600s. Although the vast majority of books that have lexile measures did not change, a small subset of books required updated. Enhancements were made to more precisely measure materials read in k2 classrooms. To survive, he works for various masters, and his current one has given him the task of stealing. The shakespeare stealer by gary blackwood, paperback. The shakespeare stealer 2000 read online free books. And fourteenyearold widge a poor orphan with the rare ability to write a unique coded shorthand has no choice but to follow orders. A historical novel set at the golden theatre during shakespeares reign there. I felt that neither the story nor the characters from the first book advanced very far in. Mar 22, 2016 the shakespeare stealer chapter 1 duration. The shakespeare stealer is a book about a poor orphan boy, called widge, living in shakespearean england who can write a rare coded language in which symbols for each word can be written as the words are said. A delightful adveture full of humor and heart set in elizabethan england. The paperback of the the shakespeare stealer by gary blackwood at. His juvenile novels, which include wild timothy, the dying sun, and the shakespeare stealer, are set in a wide range of times and places, from elizabethan england to a parallel universe.
Shakespeares scribe is a sequel to blackwells the shakespeare stealer, which introduced widge as a boy hired to steal a play by shakespeare by copying it down in. The reason i give this book only four stars is because the first two or three chapters drag on and are hard. Apr 30, 2014 top 10 novels inspired by shakespeare. Let me start with a brief overview of the first and the second half of the complete works, and then get into a recommended reading order afterward.
The last book i read this summer is shakespeare stealer by gary blackwood. Widge has no choice but to follow orders, so he works his way into the. The shakespeare stealer 2000 read online free book by. With its fast pace, unusual setting, and even more unusual crime, this has found a ready audience among the. Widge manages to assimilate into the theater and befriend people who perform there, earning their trust. To survive, he works for various masters, and his current one has given him the task of stealing shakespeare s hamlet. The shakespeare stealer by blackwood, gary and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Gary l blackwood a young orphan boy is ordered by his master to infiltrate shakespeares acting troupe in order to steal the script of hamlet, but he discovers instead the meaning of friendship and loyalty. Blackwood this study guide consists of approximately 10 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the shakespeare stealer.
Shakespeares scribe lexile find a book metametrics inc. Widge is an orphan living in shakespearian england, and his skill at shorthand gets him thrown in with the company of actors that does their thing at the globe theatre ive been there, whoo. The only name ive had in this life was called me at the orphanage widge. William shakespeare was an english poet and playwright, and he is considered one of the greatest writers of all time. Jul 01, 2000 nonfiction subjects hes covered include biography, history, and paranormal phenomena. Shakespeares scribe is a sequel to blackwells the shakespeare stealer, which introduced widge as a boy hired to steal a play by shakespeare by copying it down in shorthand who then ends up joining the company. The shakespeare stealer by gary blackwood discussion guide. Dec 28, 2015 shakespeares scribe shakespeare stealer. They could describe what they do for a living or where they are going. His work comprises 36 plays, 154 sonnets, and two narrative poems. There is some historical information about elizabethan england that i enjoyed. Widge, an orphan boy, lives with an eccentric doctor who teaches him a secret shorthand writing. Heavy as lead documentary from 300lbs to running the leadville 100 duration.
Shakespeares scribe by gary blackwood librarything. For people who are new to shakespeare, it often comes as a surprise just how much he actually wrote. I started off by having to read this book for school but i enjoyed it so much that i went on to read shakespeares scribe and shakespeares spy. Shakespeare, william, 15641616stage history macbeth, king of scotland, active 11th centuryin literature macbeth, king of scotland, active 11th centurydrama.
Please note that the lexile measures for a small population of books have been recently updated. Bright is nevertheless willing to sell the boy, for. Widge is a poor orphan who has the rare ability to write a unique coded shorthand that he learned from a previous master. Excitement follows young hero widge everywhere, which leads him right to the bard himself, william shakespeare. Which one of shakespeares works should i read first. To survive, he works for various masters, and his current one has given him the task of stealing shakespeares hamlet. Several have received special recognition and been translated into other languages. Weve been a sonlight family for most of the past 15 years, writes melissa c of wray, co.
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