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Wicked Will: A Mystery of Young William Shakespeare
The play’s the thing . . .
To the outside world, Tom Pryne is an orphan traveling Elizabethan England with his uncle’s theater troupe. In actuality, “Tom” is Viola, in disguise because her parents’ Catholic sympathies have put them at odds with the Crown and forced them into hiding. When the troupe arrives in the sleepy little town of Stratford-on-Avon, Viola’s uncle is arr...more
To the outside world, Tom Pryne is an orphan traveling Elizabethan England with his uncle’s theater troupe. In actuality, “Tom” is Viola, in disguise because her parents’ Catholic sympathies have put them at odds with the Crown and forced them into hiding. When the troupe arrives in the sleepy little town of Stratford-on-Avon, Viola’s uncle is arr...more
Hardcover, 208 pages
Published
June 23rd 2009
by Aladdin
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On the way into the town of Stratford-on-Avon in 1576, the acting troupe Lord Edgewell’s Men pick up a local guide, twelve-year old Will Shakespeare. Thomas Pryne, at fourteen the youngest player with the company, can’t stand him. Will is anxious, curious and asks questions, questions, questions. Thomas has some family troubles that shouldn’t be shares with some chatty kid. “He might be nothing more than a rude county boy, but already I could tell he loved his books and his tales and words, word...more
Wicked Will is a chapter book mystery targeted at the nine to twelve year-old age group, and at times I wondered if this book would really appeal to kids of that age. My son is eight, and while I think he would like the mystery aspect of the story, he doesn't know who Shakespeare is yet, and some of the subject matter towards the end of the book seems inappropriate for his age. Also, the lawyer in the book uses Latin, and I would think that would be a turn off for most kids.
The first few chapter...more
Tom Pryne appears to be an average 12-year-old boy apprenticed to his uncle's troupe of traveling players, wandering the countryside of Elizabethan England in search of audiences for their shows. But all is not as it seems, and Tom's true identity is a secret that could endanger his very life if revealed. In the town of Stratford, Tom is befriended by an imaginative young chatterbox named Will Shakespeare. Tom isn't looking for friends, but when his uncle is arrested on suspicion of murdering a...more
Sakura medal 2011 contender.
A charming plot and idea for a juvenile mystery. Young Will Shakespeare befriends the narrator, Tom/Viola, a member of a traveling group of players. Together they attempt to solve the murder of Stratford's most ill-tempered man.
Many Shakespeare references, some use of Elizabethan vocabulary, and nice atmospheric details. Yet it did not wow me. I was also surprised at the death toll by the end of the story, and the relatively unhappy ending- quite unusual in a juvenile...more
A charming plot and idea for a juvenile mystery. Young Will Shakespeare befriends the narrator, Tom/Viola, a member of a traveling group of players. Together they attempt to solve the murder of Stratford's most ill-tempered man.
Many Shakespeare references, some use of Elizabethan vocabulary, and nice atmospheric details. Yet it did not wow me. I was also surprised at the death toll by the end of the story, and the relatively unhappy ending- quite unusual in a juvenile...more
Coming into Stratford-On-Avon, a troupe of players meets a voluble and inquisitive young boy named Will Shakespeare. Will very quickly figures out that the narrator - Tom - is really Viola, a girl in disguise because her parents are on the lam. Then the leader of the troupe is accused of murdering an unpleasant local. Can Will and Tom/Viola figure out who did it to save him? Echoes of Shakespeare's plays, and a fast plot with creepy scenes in the charnal house among the bones carry this along.
This was a surprisingly well written and atmospheric juvenile mystery, narrated by Tom, AKA Viola, whose parents have a price on their heads for helping a Catholic priest escape the country. Viola is disguised as a boy and travels with her uncle's strolling players. When the players arrive in Stratford, they meet an endearingly portrayed young Will Shakespeare and within 24 hours are in the middle of a murder investigation, with Viola's uncle being the chief suspect.
Imagine a story about the famous William Shakespeare as a young boy. Imagine a story where he is always in a little bit of trouble, but still well liked by young and most of the old. Imagine a story where a murder in a small hamlet takes place and young Will with the help of a traveling acting troup member set out to discover who the murder is. Fun adventure with a little bit of history mixed in!
A cute attempt at weaving Shakespeare into the bookshelf of a middle school student but too many inconsistencies in language for this adult reader. Stick with Ye Olde English please.
A few good twists and turns but I don't think it would be enough to keep the intended audience interested. Plus, all of those Shakespearean references are going to go right past the kids and are much too obvious to entertain the adult reader.
A few good twists and turns but I don't think it would be enough to keep the intended audience interested. Plus, all of those Shakespearean references are going to go right past the kids and are much too obvious to entertain the adult reader.
This was a delightful story however it might not appeal to elementary students. The language references is a little archaic to modern students who might have difficulty making connections. The mystery aspect was good with quite a few interesting twists and turns but the body count seems a little higher than expected for elementary.
A nice little mystery set in Stratford-upon-Avon during William Shakespeare's youth. One of my favorite parts of this book was the dialogue. I thought it offered a fun introduction for kids to the style of speaking and language that pops up in the works of Shakespeare. It was also interesting to get a glimpse into the imagined beginnings of Shakespeare's interest in writing.
A fun murder mystery set when Shakespeare was a boy. I enjoyed the depiction of him as rambunctious boy with a crazy imagination. The plot was good and some nice subplots to reach a variety of interest. I didn't guess all the twists which is good, but then again I wasn't trying.
This is a fun, clean read that introduces young readers to Shakespeare.
Readers can get all sorts of background about Shakespeare's life as a child in Stratford while solving a murder mystery with him.
Readers can get all sorts of background about Shakespeare's life as a child in Stratford while solving a murder mystery with him.
Nov 15, 2012
Jennifer Wardrip
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
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Reviewed by Kira M for TeensReadToo.com
When Viola dresses as a boy and joins her uncle's troupe of traveling players and arrives in Stratford, her uncle gets accused of murder and imprisoned. With the help of Will, a young boy she meets in the troupe, they devise plans to prove the man's innocence, but all fail.
Can Will and Viola solve the murder and save her uncle?
WICKED WILL is a great adventure-filled mystery. The characters are entertaining and allude to Shakespeare's plays without overpower...more
When Viola dresses as a boy and joins her uncle's troupe of traveling players and arrives in Stratford, her uncle gets accused of murder and imprisoned. With the help of Will, a young boy she meets in the troupe, they devise plans to prove the man's innocence, but all fail.
Can Will and Viola solve the murder and save her uncle?
WICKED WILL is a great adventure-filled mystery. The characters are entertaining and allude to Shakespeare's plays without overpower...more
A decent attempt to get kids interested in the live and times of Shakespeare and what sort of theater Elizabethan england had.
Good book for early middle grades. Cute story of a young Will Shakespeare and the adventures he gets into.
Just when you think you have figured it out, another twist and turn and around you go!
A mystery starring a 12-year-old Willima Shakespeare.
Three and a half stars. Recommended for gr. 5-8. A mildly entertaining mystery which features as a major supporting character 12-year-old Will Shakespeare. Several plot contrivances, especially towards the end, foreshadow events in some of Shakespeare's plays. Will probably appeal to students (both boys and girls) who are at least minimally familiar with Shakespeare.
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A good story, but have to say it would not be an easy read for its intended audiance. The language is correct for the time period which may be difficult for young readers.
A mysery for young readers that kept me reading until the end.
funny and interesting mystery for kids. i enjoyed it as well.
Apr 26, 2013
Sandy
marked it as to-read
Feb 25, 2013
William Alan Ritch
added it
Jan 16, 2013
Christine Ditzel
marked it as to-read
Nov 23, 2012
Raouf Bougandoura
marked it as to-read
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