Shakespeare's Secret

Author: Elise Broach

Summary: Sixth-grader, Hero, moves into a new neighborhood but has a hard time adjusting when kids at school tease her about her name. However, she is able to make quick friends with an intriguing, elderly next-door neighbor, Mrs. Roth, who tells Hero about the enormous diamond rumored to be hidden in Hero's new house. Helped by Mrs. Roth and a popular eighth-grader, Danny, Hero launches into a furtive search that unearths links between the diamond's original owner and Edward de Vere, a nobleman believed by some to be the original author of Shakespeare's plays. As the mystery is solved, the characters’ lives are changed forever.

Reading Level: 5.5

Rating: 8 stars

Kids: This is a fun mystery! The characters are believable and there is a twist at the end that I didn’t expect. There is some suspense, though it’s not a scary book. It might also get you interested in learning more about Shakespeare and the Elizabethan time period. I know lots of kids who liked this book!

Parents: I liked that the main character came from a nuclear family – pretty unusual in books these days. The characters are wholesome and realistic. While the book contains no foul language, a few references are made to situations in Elizabethan time you might deem slightly inappropriate, including a mention of “illegitimate children.” Most of this would probably go over a fifth grader’s head.

Teachers: I almost gave this book 7 1/2 stars, but moved it up to eight for the accurate historical references. I liked this book much better than Chasing Vermeer. It could make a good literature circle book, but I don’t think I’d use it as a read aloud. While it’s a good book for recreational reading, there are lots of historical references to Shakespeare that GATE students might enjoy investigating. Was William Shakespeare really who people say he was? One of my favorite parts of the book was the author’s final comment about Shakespeare’s amazing understanding of human nature. See the Parent section above for comments on possible inappropriate references.

Accelerated Reading Test: Available (check your school)

Awards:

2008 Young Reader’s Choice Nominee
2008 Mark Twain Award nominee
Junior Library Guild Selection
Edgar Award Nominee – Best Juvenile Mystery
ALA Notable book

If you liked Shakespeare's Secret, I’d recommend:

Mysteries:
From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett

Sammy Keyes series by Wendelin Van Draanen

On Shakespeare:

King of Shadows by Susan Cooper

The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood

ISBN-13: 978-0312371326