The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood

"When I was seven years of age, my prospects changed, as some say they do every seven years of a person's life." (4)

At seven, the young orphan Widge leaves the orphanage and goes to live with Dr. Timothy Bright. While there, Widge learns the Dr.'s form of shorthand writing in order to take notes of his experiments. At fourteen, Widge is sold to a mysterious cloaked stranger named Falconer and brought to a new master. His new master expects Widge to copy down William Shakespeare's newest play Hamlet, and bring it to him so his theatre company can make money off the hit play. Unfortunately, complications arise, and Widge is forced to join Shakespeare's theatre group in order to avoid suspicion. Will he ever be able to finish the task and can he avoid the threat of Falconer's growing impatience? What will his friends in the company think when they learn of his original plans? If you want a story with some London sword play and back alley chases, read The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood.

AMY