Thomas is desperate to join 'the players', he'll do anything to watch them perform, even skip school and risk a caning. But when Thomas's rule breaking gets him in trouble with more than just his school master, he has to flee his home and make his way to London. Here he meets his hero, Shakespeare, and his players. But behind the excitement of the theatres is a grimy world of deception, poison and treason. Will Thomas manage to uncover the plot in time? And will he manage to save Shakespeare from a fate worse than death?

Creators

Barbara Mitchelhill was born in Rochdale and trained as a teacher. While she was teaching, she began writing for BBC children's TV and went on to write for educational publishers, before writing novels for children. She makes school visits all over the country, and enjoys appearing at literary festivals and talking to teachers and librarians, some as far away as the Caribbean. Her hobbies include reading, theatre, music, gardening and walking her border terrier, Ella. She lives in Staffordshire and has two grown-up daughters.

Reviews

Recommended for the Carnegie Medal and short-listed for the Young Quills Award, and one can understand why.

HNSR

Mitchelhill has reinvigorated the tale of a young would-be actor falling in with Shakespeare. Impeccably researched and full of arresting detail.

Telegraph

The world of Shakespeare and his theatre sparkles with life in this fast-paced historical novel . . . A thrilling story full of theatrical flourish.

Julia Eccleshare, Lovereading

The best history lesson you could imagine! You feel as though you are really there: inhaling the smells, listening to the noise and clatter of the time and meeting the characters – good and bad.

We Love This Book

Mysteries, plots and conspiracies abound . . . A colourful and thought-provoking story.

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