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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
Read as a preview for Greyson, I think she'll enjoy the mystery and history as well.
My son and I are reading this book separately, but discussing it. I will say this book is probably best for older middle grade and younger young adult readers.
The book, as you can tell from the title, revolves around several mysteries with Shakespeare at its center.
The main character is Hero, named after a character from Shakespeare’s AS YOU LIKE IT. She is a daughter of a Shakespearean scholar.
The story begins in earnest when Hero meets her older neighbor Mrs. Roth and is introduced to the mystery of a large diamond possibly hidden in her home.
The diamond is not only big and beautiful, but possibly has ties to Queen Elizabeth and Shakespeare himself.
Hero eventually meets Danny the police chief’s son who also wants to solve the mystery.
Aside from the main mystery about the diamond, the relationships between the characters and their growing trust and compassion for one another is enjoyable and never too maudlin as some books for young adults can be.
The only thing I don’t like is the keeping of secrets from Hero and Danny’s parents. Having an adult encouraging lying to parents made me uncomfortable and needs to be discussed if you are giving this to a child to read.
But the historical information and the unfolding of many the mysteries beyond the diamond was fun.
The book, as you can tell from the title, revolves around several mysteries with Shakespeare at its center.
The main character is Hero, named after a character from Shakespeare’s AS YOU LIKE IT. She is a daughter of a Shakespearean scholar.
The story begins in earnest when Hero meets her older neighbor Mrs. Roth and is introduced to the mystery of a large diamond possibly hidden in her home.
The diamond is not only big and beautiful, but possibly has ties to Queen Elizabeth and Shakespeare himself.
Hero eventually meets Danny the police chief’s son who also wants to solve the mystery.
Aside from the main mystery about the diamond, the relationships between the characters and their growing trust and compassion for one another is enjoyable and never too maudlin as some books for young adults can be.
The only thing I don’t like is the keeping of secrets from Hero and Danny’s parents. Having an adult encouraging lying to parents made me uncomfortable and needs to be discussed if you are giving this to a child to read.
But the historical information and the unfolding of many the mysteries beyond the diamond was fun.
A very quick read. I think kids will like Hero, a real kid with believable thoughts and feelings. The mystery surrounding Shakespeare's true identity and the Murphy diamond is exciting, but the primary enjoyment of the story comes in the relationships between Hero, her sister Beatrice, Danny, & Mrs. Roth. Grownups will be able to see the surprise ending from almost the beginning. It still satisfies.
Yet another knock off—this time from Balliett’s Chasing Vermeer and The Wright 3. The heroine, Hero, and her sister, Beatrice, are named after the women in Much Ado About Nothing, as their father is a Shakespeare scholar. The mystery to be solved involves a lost diamond, and the literary history connected with it is the question of whether someone other than William Shakespeare wrote the plays. Elizabethan and pre-Elizabethan British history is thus a learning component of the story, but while the history seems sound, the reader is left possibly believing the critical opinion that Edward de Vere did write the plays… there is not enough hard evidence surrounding this question for the reader to form a solid opinion—which isn’t surprising as the evidence is rather thin and has been exploited to fill up the missing plot elements in this portion of the story. The result is misleading at best, and nowhere near the quality of Balliett’s integration of history, art, architecture, math, science, and the notion of coincidence.
Hero is not looking forward to starting a new school. She finds she gets off on the wrong foot each time and it goes downhill. It usually begins with her name – Hero, one of the characters from a Shakespearean play.
So on the first day of sixth grade when one of the girls in class mentions that Hero is her dog’s name, she knows that it’s going to be a bad year. Not the same for her older sister, Beatrice, who is also named for a Shakespearean character, but a better name.
What helps Hero is the old lady next door, Mrs. Roth, tells her about a diamond which went missing in Hero’s new house. Next thing Hero knows she is searching for a diamond, researching old connections to Shakespeare, all with the help of the coolest guy in 8th grade.
The mystery is fun. The history is fun. Some of the connections are a bit fantastic, but will probably go over well.
This one is for the girls; fifth grade on up.
So on the first day of sixth grade when one of the girls in class mentions that Hero is her dog’s name, she knows that it’s going to be a bad year. Not the same for her older sister, Beatrice, who is also named for a Shakespearean character, but a better name.
What helps Hero is the old lady next door, Mrs. Roth, tells her about a diamond which went missing in Hero’s new house. Next thing Hero knows she is searching for a diamond, researching old connections to Shakespeare, all with the help of the coolest guy in 8th grade.
The mystery is fun. The history is fun. Some of the connections are a bit fantastic, but will probably go over well.
This one is for the girls; fifth grade on up.
Shakespeare's Secret is a fun read. In my opinion, that's the most important thing for a kids book.
The characters are interesting. I identified with Hero, the 6th grade girl who never quite fits in anywhere. I suspect most preteen girls will understand that feeling as well. I never had as cool of an adventure, as she does, though!
Hero and her older sister Beatrice move into a house with a mystery. Hero finds out about the diamond rumored to be hidden somewhere in it from the elderly next door neighbor, and sets out to find it. She runs into Danny, a very cool 8th grader, at her neighbor's house and he joins in the hunt.
Along the way, Hero learns about the necklace the rumored diamond comes from, which leads to some historical research and discovery. I think that the nuggets of information about Anne Boleyn, Edward de Vere, and about Shakespeare in general will whet the appetite of readers, so when they run into more in depth discussions elsewhere they will be more likely to pay attention.
The other thread of the storyline has to do with Hero starting at a new school, and (once again) being teased due to her name. Beatrice (as usual) has a much easier time. There is some interesting insight into what is needed to fit in, and further, to be popular, and the tradeoffs involved.
I think this book will appeal to girls and some boys from ages 10-12 or so.
The characters are interesting. I identified with Hero, the 6th grade girl who never quite fits in anywhere. I suspect most preteen girls will understand that feeling as well. I never had as cool of an adventure, as she does, though!
Hero and her older sister Beatrice move into a house with a mystery. Hero finds out about the diamond rumored to be hidden somewhere in it from the elderly next door neighbor, and sets out to find it. She runs into Danny, a very cool 8th grader, at her neighbor's house and he joins in the hunt.
Along the way, Hero learns about the necklace the rumored diamond comes from, which leads to some historical research and discovery. I think that the nuggets of information about Anne Boleyn, Edward de Vere, and about Shakespeare in general will whet the appetite of readers, so when they run into more in depth discussions elsewhere they will be more likely to pay attention.
The other thread of the storyline has to do with Hero starting at a new school, and (once again) being teased due to her name. Beatrice (as usual) has a much easier time. There is some interesting insight into what is needed to fit in, and further, to be popular, and the tradeoffs involved.
I think this book will appeal to girls and some boys from ages 10-12 or so.
Nice little story. Interesting weaving of Shakespeare into it. Tied up neatly.
adventurous
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
tense
Very enthralling. A better version of Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliet. It piqued my interest in Shakespeare and I found the main character Hero relatable and likable. I almost wish there was a sequel but the book is perfect - mystery, history, art, art history, crime, synchronicity and realism.
Love it! It's suspenseful and entertaining. The writing is good and the characters are entertaining. You can feel the mystery fill and the secret is incredible.