Book Jacket:
A missing diamond, a mysterious neighbor, a link to Shakespeare – can Hero uncover the connections?
When Hero starts sixth grade at a new school, she’s less concerned about the literary origins of her Shakespearean name than about the teasing she’s sure to suffer because of it. So she has the same name as a girl in a book by a dusty old author. Hero is simply not interested in the connections.
But that’s just the thing; suddenly connections are cropping up all over, and odd characters and uncertain pasts are exactly what do fascinate Hero. There’s a mysterious diamond hidden in her new house, a curious woman next door who seems to know an awful lot about it, and then, well, then there’s Shakespeare. Not to mention Danny Cordova, only the most popular boy in school. Is it all in keeping with her namesake’s origin-just much ado about nothing? Hero, being Hero, is determined to figure it out.
In this fast-paced novel, Elise Broach weaves an intriguing literary mystery full of historical insights and discoveries.
Review:
What an lovely, satisfying, old-fashioned-style mystery this book turned out to be. Now that’s what I call a fun read.
I’ve been hankering for a good mystery yarn of late – not to mention in desperate need of a paranormal palate cleanser – so I was delighted to stumble upon Shakespeare’s Secret during a library crawl. I literally knew nothing about this book, so I was utterly surprised to discover how much I just really, really loved everything about it. This book is just…good. All around good, with a fun leading lady, a wry sense of humor, an intriguing mystery with ties to both past and present, an old house with a secret, mysterious neighbors, a missing diamond, and more, not to mention the perils of the middle school social order. And all of it was just wonderful.
But being the history nerd that I am, I particularly loved the historical ties that wind throughout this story. I learned things about Shakespeare – and the mystery surrounding him – that I never knew before, and I loved how Broach lightly and deftly touched on not only his works, but on the real-life history that surrounded his time, and how effortlessly she laced it all together in her narrative. It made for a downright mesmerizing blend of fact and fiction.
And can I just say how much I love the sense of family that permeates this story? Oh, middle grade, I love you – you actually get to revolve around something other than the Undying Love that has usurped the vast majority of YA, and it was just so marvelously refreshing to read a story about different kinds of relationships. I really enjoyed Hero’s relationship with her sister, who wasn’t mean or petty despite being the popular one, and watching Hero stumble along the path to making new friends, to finding her niche in the social order. It was just fun to read – and now I kind of want to run to the children’s section of the library and set up a tent.
So really, this book is just delightful. I loved Hero’s middle school woes every bit as much as the unfolding of the mystery, and even learned a few things about Shakespeare along the way. Note to self: must read more past Edgar-award nominees – but first up Ill be reading Elise Broach’s latest, because I’ve already got it on hold at the library.
Oh, how I love finding a good book…
Byrt Grade: A
As Levar Burton used to say – you don’t have to take my word for it…
Elise Broach’s debut mystery is a gem…An engrossing mystery that touches several historical elements.
Kirkus Reviews (starred review) says:
More linear and traditionally evidence-driven than Blue Balliett’s Chasing Vermeer, this agreeable history-mystery may have even more appeal to budding sleuths.
Oh, it’s so great to see this reviewed! I just discovered SHAKESPEARE’s SECRET last year myself and was so charmed by it. It’s hard to keep pages turning and ratchet up suspense while still infusing a story with heart and dealing with other issues that hit home for middle-grade readers — and I think Broach hit it out of the park with this one. I really felt like I was learning as I read, too.
Shakespeare’s Secret turned me into an immediate fan, and now I’ve read all of Broach’s other books. MASTERPIECE (which won the 2009 EB White Read-Aloud Award) is also rich and delightful — and has quite complex twists and turns!
Speaking of mysteries, I’ve gotten my hands on an ARC of Kirsten Miller’s KIKI STRIKE 3 (The Darkness Dwellers) and am completely rapt…
Oh, this sounds awesome. Middle grade is such a wonderful genre–I too find it a sort of antidote to all of the doom-and-gloom starcrossed-lovers YA stuff.
(I have to say that the cover reminds me of the Vengekeep Prophecies, though. The same artist, maybe?)
so glad you found this one. i agree that sometimes you just need some good and fun to cleanse the palate. i am totally going to see if your returned this to the library yet. :)
and kristen – i loved the kiki strike books. had no idea that a third was coming out. going to put it on my tbr pile right now.
I haven’t read Kiki Strike yet – will def have to check that out!
And I’m not sure about the cover artist – I was thinking it looked a bit like the Chasing Vermeer cover too – will have to investigate…
The book is off the chain it is so mysterious which I like and I am almost like Hero and Beatrice, Mrs. Roth is my favorite character out of the whole book, and she knows where the diamond is. #loveit