Widge is an orphan with a rare talent for shorthand. His fearsome master has just one demand: steal Shakespeare's play "Hamlet"--or else. Widge has no choice but to follow orders, so he works his way into the heart of the Globe Theatre, where Shakespeare's players perform. As full of twists and turns as a London alleyway, this entertaining novel is rich in period details, colorful characters, villainy, and drama. "A fast-moving historical novel that introduces an important era with casual familiarity." -- School Library Journal , starred review Awards: ( An ALA Notable Book ( An ALA Best Book for Young Adults ( An NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies ( A Smithsonian Magazine Notable Book ( A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year ( A Child Study Children's Book Committee Best Children's Book of the Year