Shakespeare’s Secret’s main character is Hero Netherfield, a 6th grade girl who is trying to adjust to a new school. She is an outcast that contrasts greatly to her outgoing, pretty sister Beatrice. Both girls get their names from the Shakespearian play Much Ado About Nothing, which is a favorite of their Shakespearian scholar father. Hero is miserable because of the teasing of classmates, but the friendship of an elderly neighbor and a neighborhood boy who confides the details of a famous missing million dollar diamond makes things a bit more bearable. The fact that the diamond is rumored to be hidden in the house that Hero’s family has moved in to makes this mystery very personal for Hero. This fictional novel is a mystery, but it takes information about Shakespeare and other figures of Elizabethan history and uses them to tell the story. Broach uses the same device that Dan Brown used when writing The Da Vinci Code. Shakespeare’s Secret contains some historical facts, some hypotheses from scholars, and events completely made up by the author to create a mystery about a missing diamond from a necklace that may have belonged to Ann Boleyn. I hope that students read the Author’s Note at the end of the novel which clarifies what is real, what is speculation, and what is fiction. If I were to be using this in my classroom I would make an entire lesson of reading the Author’s Note and discussing the difference between truth and fiction. As The Da Vinci Code left some adults with misconceptions, Shakespeare’s Secret could do the same if not properly discussed. Shakespeare’s Secret is intended for students in grades 4th-8th. The story does not contain anything that is obviously inappropriate, but it does allude to figures in history having “lovers”, and there is some mention of rude things written on boy’s restroom walls, but the author is vague about what might be the content of this vandalism. The central theme of this novel is friendship and secrets, but toward the end of the story, school violence and harassment is brought up. This would lead to interesting discussion in the classroom on how harassment is dealt with by teachers and administrators. Shakespeare’s Secret has been frequently reviewed, and across the board the reviews were favorable. The reviewer from Booklist thought that readers would enjoy the “true emotions and rich language”. I agree with the reviewer from Horn Book that this was an “absorbing” story, but that it did tend to “strain credibility too far”. Despite its minor flaws, Shakespeare’s Secret is a great story that will spark great discussions.
OH MY GOD. I actually bought this book, and have read it cover to cover so, so many times. So, you can figure out that after I moved into my new house, I would want to reread this book again, right? Well, you are correct. But, always remember this. Moving does some things to your stuff. Bad things. There was a freaking DEAD SPIDER flattened on one of the pages in the book! Dead! With its... stuff in its body all splattered out! Can you imagine my horror? My freaking horror? It scared the HECK out of me. Unfortunately, this has been one of my favorite mystery books. But I can't read it anymore. Simply too lazy to go get it from the library. Back to the review. I love, loved this book. Hero is a great name, but for a girl, I don't think so. I do think it could have worked on a guy. Maybe Heroine? Blech. But, she lived with her name at the end, without being embarrassed, and she made friends at her new school! I love happy endings. Not sappy endings though, like you know those really cheesy endings in fairytales? I dislike those. Hero had thoughts that any sixth grade girl would have at her new school. Elise Broach showed that amazingly in her story. Danny was nice, easy going, laid back. He wasn't one of those horrible guys who are disrespectful to their parents, elderly... Unfortunately, I see horrible guys like that A LOT. I've learned to ignore it. But I liked how Danny was so sweet towards his grandmother, Ms. Roth, towards the end of the book. Wonderful ending, yes? I live in Maryland, and I wish there was a diamond in my house. Well, there are, but it's jewelry, like a ring or something. I'm talking about the diamond Hero found. She deserved the happy ending. In the beginning of the book, when Hero talked about her sisters decorating style of her room, I was kind of confused. So, did she pin posters to her ceiling, so when you walked in there was a poster hanging in front of you? That's nice actually. I recommend this book to someone who likes mysteries, but aren't obsessed about them. Someone who likes to read mysteries once in a while, not all the time. Hope you enjoyed the review :)
What do You think about Shakespeare's Secret (2005)?
Personal Reaction:I did not think I was going to like this book, but once I started reading it I could not stop. The author wrote the novel in a suspenseful way, and I had no idea there was going to be such a plot twist. I honestly think everyone can relate to this book in some way.Purpose:Shakespeare’s Secret is a perfect book for an independent reader in 6th grade. This novel can be connected to teaching about mysteries, conflict, or theme. There are many themes that students can relate with such as friendships, fitting in, discovering themselves, and bullying. This would be the perfect book to have as tool to open the discussion of bullying in school, because the reader becomes empathic to the main character, Hero. Also, the students can reflect and learn about how she is a dynamic character in the story, because of her discovery of self.
—Madelyn Adams
This book was about a girl named Hero, after a character in a Shakespeare play. She is usually left out of the loop and doesn't always fit in easily. When she learns that her new house is legend to hide a million dollar crystal that could prove who the real Shakespeare was. Hero and her new friend Danny find the crystal with only the directions of a vague poem, a necklace, and a faded family crest. With the help of Hero's next door neighbor, they were able to prove who was the real Shakespeare was and obtain the million dollar, 500 year old crystal, that was once in the necklace of Anne Boleyn.
—Sarah
This book is about a young girl who's had a hard time with her name , Nero Netherfields she finds an answer about who William Shakespeare really was and how that connects to her new mysterious house. Shakespeare's secret is such a great book and I recommend it to any middle school teens that enjoy a good mystery. When I first read it I couldn't put it down , I even stayed reading the book one night until 3:00am the next day. This book was assigned to me as an assignment but I was glad that I got a chance to read it because there are so many turns to this book. It's a really interesting read. At the end , I felt that the author showed so much detail on how everyone some how came together. What I enjoyed the most was how the different characters showed a relationship between each other and on the story it's self showing the breaking of laws , and the change in the characters life because of the mysterious Diamond. I hope you guys enjoy the book just as I enjoyed it, take your time I read it in two days but you guys should take your time to really grow suspense . Remember sometimes the light solves a good mystery!
—Leslie
