The Player King
Avi
(Author)
Description
"Swiftly moving and utterly engrossing." --Shelf Awareness Parents' Choice Recommended From Newbery Award-winning author Avi comes the gripping and amazingly true tale of a boy plucked from the gutter to become the King of England. England, 1486. King Henry VII has recently snatched the English Crown and now sits on the throne, while young Prince Edward, who has a truer claim, has apparently disappeared. Meanwhile, a penniless kitchen boy named Lambert Simnel is slaving away at a tavern in Oxford--until a mysterious friar, Brother Simonds, buys Lambert from the tavern keeper and whisks him away in the dead of night. But this is nothing compared to the secret that the friar reveals: You, Lambert, are actually Prince Edward, the true King of England! With the aid of the deceitful Earl of Lincoln, Brother Simonds sets out to teach the boy how to become the rightful English king. Lambert has everything to gain and nothing to lose, or so he thinks. Yet in this dangerous battle for the throne, Lambert is not prepared for what's to come--or for what it really means to play at being a king.
Product Details
Price
$16.99
$15.80
Publisher
Atheneum Books
Publish Date
October 17, 2017
Pages
208
Dimensions
5.6 X 8.3 X 0.9 inches | 0.7 pounds
Language
English
Type
Hardcover
EAN/UPC
9781481437684
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About the Author
Avi is the award-winning author of more than eighty-two books for young readers, ranging from animal fantasy to gripping historical fiction, picture books to young adult novels. Crispin: The Cross of Lead won the Newbery Medal, and The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle and Nothing but the Truth were awarded Newbery Honors. He is also the author of the popular Poppy series. Avi lives in Denver, Colorado. Visit him online at avi-writer.com.
Reviews
"Told from Lambert's point of view, the first-person narrative effectively avoids the complicated political backstory and focuses on the boy's experiences as he learns the unfamiliar speech, manners, and knowledge and plays his part. Avi . . . again makes the past vivid and personal in this relatively short, accessible book."--Booklist "July 1st, 2017 "
"Though few details exist about the boy's actual life, the author builds a credible and compelling narrative around known events. . . . An interesting slice of history told by an engaging and believable protagonist. Hand to fans of the author, young Tudor enthusiasts, and readers who enjoy medieval-set fiction."--School Library Journal "August 2017 "
"Replete with authentic period details, page-turning brief chapters, and a plot filled with twists, turns, and political intrigue. . . . An appealing protagonist pursuing a grand adventure and struggling with themes of power, pride, and identity will appeal to fans of historical fiction."--Kirkus Reviews "August 15, 2017 "
"Short, accessible chapters and candid first-person narration create suspense and strongly evoke the political climate of the era, revealing an odd, mysterious chapter in England's history."--Publishers Weekly "August 7, 2017 "
"This brief, colorful moment in British history makes an engaging middle-grade novel, all the more so as it recounts what most readers will associate with a trope of wish-fulfillment fantasy--the orphan who learns he's king--as a historical event. Avi tells the story through Lambert's retrospective voice, with a direct, accessible narrative style, providing adequate historical detail without bogging the story down."--The Horn Book "November/ December 2017 "
"Swiftly moving and utterly engrossing. The Player King's real strength comes in the form of language . . . Avi tells a story that seems too outrageous to be true, but an author's note confirms it all happened. That--the fact behind the fiction--is what truly makes this book a worthy read."--Shelf Awareness "October 20, 2017 "
* "It's a juicy tale upon which to construct a work of historical fiction . . . deftly crafted for readers who care more about a rousing story than a history lesson, tossing them into the action without ever uttering "War of the Roses" . . . With a bit of judicious booktalking, this may be a title to entice new readers to historical fiction."--BCCB, Starred Review
"Though few details exist about the boy's actual life, the author builds a credible and compelling narrative around known events. . . . An interesting slice of history told by an engaging and believable protagonist. Hand to fans of the author, young Tudor enthusiasts, and readers who enjoy medieval-set fiction."--School Library Journal "August 2017 "
"Replete with authentic period details, page-turning brief chapters, and a plot filled with twists, turns, and political intrigue. . . . An appealing protagonist pursuing a grand adventure and struggling with themes of power, pride, and identity will appeal to fans of historical fiction."--Kirkus Reviews "August 15, 2017 "
"Short, accessible chapters and candid first-person narration create suspense and strongly evoke the political climate of the era, revealing an odd, mysterious chapter in England's history."--Publishers Weekly "August 7, 2017 "
"This brief, colorful moment in British history makes an engaging middle-grade novel, all the more so as it recounts what most readers will associate with a trope of wish-fulfillment fantasy--the orphan who learns he's king--as a historical event. Avi tells the story through Lambert's retrospective voice, with a direct, accessible narrative style, providing adequate historical detail without bogging the story down."--The Horn Book "November/ December 2017 "
"Swiftly moving and utterly engrossing. The Player King's real strength comes in the form of language . . . Avi tells a story that seems too outrageous to be true, but an author's note confirms it all happened. That--the fact behind the fiction--is what truly makes this book a worthy read."--Shelf Awareness "October 20, 2017 "
* "It's a juicy tale upon which to construct a work of historical fiction . . . deftly crafted for readers who care more about a rousing story than a history lesson, tossing them into the action without ever uttering "War of the Roses" . . . With a bit of judicious booktalking, this may be a title to entice new readers to historical fiction."--BCCB, Starred Review
