Elizabethan Mysteries: Revenge by John Pilkington
Usborne Publishing, 2009.
(Age 10+) In Elizabethan London, apprentice actor Ben Button befriends
a young beggar and thief. Ben convinces his master to give the
beggar shelter, but soon discovers that things are not as they first
appeared. The beggar has a mysterious past, and a vendetta against an
important nobleman, whom the beggar claims is supplying arms to the
enemy Spaniards. Ben is reluctant to believe the stories he is told,
but once he sees the proof for himself, finds he must help his new
friend to save England.
While there are moments of authenticity to the writing, there are also
times when the language and expressions used simply do not ring true
with the era. Even so, the action is fast-paced, and readers will get a
glimpse into life in England at the time of the Spanish Armada. This is
the third of four Elizabethan Mysteries, with Rogue's Gold, Traitor,
and
Thief.
Donella Reed