Shakespeare's Secret

I really liked this book because it was full of surprises and mystery. If you love mystery, secrets, and excitement, Shakespeare's Secret by Elise Broach is the book for you. In this book, Hero is a 6th grade girl and is shy and has a hard time making friends in her new school. Things seem really bad. But, she is fascinated to find out that the Murphy's Diamond worth a million dollars might be hidden right in her house! Mrs. Roth, a nice old lady who lives next door, tells her about the diamond and seems to know a lot about it. They try to figure out where it might be hidden using some clues, but nothing seems to make sense. When Hero makes friends with the most popular boy in 8th grade, Danny, Hero learns a secret about Mrs. Roth. By the end, they all learn a secret about Shakespeare! (There are more secrets, but I won't tell you what they are.) To find out the secrets, the answer to the mystery, and where on earth is the diamond, READ THIS AMAZING BOOK!!!

Hero and her older sister Beatrice were named for characters in Shakespeare's play "Much Ado about Nothing." Arriving in a new town, Hero is facing a school year as a new kid with jokes and questions about her name. Unlike Beatrice, Hero is not socially adept and does not make friends easily. She does become acquainted with their older next-door neighbor, Mrs. Roth who tells her about the Murphy Diamond, a valuable gem that might be hidden in Hero's house. Surprisingly she is also befriended by a popular 8th grader, Danny who is the son of the city's police chief who is also fascinated by the diamond's where-abouts. Hero discovers a mysterious connection between the diamond, Anne Boleyn and Shakespeare's plays which fires her imagination. This plot is cleverly drawn with historical details and intrigue. Hero and Danny are searching for more than a diamond and the reader is hoping they find their heart's desire. I truly enjoyed this novel. The mystery is very satisfying. One can hope it would also excite a reader's interest in Shakespeare.

My mom called me for dinner but I just couldn't put the book down. Flipping after page after page I couldn't stop reading. This book Shakespeare's Secret was truly a page turner book. After learning about Hero,then her family, the mysterious boy, her neighbor, and many other interesting characters I couldn't stop reading about the diamond and where it's hidden. When I finished the book I knew i would never forget this wonderful book. I have it next to my bed and it is a comfort when I read it.

In every way, this is a terrific novel. Hero is a bright, thoughtful, funny girl whose anxieties and sufferings in middle school will resonate with every reader. But the most impressvie thing about Shakespeare's Secret is the story. The plot weaves details of English history and Shakespeare's life together with the suspenseful search for a missing diamond. It is a riveting story that kids will love. My seventh and fourth graders couldn't put this book down once they'd started! It is one of those special books that becomes an instant favorite. Highly recommended.

I got an advanced copy of the book, and i was just blown away. it was so mysterious and fun. i really learned a lot from reading it. i think that Elise is a great author and can't wait to read more of her books. I am not the kind of person who loves reading, but this book, i could not put down! who knows? maybe they'll make a movie of it! (it was that good!)