by Gary Blackwood
personal copy paperback 216 pages
Published: 1998
Genre: YA historical fiction
I love that the main character is called Widge, short for Pigwidgeon. He spent birth to age seven in an orphanage, then ages 7-14 with Dr. Bright. Dr. Bright taught him "charactery," a coded language system developed by the doctor. Widge was sent to different churches to record sermons which Dr. Bright later preached as his own. At age 14, the Falconer bought Widge's services from Dr. Bright on behalf of Mr. Bass.
The bulk of the story is about Widge's attempts to copy Shakespeare's newest play, Hamlet. Fearful of disappointing his master, he spends more and more time with the acting company where he finds his first true home. Sander, Nick, Julia(n), and others help him to find a new place to live where he actually belongs.
I've seen this book in middle school media centers for twenty years and now I've finally read it! I enjoyed it, but don't plan to read others in the series.
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