Tyler Reynolds's Blog - Posts Tagged "the-player-king"
What Would You Do?
Today I'm reviewing The Player King by Avi. I read it because Mom bought it at a book fair and said I would find it fascinating. I'm not in favor of parents forcing kids to read certain books. But it worked out okay this time.
What would you do if you were an orphan, a servant in a tavern, and some priest came and told you you were royalty. It's 1486 in Oxford, England, and Lambert Simnel looks a little like the young Earl of Warwick. Two powerful men tell Lambert that he IS the missing Earl who should be king. They teach him manners and give him a crown. They even raise an army to fight King Henry VII.
What will a peasant boy do with so much power? Who are his real friends and enemies? And what life does he really want? No one ever tells Lambert the truth. But I love how he figures out each powerful grown-up's secret fears and needs. They think he is nothing so they can just use him.
But, by making him king, they are giving him power. Who will he choose to raise up or destroy? No one asked if he wanted this power. If he had a choice, what would he do?
This book is a great ride and a quick read, and it left me thinking what I would do with grown-ups kneeling at my feet. Awesome story--plus, it's true and part of history.
On the Dudes Summer Book Bingo card, here's how this book qualifies:
HISTORICAL, EVIL TWIN, MOM MADE ME READ IT, BACK IN THE DAY, I LEARNED SOMETHING.
Find the Bingo card and see how I'm filling out my card here: https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...
What would you do if you were an orphan, a servant in a tavern, and some priest came and told you you were royalty. It's 1486 in Oxford, England, and Lambert Simnel looks a little like the young Earl of Warwick. Two powerful men tell Lambert that he IS the missing Earl who should be king. They teach him manners and give him a crown. They even raise an army to fight King Henry VII.
What will a peasant boy do with so much power? Who are his real friends and enemies? And what life does he really want? No one ever tells Lambert the truth. But I love how he figures out each powerful grown-up's secret fears and needs. They think he is nothing so they can just use him.
But, by making him king, they are giving him power. Who will he choose to raise up or destroy? No one asked if he wanted this power. If he had a choice, what would he do?
This book is a great ride and a quick read, and it left me thinking what I would do with grown-ups kneeling at my feet. Awesome story--plus, it's true and part of history.
On the Dudes Summer Book Bingo card, here's how this book qualifies:
HISTORICAL, EVIL TWIN, MOM MADE ME READ IT, BACK IN THE DAY, I LEARNED SOMETHING.
Find the Bingo card and see how I'm filling out my card here: https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...
