Will Sparrow's Road

by Karen Cushman

In his thirteenth year, Will Sparrow, liar and thief, becomes a runaway. On the road, he encounters a series of con artists—a pickpocket, a tooth puller, a pig trainer, a conjurer—and learns that others are more adept than he at lying and thieving. Then he reluctantly joins a traveling troupe of "oddities," including a dwarf and a cat-faced girl, holding himself apart from the "monsters" and resolving to be on guard against further deceptions. At last Will is forced to understand that appearances are misleading and that  he has been his own worst deceiver. The rowdy world of market fairs in Elizabethan England is the colorful backdrop for Newbery medalist Cushman's new comic masterpiece. 

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Historical, Childrens, Adventure, Audiobook, Fiction

216 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Karen Cushman was born in Chicago, Illinois.

She entered Stanford University on a scholarship in 1959 and graduated with degrees in Greek and English. She later earned master’s degrees in human behavior and museum studies.

For eleven years she was an adjunct professor in the Museum Studies Department at John F. Kennedy University before resigning in 1996 to write full-time.

She lives on Vashon Island, Washington with her husband, Philip.

(source: http://karencushman.com/about/bio.html & http://www.arnenixoncenter.org/findin...)

Reviews

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cover Blurb: Yes or No? It's very indicative of the book's era and what sort of novel it will be, but I'm not a huge fan of the cover art. There's something about it that just doesn't quite appeal to me.

Characters: Will Sparrow is not the kindest nor most honest boy around. He can be rude, a bit mean, and will steal the first opportunity he gets. Despite this, I found Will to be an altogether likable protagonist. He is rarely intentionally mean to other people, and he has the capability of becoming a very kind and good boy if he only had someone to show him how. Will hasn't been treated well by anyone, and every time he trusts someone, he ends up being hurt. And for all of his dishonesty, he doesn't like the idea of working for charlatans who cheat people of their money. Many of the other characters in Will Sparrow's Road don't hang around for very long, this being a mere 208-paged novel. But in the short time they make an appearance, they leave quite the impression, and I found myself really enjoying their vibrant personalities. I especially liked Fitz, a rather surly dwarf who ended up being a far more caring and kinder person than Will first took him to be, and Grace - the "wild girl" who refused to humiliate herself any longer for the sake of her master Tidball.

The Romance: There isn't any!

Plot: Will Sparrow hasn't known kindness ever since his mother disappeared. His father sold him to a bad-tempered innkeeper for a pint of beer, and now the innkeeper intends to sell Will as a chimney sweep. Well, Will Sparrow will have none of it, and he runs away before the innkeeper can make good on his threat. Relying totally on his own wits and quick hands, Will travels about Elizabethan England with nothing to his name - not even a pair of shoes. Along the way, he meets up with several people who promise him food and coin, but turn out to be even greater charlatans than himself. Will is prepared to give up on trusting other people entirely, until he meets Master Tidball - the owner of a curiosities side show. Crippled in a carting accident, Tidball takes Will on as an assistant and they travel from fair to fair, displaying Tidball's amazing discoveries. For only a penny, people may pay to see a baby mermaid in a jar, a three-legged chicken, the skeleton of a sea monster, and - horror of all horrors - a monstrous creature, half cat and half girl. Will believes he's found his niche. Except the others in the little band of curiosities - the wild girl Graymalkin (who calls herself Grace) and Fitz the dwarf - aren't very pleasant company and don't seem to appreciate anything Tidball does for them. But of course, people are not always what they seem - not even Tidball - and it's not long before Will realizes that maybe his perception of the odd little band was entirely wrong. In some ways, Will Sparrow's Road could be called a meandering plot. There's a definite beginning, but no definite destination or goal or end. The majority of the book is spent with Will meeting charlatan after charlatan, and then - when he meets up with Tidball - traveling from one fair to another, and getting to know the character relationships between Fitz, Grace, Tidball, and Will. Even so, Will Sparrow's Road is a very quick read, and I enjoyed learning more about the characters and exploring Elizabethan England with this troop of colorful people. Had it been any longer, Will Sparrow's Road might have dragged, but as it is, I found it to be a relaxing and enjoyable weekend read.

Believability: I have never found fault with this Author's historic details. I have always loved how she brings the eras she writes about to life in a totally fascinating way.

Writing Style: Third person, past tense. However, there is something in the narration that almost makes it feel like first person; like an outside observer is relating Will's story to the Reader. The dialogue is very much in keeping with the era, and still easy to understand. It lends an air of authenticity to the whole thing.

Content: None.

Conclusion: This was one area that I had a bit of an issue with. There is a buildup for a climax. Now that Will has realized what Tidball is really like, what are he and the others going to do about their situation? Will Grace remain in Tidball's service? Can Fitz continue to protect her? Is Will going to move on and leave Grace and Fitz behind? And then Will thinks he's murdered Tidball, which of course puts them all in a real sticky situation. With all of this going on, the climax should have been grand. But it actually all gets resolved relatively quickly and easily, leaving the end feeling a tad bit rushed. Still, even this slightly disappointing climax doesn't ruin the general splendor of Will Sparrow's Road. With a cheeky, likable boy protagonist, great historical detail, and a bunch of fun side characters, this has to be my new Karen Cushman favorite.

Recommended Audience: Girl-and-boy read, ten-and-up, good for historical fiction and Karen Cushman fans (even adults!)

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing really wrong with this book, but the concept felt so tired that I had trouble maintaining interest.

6/19/12: Oh, good lord. If precedence means anything, this is likely to become the fourth Newbery winner about an orphaned or semi-orphaned boy traveling through medieval England meeting colorful characters typical of the period. Edit: Ah, but this is ELIZABETHAN. Entirely different. Pardon!

[Alesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The setting is England, 1599. Will Sparrow, age 12, is a self-described liar and thief. His father has sold him to an innkeeper in exchange for drink. His mother abandoned him. When the innkeeper threatens to sell him to be a chimneysweep, Will flees. We follow him as he tries to find food, and a new life, on the road.

I enjoyed this YA novel for its simplicity and charm. Will, understandably, lacks self-confidence and a sense of self-worth. He is tricked and taken advantage of time and again for his naivete. But along the way, he learns important survival and relationship skills.

Young people who have never suffered from cold, hunger or homelessness will find a lot to think about in this engaging book. Will's resourcefulness is inspirational. We also learn a lot about living conditions in Elizabethan England.

[Donna LaValley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again author Karen Cushman has created a memorable book for younger readers with an endearing character, a boy this time, in 1599. Will is small of stature and has had many sorrows, starting with the disappearance of his mother, followed a few years later when his father sold him to an innkeeper for drink. Kept hungry and worked like a slave, he steals a meat pie and is told he will be punished by being re-sold to the chimney sweeper. Such children die of black lung and have a short, miserable life, so Will escapes and takes to the road, living on stolen apples and wild berries. He is barely 13.

His opinion of people, sour enough, is affirmed by those he meets, such as Nell Liftpurse and a notorious tooth puller. He finds a local fair and becomes helpful to performers by “barking” for them, or calling in the crowd. (Today that’s “marketing.”) Finally a man named Tidwell offers him work. Tidwell drives a wagon full of “oddities and marvels” such as the skull of a unicorn, a dwarf, and a girl younger than Will who is “half wild cat.” In time he learns to enjoy the company Lancelot (the dwarf) and Grace (the girl), of a talented pig named The Duchess, and a blind juggler.

Having previously described himself as “a liar and a thief, unloved and unlovable,” who “cares for no one but himself and his belly,” Will gradually finds himself questioning what he thought he knew about life and people. It’s a pleasing lesson in the end.

Cushman’s books are especially useful in allowing readers to contrast their lives today with the lives of children in the Middle Ages. Parents and teachers can by point out how fortunate their children are to have shoes, daily food, a home, books, school, and other luxuries. It’s instructive and uplifting.

Other favorites of hers are: Catherine, Called Birdy; The Midwife’s Apprentice; and Matilda Bone.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I am a fan of Karen Cushman, I was delighted to see that she had written a new book and was especially delighted to see that the main character is a boy (a first for this author). However, she returned to her comfort zone for the setting as she is the Queen Bee of Medieval children's lit. If you liked Midwife's Apprentice, Matilda Bone or Catherine Called Birdy this one will not disappoint.

Like her female characters, Will is feisty and ends up striking out on his own. Very early in the book Will claims "I am Will Sparrow, liar and thief! I care for nothing and no one except for myself and my belly!" Well, as you can probably guess, he eventually does learn to care for someone other than himself and he finds friends in the most unlikely of places - a freak show! One of the most important things that Will learns is that things are not always what they seem.

This book is sure to please Cushmnan's fans and if you haven't explored the world of Karen Cushman yet I highly recommend you do as she is one of the Newbery award winners who actually writes what I would consider "distinguished children's literature".

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short but not necessarily quick read about a neglected boy who comes to value others and himself after being thrown in with a group of misfits in Elizabethan England. Karen Cushman excels in writing tight, often-funny stories about kids growing up in a difficult time in history. She doesn't mince words on how rough it was to grow up during the Black Death, general lawlessness, great superstition and more. Adults and children alike led hard lives, but the author writes about her characters with pluck and wit. This was a bit harder to get through than some of her other fare though. Will never really jumped off the page, and while the descriptions of the time period were rich, they were a little dry. The book improves as it goes on. Will is an unlikely boy who matures while traveling with a surly band of sideshow performers. Not at the top of my list among Cushman's books, but it's a decent read.

[Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this. The pairing of the marvelous Katherine Kellgren for Karen Cushman's writing is perfect. Will is alternately spunky, confused, elated, and despondent-- just right for a 13-year-old boy. His transformation is believable, and the Elizabethan setting is both rich and interesting.

[Hallie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not one of my top Cushman's, but that still leaves room for this to have been a lovely read. Part of it may have been just that it reads younger than some of the others.

[Claire (Book Blog Bird) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one dragged more than the author’s other books. The characters and plot were a bit too flat. Not terrible, but not as good as her other books.

[Cass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will Sparrow's mother was dead and his father sold Will to and innkeeper for a beer. When the innkeeper threatens to sell Will as a chimney sweep, he runs away with just the shirt on his back and his trousers...no shoes! His first night on his own, he steals a raggedy blanket that is drying on a clothesline. Another night, he steals a leather jerkin that was put on some bushes to dry. He decides to find a carnival where he figures he could at least earn some coins to buy food. One night he generously shares his blanket with a woman who is even more raggedy that he is. She is also more of a thief than he is--she steals his blanket! Will finds a fair/carnival and gets a job from the "dentist" spending time pretending to get a tooth pulled. He earns a few pennies that will get him a little food. But when the fair moves on to the next village, Will is left behind by the dentist/barber and is again out of work. He finds the wagon that belongs to the Master of Oddities and it is there that will finds true friends, food to eat and a "home" and eventually makes enough coins to buy some boots.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful, short tale of a runaway boy in rural Elizabethan England. Lovingly sprinkled with the colorful curses and insults of the contemporary dialect, and full of tricksters and con artists of many sorts: sometimes less sympathetic, sometimes more so--the protagonist included. (I think this may actually be Cushman's first ever book with a male protagonist.)

A quick read, and an easy delight.

[Elsabet · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read, absolutely charming.

You know, I love Karen Cushman. She writes historical fiction and writes it well. I've read most of her books, and I like them! Her books are always well researched, and I don't recall being pulled out of the story by any glaring mistakes.

Times were hard back then, but instead of writing gritty stories in which all the characters are living in abject misery, (like quite a few of the historical novels I've read recently) she writes things the way they are. People being people, living life however hard and unfair it is, and even enjoying it. Because, you know, even when life is quite wretched, people still figure out how to bear it. Some people even thrive. There are good people and bad people and people who are both. Not everyone's a villain and not everyone's a saint. I like that she can write that sort of thing and do it well.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will Sparrow is an orphan in medieval England who joins a traveling show. Based on true facts of about the time. This books brings to light how people in that era abused people with disabilities and made them to feel less than they are. A good YA read for all.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lively, colorful adventure with lots of wonderful characters set in Elizabethan England.

[Christy Rawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen Cushman does it again!

I enjoyed this coming of age story. I loved how Will came to see the worth of others, but his own as well.

[Dianah (onourpath) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen Cushman is a wonder!

[Josiah · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Small things are so easy to lose, he thought: stones and apples and buttons. And hope."

―Will Sparrow's Road, PP. 34-35

It pleases me so to be able to say this book is vintage Karen Cushman, at least as fascinating, insightful and emotionally engaging as any of her Newbery material. In Will Sparrow's Road, Karen Cushman has done what she does best: recreate a wholly authentic environment from a period in history that isn't much written about, take all the necessary pains to be completely accurate in her portrayal of life as it was at the time, and then populate it with characters whose sadnesses and travails are brought exquisitely to life as only a master writer can do. Karen Cushman fills a gap in the pantheon of literature for kids that not many authors have even tried to fill, that of historical fiction set prior to the days of the American Revolution. Piecing together the specifics of life in Elizabethan England is a trying prospect, requiring a great deal of careful research, and distilling all that information into a form usable for telling a story is even more difficult. The rhythm and flow of English was so different just four hundred years before Will Sparrow's Road was published that to relate a convincing Elizabethan narrative demands the writer almost become fluent in a new language, gaining enough traction to be able to tell a story of depth and meaning using the new language just as steadily as if they had known it their entire life. Few authors are willing to devote so much time to learning to write their stories, but that is the area in which Karen Cushman's writing shines most brightly, and we are the beneficiaries of her wonderful skill.

"Me iudice, in my opinion, life is like juggling... Things come at you―balls, clubs, knives, sorrow, loss. Either you stand there and let them hit you or you throw them back pugnis et calcibus, with all your might."

—Benjamin Bassett, Will Sparrow's Road, P. 118

Will Sparrow, all of twelve years old during an era of English history in which children are not always regarded respectfully, has been forced to flee involuntary servitude at the inn where he has made his uneasy home in recent years. Will's father sold him to the innkeeper years ago in return for a steady stream of liquor and a roof over his own head, but the tenuous arrangement wasn't built to last forever. Feeling no allegiance to the uncaring innkeeper, Will has routinely pilfered from his stores of food these past few months, and now the minor thievery has caught up to him. Will runs from the innkeeper's vow to sell Will to the chimney sweep as cheap labor, and soon finds himself a twelve-year-old vagabond on the road, connected neither to his cruel, roguish father nor any friends or distant family. To placate his unsettled and traumatized mind, Will comes up with a mantra to separate himself from any possible ties to the parade of individuals that have turned against him since the day he was born. "I care for no one but myself and nothing but my belly!", Will repeats to himself whenever his path as a runaway grows particularly rough. Holding the evils of scheming "friends" and regular betrayal at bay is the only sure way to survive for a boy on the road like Will, and he aims to stay free and live his life without fear even if there's not a single person alive who would lift a finger to help him. If they're not going to care about him, then Will doesn't need them either.

How is it that life always has a way of drawing us back into the folds of its drama, even after we think we've cut ties with it? It isn't too hard in the bustling, crowded public arenas of Renaissance England for Will to stay one step ahead of those who would stand to gain from seeing him captured; his father is a chronic drunkard and the innkeeper can't be bothered to hunt all over England for a servant who has only ever brought him trouble. However, Will can't keep from making connections with other people on the road, and it is here that entanglements with conventional society again begin to take their hold on him. There are some thieving scoundrels who would take one look at a boy like Will, alone and without a legal leg to stand on as he escapes across the countryside, and without a moment's remorse rob him of what meager sustenance he is able to earn on the road. Who can blame Will, then, for hardening his resolve to care only for himself, avoiding any associations with people, who have up to now only treated him contemptuously?

Yet there are those out there, as well, who offer fair trade for fair labor, and it is when Will meets the traveling caravan of oddities and sideshow exhibits that he catches his first whiff of equitable dealings between people. For the first time since he was an unsettled resident of the inn to which his father sold him, Will sleeps in the same place every night, surrounded by familiar (if somewhat unusual) companions. Fitz the dwarf man doesn't get on well with Will; the small man has a foul temper and isn't afraid to show it, and doesn't regard Will with much more than disdain. Grace Wyse, the cat girl, is another story entirely, a strange combination of human and cat, a creature unlike any Will has ever seen and the star attraction of the traveling show of freaks and oddities. In this girl who is younger than he is yet looks like no ordinary human child, Will encounters a stiff challenge to his limited view of the world, a strong rebuttal to his continued mantra of caring only for himself. Grace Wyse has lived a surprisingly complicated life, just as Will has, but he never expected her emotions to be as complex as his own, like those of a real human. But what is Grace Wyse, if not a real human? As Will continues to put his pursuers further in the distance and begins transforming the ramshackle life he has inadvertently started building into one more sustainable, easier to maintain even when the choice to get back on the road opens up before his itchy feet, he will have to figure out where he stands on the issue of Grace Wyse, as well as Fitz and the others in the small makeshift family that has been developing around him as their band of oddities and other assorted travelers makes its way. There may always be those curious to look upon the unusual and sensational members of the human race as if they are inferior, somehow fundamentally less human because they don't look or act like the average person, but Will Sparrow has talked enough to Grace Wyse and Fitz to know they're just as human as anyone who buys a ticket to gawk at them in the show, and they shouldn't have to deal with vicious and inhumane treatment. There may be more to life than looking out for oneself and taking care to fill one's own belly, Will sees, and even if the complications brought by beginning to care about others only serve to stir up trouble, finding a makeshift family to put in place around himself after so much time running from the past will be worth every last pound of trouble. That surly, brawling Fitz may have been right after all when he said "My pains are but trifling things compared to my joy."

It isn't easy to pinpoint what is so moving about a book like Will Sparrow's Road. As enchanting as the story's ambience is, that's not really it. No one does Elizabethan England better than Karen Cushman, but a convincing historical backdrop isn't enough to trigger one's deepest emotional responses. What makes this book such a fine specimen of literature, in my view, is the adroit portrayal of the emotional conflicts Will Sparrow faces throughout, both affecting himself and those he comes to see as close personal friends and allies. The pathos of Grace Wyse's situation is powerful, reminding us how we feel when others look down on us for whatever reason, regarding us as subhuman because we're different and feeling free to mock us and treat us unkindly. At the same time, we can't ignore the ways we have turned our backs on others in similar situations, choosing not to act in a caring manner simply because it's easier that way. Will Sparrow has never seen a girl like Grace Wyse before; he lives in an era without modern communication, and therefore is limited in his knowledge to what he can see, read or hear by word of mouth. When confronted with an oddity as peculiar as Grace Wyse, he doesn't know what to do. This will be the refining fire in which his personal character is most intensely tried, by which we are able to see him for who he truly is when all pretenses and the bitterness of a life in perpetual transit are melted away. People can surprise us in the loveliest, most welcome ways, and in Will's growing relationship with Grace, we find perhaps the most generous surprise of the entire story, which is saying quite a bit. If only a greater number of us would stop running for long enough to see that what we want is a lot closer than we've ever taken the time to observe.

Master Tobias, the magician whom Will Sparrow falls in with and works for as his assistant, could just as well be describing the responsibility of readers as he is the audience members at a magician's show when he instructs Will how to spot the tricks behind his conjuring: "You must see beyond what you see, not look where I bid you look... Look behind the obvious and see what I do not want you to see." Such might be the trick behind most novels, built upon complex secrets layered so intricately that even the most perceptive reader will be fooled most of the time, but Will Sparrow's Road resorts lightly to the fostering of illusions, relying mainly on a strong base of emotional resonance and our universal understanding of what it's like to be on the outside looking in, hoping eventually to come upon a friend willing to understand and accept us regardless of our faults. Will Sparrow needed someone to look past his thievery and open his or her heart to him, and all of us need that just as badly, even when we've hardened ourselves to believe, as Will once claimed, "I care for no one but myself and nothing but my belly!" Will Sparrow's Road is a remarkable novel, one of the best additions to juvenile literature in 2012, and I'd have had a hard time finding fault with the Newbery Committee had it chosen to honor this book with an official commendation. I would give three and a half stars to Will Sparrow's Road, and I teetered for days on the brink of rounding that up to four stars before barely electing to swing the other way. I've long known that Karen Cushman at her best is a wonderful novelist, and this book only increases my esteem for her as a writer and literary visionary. Will Sparrow's Road is a treasure I will value always.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

it is good

[Teancum Tukuafu · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you're interested in books like Tom Sawyer then this is the book for you. This book is of the life of Will Sparrow who gets into a fair bit of trouble. The author is Karen Cushman, born and raised in Southern California, was an adjunct professor in a Museum studies department in San Francisco and won the Newbery Honor.
Book review number three:

There were many plot twists in this book in how the main character is betrayed, the very first one is where he gets to trust a new person that he meets and gets back stabbed, "He looked around the shed. She," (can't say her name as to not spoil), " was gone indeed, and so too were her boots. And his blanket and the sack of apples." (page 17)
Karen also was great at characterization, she gave each character a personality, especially in the way they spoke. Will was always not too bright and very childish, which is shown by the way he speaks. "I hope my apples gripe your guts and rats eat your toes right through those fine boots." and "I care for no one but myself, he thought kicking at the straw-covered floor, and nothing but my belly. And boots."(page 17 as well)
All and all it is an okay book but I am more not very inclined to stories of children who are not the best and do not get any better later or afterwards. I see this book as just that, stretches on, and Will gets a little better but is still deceiving people but in a more acceptable way.

[Karen GoatKeeper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will Sparrow was sold to an inn keeper for ale. When the inn keeper plans to sell him as a chimney sweep - a death sentence at that time -, Will bolts. He meets characters along the way. Most aren't very savory. All are trying to get by in a time when the poor had a hard time of it.
Medieval times were very different from anything we are familiar with today. Will ends up traveling with a wagon of Curiosities and Proteges that includes a dwarf and a girl covered with hair.
The story is compelling. The setting is interesting, well researched and well presented.
The medieval setting both supports the story and makes it difficult for young readers with no knowledge of those times. A younger reader or listener may enjoy the story, but find it more akin to fantasy than a possible reality. It would be a good jumping off place for a discussion on how parents consider their children over the ages.
I listened to the audio version read by Katherine Kellgren. She is easy to listen to. The sound effects make the setting come to life.

[GabrielaHUP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read about thirteen year old Will Sparrow, a thief and liar that becomes a runaway. A book that will grab your attention and here are five reasons why.

1. Surprising Story Twists: Will Sparrow's Road has a lot of story twists and unexpected things happening, such as encountering a series of con artists.

2. Different Characters: Meet characters that are just as interesting as Sparrow's journey and characters that he views differently due to their appearance.

3. Important Details: Feel like you're there/him understanding his point of view and different thoughts/feelings.

4. Encountering Different Themes: Experience the themes of cruelty, fear, connection, and redemption in a book.

5. Adventures: Notice how tension and suspense builds when Will and his friends get into bad situations.

Will Sparrow's Road isn't just a regular journey, it's a journey filled with unexpected things. Read it to find out more.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a series of adventures in learning about human nature as experienced by a young runaway in Elizabethan England. The plot itself is the weakest part of this character-driven tale, but the reading by the late Katherine Kellgren was fabulous. Granted, this is MG fiction, so the plot taking place in a series of vignettes works well for that age group and allows for reading in short bursts of time.

As an aside, Ms. Kellgren could make the weekly shopping list sound exciting and musical...

Cushman's author's notes at the end describe her reasoning and research for the story and added to my overall enjoyment. I'll continue to seek out her books, especially in audio, even if I preferred "Alchemy and Meggy Swann" over "Will Sparrow's Road".

[Diana C. Kobylak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Will, is a young boy living during the medieval period. He is sold by his father to the innkeeper for drink. He also works at the inn where he experiences hunger and steals food. He runs away lest he get sold as a chimney sweep and die young of lung disease. He does not trust people as they rip him off. He runs across a fair and joins up with Tidball, who entertains audiences with oddities and prodigies: a dwarf man, a cat girl, and a three legged chicken. Will also befriends the oddities and they become more of a family. Tidball is unscrupulous and does not share the proceeds with the group and mistreats the cat girl for not putting on a dramatic performance.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

n his thirteenth year, Will Sparrow, liar and thief, becomes a runaway. On the road, he encounters a series of con artists—a pickpocket, a tooth puller, a pig trainer, a conjurer—and learns that others are more adept than he at lying and thieving. Then he reluctantly joins a traveling troupe of "oddities," including a dwarf and a cat-faced girl, holding himself apart from the "monsters" and resolving to be on guard against further deceptions. At last Will is forced to understand that appearances are misleading and that he has been his own worst deceiver. The rowdy world of market fairs in Elizabethan England is the colorful backdrop for Newbery medalist Cushman's new comic masterpiece.

[Renae Bowling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good historical fiction by Cushman

Will Sparrow is running away from his life. Who could blame him? His mother has been gone since he was a baby and his drunken father sold him to an inn keeper for drinks.
He has to escape before he ends up being sold to a chimney sweep and spending his life breathing coal dust and dying young. Unfortunately Wills father is not the only adult he meets who uses him as a commodity.
This historical fiction set in traveling fairs in England is very accessible and quick to read. Fans of historical fiction will like it.
There are no issues with language or inappropriate content although there is some violence.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, but it definitely isn't at the same level as some of Cushman's previous novels (notably "The Midwife's Apprentice" and "Catherine, Called Birdy"). As always, though, the inner world is replete with historical details that draw the reader in and make the whole feel both very real and very relatable. Specifically, Will's starvation state (and so his connection to food) really makes one crave things like porridge and hard-boiled eggs. Can't think of a better way to put the reader back several hundred years.

[Stephanie Ricker · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cool little story, but wow, does Katherine Kellgren drive me nuts. I know some people love her audiobook narration, but her style just really irks me. Also, this book, while better than Meggy Swan did not quite have the appeal of The Midwife's Apprentice. A lot of Cushman's characters aren't particularly likable initially but develop over the course of the book. Will Sparrow does grow, but I didn't relate to him as much.

[B]

The book definitely starts slow and feels a little awkward. In terms of content, language is pretty clean except for one term for urine early in the book. Will Sparrow learns a great deal about what matters even though he felt a lack of love in his past.

A great resource for Europe in the 16th/17th century.

The author’s note at the end is great, and Katherine Kellgren does a great job with the ballads!

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a Karen Cushman fan. I love how she teaches history by showing her readers what the life of an everyday person is like. It was fun getting a glimpse of what it might have been like to be a traveling performer. Her characters are always interesting and engaging. You love the good guys and really dislike the bad ones. Great audio book narration.

[C.J. Milbrandt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will is a liar, a thief, and a runaway who only looks out for himself. But he's beginning to understand that you can't trust what a person promises any more than you should put stock in how a person looks. Oddities and rarities and misfits. Good and bad and belonging.

An intriguing historical with honest characters doing the best they can in a less-than-perfect world.