Love Disguised

Gr 8 Up—This novel begins slowly but quickly builds steam. Young and charismatic Will Shakespeare longs to escape Stratford to become a playwright in London, an occupation frowned on by his father. Fate and duty seem to interweave as Will is sent to London to deal with his father's debt. There he meets his muse, a witty and savvy barmaid named Long Meg, who is attempting to escape her past. When Will is robbed, Meg offers the help of her brother Mack (Long Meg in disguise). The two work together to recover Will's fortune and settle his father's debt as they work together to realize Will's dreams. Chapters alternate between Will's story and Meg's, giving readers a chance to know both of them. The novel contains many allusions to the Bard's works that fans will delight in, while readers unfamiliar with them will enjoy the story on its own merit. The author includes a note highlighting the historical facts that influenced her tale as well as some resources for further reading. Love Disguised will leave readers inspired to delve into the works of Shakespeare and discover Klein's sources of inspiration.—Tiffany Davis, Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh, NY