Plots & Players [Paperback]

Pamela Melnikoff (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1996

It is 1594 and young William Shakespeare is working on a new play, The Merchant of Venice, amid growing anti-Jewish sentiment in England. Three Jewish children try to save Queen Elizabeth’s Jewish physician when he’s falsely accused of spying for Spain. Not until Shakespeare meets the Fernandez family does he begin to see the prejudice around him. But will he soften his portrait of Shylock, his play’s lead character? And can the children save the physician’s life?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A rich moment in history is embalmed in this lumbering tale of Jews in Elizabethan England. Melnikoff writes of the fictitious Fernandez family, "New Christians" from Portugal who secretly practice Judaism, interacting with such historical figures as William Shakespeare, the Earl of Essex, Queen Elizabeth and leaders of the Marrano community. The historical kernel of the story is the arrest of Queen Elizabeth's Jewish doctor, Lopez, on false charges of spying for Spain. The Fernandez children gain access to the mightiest figures in the land and do their implausible bit to win freedom for Lopez; to no avail, for he is executed for treason. The focus of the story shifts abruptly from Robin Fernandez, 12, to brother Philip, nine, to sister Frances, 11, and then back to Robin. The period is not well evoked and, with their jarringly modern speech, the characters seem like actors on a rest break at a Renaissance fair. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-- The sights, sounds, and character of Elizabethan England form the compelling background for this tale which focuses on intrigue and bigotry. The plot centers around the conspiracy against Queen Elizabeth I's physician, Dr. Lopez. Readers share in the frustrations of the Fernandez family, Marrano Jews, as they secretly practice their religion, constantly fearful of being discovered. Dr. Lopez intercedes on Robin Fernandez' behalf when the boy is asked to perform in William Shakespeare's production of Romeo and Juliet. Robin's fondness for Dr. Lopez grows so that when the doctor is arrested and unjustly accused of spying against England for Spain, Robin tries to intercede on his behalf. In addition to creating a likable and believable character in Robin, Melnikoff develops the personalities of Shakespeare and the Queen as well. She suggests that both seem to know that anti-Semitism is wrong, but neither expresses a willingness to counter it. Melnikoff has taken a dramatic event in history and created a gripping novel for young readers. History and culture intertwine, educating young readers about less-known episodes of the past. Perhaps more significantly, the book offers its audience a background in the all too extensive history of prejudice and its ramifications. --Renee Steinberg, Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, N.J.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: The Jewish Publication Society (August 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0827605765
• ISBN-13: 978-0827605763
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,378,363 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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