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The Player King
(Adobe EPUB eBook, Kindle Book, OverDrive Read)

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Author:
Published:
Atheneum Books for Young Readers 2017
Accelerated Reader:
IL: MG - BL: 4.9 - AR Pts: 4
Lexile measure:
690L
Status:
Checked Out
Description
"Swiftly moving and utterly engrossing." —Shelf Awareness

Parents' Choice Recommended

From Newbery Award–winning author Avi comes the gripping and amazingly true tale of a boy plucked from the gutter to become the King of England.
England, 1486. King Henry VII has recently snatched the English Crown and now sits on the throne, while young Prince Edward, who has a truer claim, has apparently disappeared. Meanwhile, a penniless kitchen boy named Lambert Simnel is slaving away at a tavern in Oxford—until a mysterious friar, Brother Simonds, buys Lambert from the tavern keeper and whisks him away in the dead of night. But this is nothing compared to the secret that the friar reveals: You, Lambert, are actually Prince Edward, the true King of England!

With the aid of the deceitful Earl of Lincoln, Brother Simonds sets out to teach the boy how to become the rightful English king. Lambert has everything to gain and nothing to lose, or so he thinks. Yet in this dangerous battle for the throne, Lambert is not prepared for what's to come—or for what it really means to play at being a king.
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Format:
Adobe EPUB eBook, Kindle Book, OverDrive Read
Street Date:
10/17/2017
Language:
English
ISBN:
9781481437707
ASIN:
B071XSVFBJ
Accelerated Reader:
MG
Level 4.9, 4 Points
Lexile measure:
690
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Citations
APA Citation (style guide)

Avi. (2017). The Player King. Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation (style guide)

Avi. 2017. The Player King. Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Chicago / Turabian - Humanities Citation (style guide)

Avi, The Player King. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2017.

MLA Citation (style guide)

Avi. The Player King. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2017.

Note! Citation formats are based on standards as of July 2022. Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy.
Copy Details
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Shared Digital Collection00
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Grouped Work ID:
f50a874e-ace4-4c21-d2af-76aad08a9907
Go To Grouped Work
Needs Update?:
No
Date Added:
Jun 12, 2018 16:15:57
Date Updated:
Jun 12, 2018 16:15:57
Last Metadata Check:
Jul 10, 2022 07:23:53
Last Metadata Change:
Jul 10, 2022 07:23:53
Last Availability Check:
Apr 21, 2024 07:40:25
Last Availability Change:
Jul 12, 2022 00:46:54
Last Grouped Work Modification Time:
Apr 24, 2024 02:13:21

OverDrive Product Record

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      • bioText: Avi is the author of more than seventy books for children and young adults, including the 2003 Newbery medal winner Crispin: The Cross of Lead. He has won two Newbery Honors and many other awards for his fiction. He lives with his family in Denver, Colorado. Visit him at Avi-Writer.com.
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fullDescription
"Swiftly moving and utterly engrossing." —Shelf Awareness

Parents' Choice Recommended

From Newbery Award–winning author Avi comes the gripping and amazingly true tale of a boy plucked from the gutter to become the King of England.
England, 1486. King Henry VII has recently snatched the English Crown and now sits on the throne, while young Prince Edward, who has a truer claim, has apparently disappeared. Meanwhile, a penniless kitchen boy named Lambert Simnel is slaving away at a tavern in Oxford—until a mysterious friar, Brother Simonds, buys Lambert from the tavern keeper and whisks him away in the dead of night. But this is nothing compared to the secret that the friar reveals: You, Lambert, are actually Prince Edward, the true King of England!

With the aid of the deceitful Earl of Lincoln, Brother Simonds sets out to teach the boy how to become the rightful English king. Lambert has everything to gain and nothing to lose, or so he thinks. Yet in this dangerous battle for the throne, Lambert is not prepared for what's to come—or for what it really means to play at being a king.
gradeLevels
      • value: Grade 3
reviews
      • premium: True
      • source: Publisher's Weekly
      • content:

        August 7, 2017
        Once again, Avi (The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts) whisks readers back in time to witness the adventures of a boy in danger. It’s 1486 in Oxford, England, where orphan Lambert Simnel works long hours as a tavern scullion. His dismal fate changes overnight when he is purchased by a Dominican priest, who claims that Limbert is the rightful heir to King Richard’s throne, which has been usurped by King Henry VII. The friar’s goal is to return the boy to his “rightful” position, but first Lambert—now called Edward, Earl of Warwick—must learn how to be a king. Based on historical fact, the novel strongly depicts Lambert’s emotions: his initial confusion, his growing excitement over the prospect of gaining wealth and power (although he knows he has no true claim to the throne), and his fear when he realizes that he is being used as a pawn in a deadly game. Avi’s short, accessible chapters and candid first-person narration create suspense and strongly evoke the political climate of the era, revealing an odd, mysterious chapter in England’s history. Ages 8–12.

      • premium: True
      • source: School Library Journal
      • content:

        August 1, 2017

        Gr 5-8-Avi's latest historical fiction novel introduces Lambert Simnel, the boy who falsely claimed to be the rightful king of England and led a failed rebellion in 1487. Though few details exist about the boy's actual life, the author builds a credible and compelling narrative around known events. Lambert tells his own story, which starts when an ambitious friar notices his resemblance to young Prince Edward and schemes to pass him off as heir to the crown. The boy is initially mystified by the friar's interest, and once he learns about the plot to make him king, Lambert's first thoughts are of escape. He reluctantly learns courtly manners and royal history.Gradually, he becomes resigned, and at times hopeful, about the bold plan. Lambert soon acts and speaks as if he really is the true heir, admitting the truth only to the reader and finally to the rightful king. As the former kitchen boy gains knowledge and confidence, he realizes that he must be more than an obedient pawn if he wants to survive, even turning the tables on the friar who trained him. He never gains true power, though, and the army that gathers around him is easily defeated by the forces of King Henry VII. By the end, readers have seen the hopelessness of Lambert's adventure, but respect his efforts to find ways to understand and control his own fate. VERDICT An interesting slice of history told by an engaging and believable protagonist. Hand to fans of the author, young Tudor enthusiasts, and readers who enjoy medieval-set fiction.-Steven Engelfried, Wilsonville Public Library, OR

        Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

      • premium: True
      • source: Kirkus
      • content:

        August 15, 2017
        From prolific, Newbery winner Avi, a novel set in the Middle Ages that is replete with authentic period details, page-turning brief chapters, and a plot filled with twists, turns, and political intrigue.Avi expands on the historical footnote of an unnamed boy who challenged the kingship of Henry VII, was crowned briefly in Ireland, then led an army to England where he was soundly defeated. Lambert Simnel is a young orphan of unknown age who works and lives in a tavern where he is treated cruelly. A friar with his own selfish motives sees Lambert, purchases him, and schools him in the rules of behavior in order to pass him off as the previous king's nephew, supposedly escaped from imprisonment. The first-person narration adds immediacy to Lambert's fears and confusion. Having previously watched street actors, Lambert determines his best chance is to be a convincing player king, perpetuating the sham and nearly convincing himself. Although Lambert rises from a "loathed nobody" who spent "his life in a cellar, like a rotten turnip," his fortune rapidly plummets. Touches of humor, brought about by both Lambert's need for spiffing up and a colorful vocabulary ("gundy-gut," "bootlicker," "want-wit"), are sprinkled throughout. Unsurprisingly, the cast is an all-white one. An appealing protagonist pursuing a grand adventure and struggling with themes of power, pride, and identity will appeal to fans of historical fiction. (Historical fiction. 9-12)

        COPYRIGHT(2017) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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      • content: gameboy333 - awesome
popularity
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shortDescription
"Swiftly moving and utterly engrossing." —Shelf Awareness

Parents' Choice Recommended

From Newbery Award–winning author Avi comes the gripping and amazingly true tale of a boy plucked from the gutter to become the King of England.
England, 1486. King Henry VII has recently snatched the English Crown and now sits on the throne, while young Prince Edward, who has a truer claim, has apparently disappeared. Meanwhile, a penniless kitchen boy named Lambert Simnel is slaving away at a tavern in Oxford—until a mysterious friar, Brother Simonds, buys Lambert from the tavern keeper and whisks him away in the dead of night. But this is nothing compared to the secret that the friar reveals: You, Lambert, are actually Prince Edward, the true King of England!

With the aid of the deceitful Earl of Lincoln, Brother Simonds sets out to teach the boy how to become the rightful English king. Lambert has everything to...
sortTitle
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lexileScore
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publisher
Atheneum Books for Young Readers