Avi The Player King

Avi       The Player King        Simon & Schuster/ Atheneum         2017   199p   16.99  978-1-5344-0324-6            ms/jr  Historical        VG-BN 

The Earl of Lincoln and a friar convince a young kitchen boy he is Prince Edward, the true heir to the English throne, in a plot to overthrow King Henry VII. Based on a true story.    Lambert Simnel works as a kitchen boy in Tackley’s Tavern when he is approached by a friar who inquires about his true identity. The friar and the Earl of Lincoln convince the boy he is Edward, the Earl of Warwick, the true heir to the English throne, not King Henry VII. Edward was imprisoned in the Tower of London, but is said to have escaped and his werabouts are unknown. Lambert is apprehensive at first, but is soon caught up in the idea of being a king. He doesn’t know where he is from, probably orphaned, but he is sure he isn’t really the Earl of Warwick. He knows Lincoln is just using him to get closer to the throne himself because the public will get behind the boy to raise an army. Lambert realizes the game he is playing is dangerous, but begins to believe the mantra “if you act like a king, you will be king”. The army is raised, but King Henry prevails. He takes mercy on the boy and puts him to work in his palace kitchen.

This story is based on true events. Early on the friar makes sure the boy understands how dangerous their actions are and explains to him the potential consequences, including drawing and quartering. It is difficult to imagine that a book written for middle school students would have the main character face this fate so it adds to the suspense of how Lambert is going to survive his actions. It is easy to see how he got caught up in the excitement of going from kitchen boy to King of England. He is also young enough that he doesn’t think through his actions fully and is bothered by the prospect of soldiers and others dying for his rouse. This engaging and fast paced novel will entice middle school readers.                            Pennucci, Stephanie        England - fiction, Henry VII