Bound To Stay Bound

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Booklist - 07/01/2017 In 1486, Oxford, England, a lad named Lambert works, sleeps, and lives at Tackley’s Tavern. A friar lifts him out of hunger and poverty in exchange for his learning to play the role of the Earl of Warwick (heir of Richard III) not on stage, but in earnest. He agrees and subsequently rallies others to rise up against King Henry VII in order to place himself on the throne. It’s a fool’s game, since others are plotting to kill the young pretender once the Tudors are overthrown. Can he win the kingdom or, failing that, his life? Told from Lambert’s point of view, the first-person narrative effectively avoids the complicated political backstory and focuses on the boy’s experiences as he learns the unfamiliar speech, manners, and knowledge and plays his part. Avi, whose Newbery Award-winning Crispin (2002) was set in fourteenth-century England, again makes the past vivid and personal in this relatively short, accessible book. An author’s note reveals what is known of the actual Lambert Simnel, whose story inspired the novel. - Copyright 2017 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 08/01/2017 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. 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 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

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