Will Sparrows Road, Karen Cushman
Will Sparrows Road, Karen Cushman
List: $15.00 | Sale: $10.50
Club: $7.50

Will Sparrow's Road

Author: Karen Cushman

Narrator: Katherine Kellgren

Unabridged: 5 hr 9 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 11/06/2012


Synopsis

Will Sparrow, liar and thief, is running away—from the father who sold him for beer, from the innkeeper who threatened to sell him as a chimney sweep, from his whole sorry life. Barefoot and penniless, without family, friends, or boots, Will is determined to avoid capture and, of course, to find something to eat.

Some of the travelers he meets on the road have a kind word for him and a promise of better things to come, such as coins and juicy beef ribs. Eager to go along, Will repeatedly finds himself tricked by older and wiser tricksters. Each time, he resolves afresh to trust no one and care for no one. But luckily for Will, he can’t keep his guard
up forever.

The lively goings-on behind the scenes of Elizabethan market fairs provide a colorful, earthy backdrop for Karen Cushman’s wise and funny story of a runaway who finally, and unexpectedly, stops running.

About The Author

Karen Cushman was born in Chicago and grew up there and in Southern California. Before she started writing full-time, she was assistant director and adjunct professor in the Museum Studies department at John F. Kennedy University in San Francisco. She now lives on Vashon Island in Washington State with her husband. Ms. Cushman’s seven previous novels have helped historical fiction take a prominent place in children’s literature. The first, Catherine, Called Birdy, received a Newbery Honor. The second, The Midwife’s Apprentice, was awarded the Newbery Medal.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Wendy on February 04, 2013

Nothing really wrong with this book, but the concept felt so tired that I had trouble maintaining interest. 6/19/12: Oh, good lord. If precedence means anything, this is likely to become the fourth Newbery winner about an orphaned or semi-orphaned boy traveling through medieval England meeting colorf......more

Goodreads review by Mara on June 19, 2013

Cover Blurb: Yes or No? It's very indicative of the book's era and what sort of novel it will be, but I'm not a huge fan of the cover art. There's something about it that just doesn't quite appeal to me. Characters: Will Sparrow is not the kindest nor most honest boy around. He can be rude, a bit mea......more

Goodreads review by Alesa on August 03, 2020

The setting is England, 1599. Will Sparrow, age 12, is a self-described liar and thief. His father has sold him to an innkeeper in exchange for drink. His mother abandoned him. When the innkeeper threatens to sell him to be a chimneysweep, Will flees. We follow him as he tries to find food, and a ne......more

Goodreads review by Annette on February 15, 2013

Since I am a fan of Karen Cushman, I was delighted to see that she had written a new book and was especially delighted to see that the main character is a boy (a first for this author). However, she returned to her comfort zone for the setting as she is the Queen Bee of Medieval children's lit. If y......more