Having loved every children’s book I’ve ever read by Barbara Henderson, I was thrilled when she kindly ensured I received her latest, Enter Eddie Shakespeare. 

You’ll find other appearances by Barbara, including my reviews of her fabulous books, on Linda’s Book Bag here. 

Enter Eddie Shakespeare was published by Luath Press on 6th April 2026 and is available for purchase here.

Enter Eddie Shakespeare

The course of true brotherhood never did run smooth!

1592. Meet Eddie Shakespeare, determined to follow his big brother William to London to become a player. 

Eddie’s plan is simple:
1. Run away from home in Stratford.
2. Find his big brother Will in the city.
3. Act in London’s playhouses and win fame and glory.

As it turns out, the very last person the aspiring playwright William Shakespeare wants to see is his bothersome little brother, when he has more than enough worries of his own. 

But the truth is: William Shakespeare’s life is in danger.

And worse, only Eddie knows it.

My Review of Enter Eddie Shakespeare

William Shakespeare’s younger brother wants to be an actor. 

I’m beginning to run out of the ability to say something new about Barbara Henderson’s ability to write the most fabulous children’s books. Each is packed with a brilliant blend of meticulously researched historical detail combined with a fast paced plot and a real sense of history, peril and danger so that children and adults alike are both entertained and educated. Enter Eddie Shakespeare is no exception. I’d never considered Shakespeare’s siblings before, so that Enter Eddie Shakespeare was fascinating to read. 

Eddie is brought to life with true dexterity. His sense of the theatrical is enhanced by his feather collection so that he adopts a slightly different persona in accordance with whatever feather he places in his cap. That he’s a runaway appeals to young readers, and I adored the fact that the two closest friends he makes are different to the others in the book. You’ll need to read it to find out exactly what I mean. Barbara Henderson gives status to young people of all kinds. Even the reprehensible Perkin is treated with understanding so that young readers can consider why their peers might behave as they do. 

The sense of London at the end of C16th, with the swirling Thames, the ale houses, the fetid streets and so on gives real insight into the era. I thought the descriptions of The Rose Theatre were superb and seeing what happens during performances through twelve year old Eddie’s eyes brings to life the reality of plays at the time. This affords real learning opportunities as well as a cracking story.

Indeed, the educational qualities of Enter Eddie Shakespeare are unparalleled. From the maps and illustrations by Deborah Spence to the real people – Eddie and William Shakespeare’s family, and Christopher Marlowe for example – woven into the story, there is so much to discover. I loved the smattering of recognisable quotations from Shakespeare’s plays which make the story engaging for adult readers too. Equally useful for classroom use is the author’s Postscript that explains which elements of the story are factual and which have been used creatively. Add in a glossary of terms and a Shakespearean timeline and there are so many jumping off points for other research, drama and investigation. 

As ever, in Enter Eddie Shakespeare, Barbara Henderson has brought to life a period of history with real people in a way that is dramatic, engaging and totally innovative.  Enter Eddie Shakespeare is another cracking read for children of all ages. 

About Barbara Henderson

Barbara Henderson is the award-winning author of eleven books, including the Young Quills Award-winning novels The Chessmen Thief and The Siege of Caerlaverock, as well as Rivet Boy, winner of the Books for Topics Curriculum Support Award. Her historical and eco-fiction for children is widely studied in schools. Barbara is based in the Scottish Highlands where she still teaches Drama, but she loves to travel and spread the story-love in classrooms across the country. When she gets the chance, she likes to head outside, often to the nearby hills.

For further information, visit Barbara’s website, find her on Facebook or follow Barbara on Instagram and Bluesky.