I have a great passion for reading, and it gives me immense joy when I come across a new word. I am truly grateful to Susan Cooper for introducing me to the word \\"thribbling\\", which means improvising. In the context of this story, it is used for actors performing A Midsummer Night's Dream, who have trouble remembering their exact lines.

Cooper has an amazing ability to immerse the reader in Elizabethan London. You can almost hear the hustle and bustle of the city, feel the uneven cobblestones beneath your feet, and smell the unpleasant odors of unwashed bodies, rotting garbage, and effluent in the streets. You can share the confusion of young Nat Field when he wakes up in a strange bed and realizes that he has traveled back in time to 1599. There, he becomes an actor in the newly erected Globe Theatre, working alongside the great William Shakespeare.

The way Nat copes with this extraordinary situation and the mystery behind his time travel make for a thrilling and captivating read. The details of theatre life and the inner workings of the Globe Theatre, in particular, are absolutely fascinating. This book serves as an excellent introduction to Shakespeare, making him come alive as a real, breathing man who takes Nat under his wing. After reading this book, it would be an absolute delight to watch a performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream. It would give the reader a sense of having secret, insider knowledge about the background of this beloved Shakespearean comedy.

I highly recommend this book to readers aged 10 years and older. It is a wonderful blend of history, adventure, and literature that is sure to engage and inspire.

King of Shadows: a magnificent tale

This page-turning, time-travelling book is truly a masterpiece that will draw you into an entirely different world! King of Shadows, penned by the multi-award-winning author Susan Cooper, is an outstanding read that I can guarantee you won't be able to put down once you start. If you have a passion for history and fiction, then this book is the perfect combination for you.

The young actor Nathan Field is the protagonist of this extraordinary story. Nat, a modern American teenager, is highly curious, creative, and easily relatable. He is part of an all-boys acting school, along with its director Arby and coach vocalist Rachel. Besides the school company, there is another crucial figure: every actor's idol - William Shakespeare!

Ordinary boy Nathan Field loves acting as it provides him with an escape from his daily life. He and his school travel to Britain to perform in the new and breathtaking Globe Theatre in London. Suddenly, Nat's head starts to whirl and buzz. Back at his lodgings (the place where he lives with a host family in London), Nat begins to vomit rapidly, sweating profusely due to an extraordinary fever. His legs and hands swell up and turn black like the ash in a chimney. When Nat wakes up the next morning, he is horrified to find that he is no longer in 1999 but in 1599 instead...

King of Shadows is an excellent book that you will surely love! It allows you to vividly imagine that you are right there, listening, smelling, and seeing everything that unfolds in this remarkable story. The level of detail is extremely high. This book is very interesting as it contains many twists and turns, some of which are sad, some are happy, and there are plenty of completely unexpected ones.

I would highly recommend this book to teenagers as it contains some challenging vocabulary that younger readers might find difficult. I have read numerous books, and this one is among the best I have ever come across. It's fantastic, and you simply must read it! I would rate this book 4.5 out of 5 stars because it does have a somewhat sad undertone.

YA, time travel and Shakespeare? I'm sold!

I was initially very apprehensive about teaching this to Year 8s. They are a group who are not easily moved by earnestness or Shakespeare. But as I delved into it, I found that the element of mystery and time travel, along with the vivid imagery, made it quite captivating.

The story takes the readers on a thrilling journey through time, introducing them to the world of Shakespeare. The vivid descriptions bring the past to life, making it easy for the students to imagine themselves in that era.

The twist at the end, although very 'neat', leaves enough suspicion to result in a really satisfying read. It makes the readers think and question what they have just read, adding an extra layer of depth to the story. Overall, I believe this is a great book for Year 8s to read and explore.

Great concept for a book.

However, in this young adult story, there were several aspects that really bothered me.

For instance, there were curse words. In fact, there were as many as 3 curse words in the very first chapter alone.

Moreover, there were detailed descriptions of animals being mauled and disemboweled, which were quite graphic and disturbing.

To make matters worse, there were also severed human heads on poles.

All in all, I just didn't think these elements were appropriate for the intended age group of young adults.

This is just my two cents worth of opinion.

I believe that when writing for a young adult audience, it is crucial to be more mindful of the content and ensure that it is suitable and not overly violent or vulgar.

Perhaps the author could have found a more creative and age-appropriate way to convey the story and its themes.

I truly and deeply enjoyed this book *tremendously*. It is a thousand times better at capturing the essence of what The Dark Is Rising Sequence was aiming for. In fact, I can't even recall if I recognized the author when I picked up this particular volume. (This was yet another library circulation adoptee that will now join the ranks of my most well-beloved books, firmly fixed forever among my favorites. That's "fixed" with two syllables, just so you're aware.)

Okay, I'm looking it up now and it turns out this was written a full twenty years after Silver on the Tree. It's crazy how palpable the difference is! It's tangible proof of how writing books hones and improves one's writing skills. And the two books share some common threads - there are shenanigans through time, little British kids being groomed for predestined specialness, and the sense of pressing your cheek against history's beating heart as it gives you a warm hug. All the good stuff is here. Maybe I've only read two of her stories, but from those two, it seems abundantly clear that she knows exactly what she's into. Please, let this woman keep researching European history and writing fantasy novels about it until the end of time.

But King of Shadows is truly outstanding in all of these aspects. The first-person narrator is wonderful, setting himself and his world up strongly from the very beginning and then giving us even more to hold onto as we journey with him. The classic, tried-and-true time travel concept is executed with *such* reverence and care. And when the book leaves a few things unresolved, it's absolutely intentional. You can feel it in your bones - we're not just breezing past them because there's too much else going on, unlike in some other lovely fantasy tales I've already mentioned. It's just enough to maintain the sense of wonder and mystery.

I'm struggling with how to describe this book. I don't want to call it wish fulfillment because I see that term used as an insult far too often, or as a way of diminishing something's substance even if you enjoyed it for the joy it brought. And I definitely don't want to do that here, but I don't know how else to put it. The *heart* in this book is so incredibly strong. It brought tears to my eyes more than once, and I think the wish-fulfillment aspect is crucial to the weight it carries. It's indulgent in the very best way.

If anything, the only parts that made me feel a bit too indulgent were all the beautiful moments with Nat and Shakespeare. It was entirely because I felt self-conscious about it. Like, what? Is this allowed? It was just too perfectly aligned with my tastes and I didn't know what to do about it!! Will Stanton and Merriman Lyon WISH they had what these guys have In a sense, this book is about a kid getting scouted and hand-selected to fall in love with William Shakespeare and save his life. It's a love story, and it's truly incredible. You, the little theatre kid, get to work with Literal William Shakespeare and he is just Delighted by your somersaults. Then he lets you cry in his arms about your father's suicide, tells you about his own dead kid, lets you stay with him at his house, gives you a sonnet he wrote, and you perform Dream with him. He makes you promise to never stop acting, the Queen says she loved it, and you ask him if he'd have you back in his company when you're a little older and he says he would love that. And then you're pulled BACK to your life and you DONT HAVE THE PAPER HE WROTE THE SONNET ON and he NEVER SEES YOU AGAIN. But you come to learn that you were swapped with an actor from the past to SAVE HIM FROM DYING OF PLAGUE and also that he WRITES THE CHARACTER ARIEL FROM THE TEMPEST BASED ON HIS BELOVED MEMORY OF YOU. His little aerial sprite. What am I supposed to do with that? It's so earnest. I genuinely dog-eared some of the pages where Shakespeare calls Nat a sprite or a magician with such fondness in his voice or Nat expresses his blatant, unwavering devotion to the guy he has known for only five days. He even kisses Nat on the forehead at one point. God. This made-up kid from North Carolina and freaking William Shakespeare are soulmates, twin flames, cosmically intertwined through time, and I'm just supposed to live with that. Fine. Okay.

Anyway. I love this book.

A fantasy adventure that spans across centuries awaits you! This story is based on my all-time favourite Shakespeare play, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. If you have a passion for the play or are simply curious about Shakespeare’s enchanting world, then this tale is sure to hook you. It takes you into the life of a Shakespearean actor through the eyes of Nat, who plays the role of Puck in different eras, centuries apart. Embark on an imaginative journey that delves deep into the realm of theatre, explores the daily life of the actors, and uncovers the beautifully crafted words of Shakespeare. Get ready to be transported to a world filled with magic, mystery, and the timeless charm of Shakespeare’s works.

Ah.. I have a deep love for Susan Cooper's more famous series of young adult novels. This junior novel, in particular, is a beautifully written and highly entertaining adventure. It manages to vividly bring a small part of Elizabethan England to life in a very convincing manner, especially considering it has a relatively small number of pages to accomplish this feat. The concept of time travel within the story is perhaps a bit too neatly presented and somewhat cursory. However, when viewed as a means to drive a charming plot, it does serve its purpose well. It engages the reader and takes them on a journey through time and space, allowing them to experience the excitement and wonder of Elizabethan England. Overall, it is a delightful read that is sure to appeal to fans of historical fiction and adventure.

A truly astonishing and deeply moving story unfolds. There is an orphan boy who is an actor. In a magical turn of events, he is transported 400 years back from the 20th century to the original Globe theatre. Here, he finds himself performing in A Midsummer Night's Dream, a play that he had been rehearsing for in his own time. As he steps onto the stage, he feels a sense of wonder and excitement. Little does he know that this is just the beginning of an extraordinary adventure.

During his time at the Globe theatre, the boy actor has the opportunity to meet none other than William Shakespeare himself. He is in awe of the great playwright and is eager to learn from him. Shakespeare is equally intrigued by the boy and his modern perspective. They engage in deep conversations about acting, writing, and the power of the theatre.

The boy actor's experiences at the Globe theatre change his life forever. He discovers a newfound passion for the performing arts and gains a deeper understanding of the history and significance of Shakespeare's works. When he is eventually transported back to the 20th century, he takes with him the memories and lessons he has learned, and uses them to pursue his dreams with even greater determination.

My Grade = 86% - B

Published in 1999, this book consists of 186 pages and is a truly delightful and quick read.

Young Nat Field from South Carolina has been chosen as one of twenty American boys to journey to the newly built (1997) New Globe Theatre in London to stage a boys’ production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He will be portraying the role of Puck.

Once he arrives and is living with his host family, he falls ill and wakes up in 1599 as Nat Field from St. Paul’s School, London. He is also rehearsing to play Puck, with Richard Burbage as Bottom and Will Shakespeare as Oberon.

Shakespeare takes a great fancy to Nat and invites him to stay in his lodgings. He reveals to Nat that he reminds him of his son Hamnet, who passed away three years ago and would now be Nat’s age.

The play is being produced in a single performance at the behest of Queen Elizabeth, as it is her favorite play and to introduce her to the recently constructed Globe Theatre.

Meanwhile, the Nat Field from 1599 has been transported to 1999 along with his case of bubonic plague, which is easily cured by twentieth-century medicine and antibiotics.

The boys are then returned to their original times, and the 1999 Nat Field ultimately discovers the entire story of why all of this occurred.

Ironically, I had the pleasure, in two separate years, of attending performances at the New Globe - one of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the other of Hamlet.

Nat Field is a boy hailing from the American South. He decides to join a company of boys from all over the country. Their adventure takes them to London, where they will perform Shakespeare's plays in the recreated Globe Theatre.

One night during the rehearsal period, Nat falls ill. In a strange twist of fate, he swaps places with another boy from 1599 who was being loaned to act with Lord Chamberlain's Men at the original Globe!

The unpleasant realities of Elizabethan London pose a significant challenge for Nat. However, as time passes, he begins to grow and change. He comes to enjoy the camaraderie of the company and even forms a special bond with William Shakespeare himself.

This story is an enjoyable historical fantasy. It offers a unique perspective on Shakespeare and 17th-century history. I firmly believe that for young readers, it would serve as an excellent introduction to both Shakespeare's works and the historical context in which they were created.

It allows them to step back in time and experience a different world through the eyes of the characters. Overall, it is a captivating and educational read.

Nat has been selected for an exclusive all-boys acting troupe known as The Company of Boys. This troupe is composed of kids from across the United States. They are currently engaged in rehearsing two of Shakespeare's plays, namely A Midsummer's Night Dream and Julius Caesar, which they will perform in London at the New Globe Theater. However, something odd occurs. Subsequently, Nat wakes up in 1599, taking the place of another Nat Field, who is also cast in the role of Puck. And his Oberon will be portrayed by none other than William Shakespeare himself.

There are training camps and dress rehearsals. There are actors' apprentices and alehouses. The funky smells and the questionable sanitation add to the authenticity of the setting. Bear-baiting and bad teeth are part of the historical backdrop. Fairy kings and poets bring a touch of magic and artistry. Cooper's story masterfully combines so many of my favorite elements that I stayed up extremely late, and then hurriedly finished reading it all first thing the next morning. I unashamedly adored everything about it, from the historical tidbits and the roles of the theater crew to the allusions to Shakespeare's plays and poetry. It was truly a captivating and enchanting read.

Nat Field is an actor who finds himself transported back to Shakespeare's era. The concept of time travel in this story is quite engaging and adds an element of fun.

However, I feel that I would have had a deeper appreciation for the book if I had been more acquainted with "A Midsummer's Night Dream," the play that Nate acts in both in the past and the present. The ending of the book is satisfactory, but it doesn't really stand out as being extraordinary.

Overall, while I did enjoy reading the book, I have to admit that I was hoping for a bit more from Susan Cooper, considering how much I adored her "Dark is Rising Sequence." Nevertheless, it's still a worthwhile read for those interested in time travel and Shakespearean plays.