Nathan Field is a highly talented young actor residing in the 21st century.

He unfortunately falls ill while rehearsing Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at a reproduction of the Globe Theatre in London and is rushed to the hospital.

To his horror, he discovers that he has the plague, an illness that has not been seen for centuries.

When he wakes up, Nat is shocked to find himself lying in a room during Shakespeare's time.

I truly relished reading this book. The plot was extremely captivating and engaging.

It took me on a thrilling journey through different time periods and introduced me to a world of Shakespearean drama and the terrors of the plague.

The author did an excellent job of creating a vivid and believable setting, making it easy for me to immerse myself in the story.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or Shakespearean plays.

This is an extremely solid read that adeptly captures two aspects very well.

First, it delves into the reasons why Shakespeare has endured for such a long time. His works are filled with universal themes, complex characters, and beautiful language that have continued to resonate with audiences throughout the ages.

Second, it provides an insight into what it's like to be part of a youth Shakespeare troupe. Based on personal experience, I can attest to the unique and enriching nature of this.

The book is well-researched, presenting great historical details that add depth and authenticity. While some parts may seem a bit puzzling or not make complete sense, I can understand why my elementary school self was so entranced by it.

Surprisingly, it also gets dark at certain points, which adds an unexpected layer of complexity. Overall, it serves as a great introduction or lesson in Shakespeare, or as a wonderful piece of youth historical fiction.

It offers a captivating exploration of both the world of Shakespeare and the experiences of young people involved in his works.

Oh, this is really good.

The protagonist, Nat Field, is a young and talented actor who has come to the Globe Theatre with his company to perform. One night, after feeling unwell, he goes to bed and wakes up in Shakespearean England, right beside Shakespeare himself.

The rest of the novel is filled with Nat's exciting adventures in this bygone era. It also explores what occurs when he eventually returns to his 'normal' life.

As I mentioned earlier, it's extremely good. There's a truly heartrending moment when Nat almost falls in love with Shakespeare. Cooper portrays this hero worship with great kindness and a light, non-judgmental touch. Throughout the text, there's a lot of warmth. Nat's love for his work shines through, as does Cooper's obvious love for Shakespeare.

The ending is excellent, truly so. However, I can understand how it might be divisive. Admittedly, it has a bit of a stagey feel, but this actually reflects the topic of the book quite well, so I felt it was a good fit. This is the only part where it lost a mark for me.

One of my pet peeves with time-travel or historical books is that the side details can overshadow the central thread of the story. But that didn't happen here. The details that were included were very seamless and nicely interwoven. Overall, it's a great piece of work and well worth a read.

I had read this book years ago and was firmly convinced that my excellent memory of it was more than enough reason to go back and give it another try. And as it turns out, I was absolutely right. This is truly an extremely well-researched, meticulously thought out, and beautifully written book.

Nat Field, a young and talented actor, is recruited by a rather mysterious man named Arby to take on the role of Puck in Arby's version of "A Midsummer Night's Dream". The company of actors consists entirely of boys aged 11 - 18, and they are set to perform in the brand-new reproduction of Shakespeare's Globe. Just moments before the play is about to open, Nat unfortunately falls ill. He is rushed to the hospital where he is diagnosed with the dreaded bubonic plague.

Meanwhile, Nat wakes up in 1599, a full four hundred years before his own time. Everyone around him believes that he is Nat Field from St. Paul's school, loaned to Shakespeare's company to play Puck opposite Shakespeare's Oberon in a highly significant performance of the "Dream." Shakespeare and Nat quickly form a deep and personal connection, bonding over their shared experiences of loss. Nat, who has endured much in his life, finds a kindred spirit in Shakespeare, who recently lost his own son, Hamnet. Their relationship is without a doubt one of the most believable and heartwarming aspects of the book. Cooper's portrayal of Shakespeare is so vivid that you truly wish it were the real Shakespeare.

The company is understandably nervous as it is rumored that Queen Elizabeth I herself may grace the performance with her presence. But when the big day finally arrives, everything goes off without a hitch. Nat, the boy from 1999, even has the opportunity to meet Queen Elizabeth.

After the play, Nat realizes that his current situation cannot remain as it is. He knows that when he returns to St. Paul's, he will be instantly rejected. Nevertheless, he makes a promise to Shakespeare that he will come back when he is grown and act with him once again.

I am a person who is easily moved to tears, and I found myself crying at the end of this book. It was simply beautiful. And you know what? I truly believed in the possibility of it all. I can't really say anything more because I don't want to completely spoil the book for others, but the characterizations were so well done that it all felt completely right to me. Kudos to Susan Cooper!

The story has a cute storyline, which makes it an easy read for middle school students. However, I just couldn't establish a connection with the main character. In my opinion, for the story to have a smooth flow, the reader requires a decent understanding of Shakespeare or at least the main play. But seriously, what middle school kid actually knows "A Midsummer's Night Dream"? It's a quick read, and the idea is quite fun.

Nevertheless, it didn't quite hit the mark for me and isn't my favorite. Maybe it's because I didn't have the necessary background knowledge or perhaps it was just a personal preference.

Overall, while it has its charm, it didn't manage to fully engage me. I can see how some students might enjoy it, especially if they have an interest in Shakespeare or are looking for a light-hearted read. But for me, it was just an okay experience.

I guess it goes to show that everyone has different tastes when it comes to literature, and what might be a great book for one person might not be the same for another.

It’s 1999 and Nathan Field, scouted out by the mysterious Arby, is flown from America to London. He is set to play Puck in an all-boys production of William Shakespeare’s Midsummer’s Night Dream at The Globe. However, everything changes when he catches a 24-hour bug and wakes up in an entirely different century. Suddenly, he finds himself in the hustle and bustle of Elizabethan England, playing Puck in the original ‘Dream’, with the King of Shadows himself as Oberon. Nat has to figure out how to fit in with his fellow actors and survive undiscovered while also trying to find a way back to the present day.

Although there were a couple of violence issues, the King of Shadows is impeccably written. All the scenes come alive in a way that is truly remarkable. The characters are strong and believable, and the plot twists keep the story engaging from start to finish.

The story would have been even better if the play Nat was acting in, ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’, had been explained more thoroughly. Not everyone is familiar with it, and it was often referred to as ‘the Dream’ without much context. Additionally, the ending left something to be desired. It felt unfinished and left too many questions unanswered.

This book does have a few scenes about death and near death that may be upsetting to sensitive readers, especially given the vivid writing style of Susan Cooper. I also noticed several words that might be considered inappropriate.

Despite these drawbacks, I really enjoyed how real the King of Shadows felt. The details were so well-crafted that they truly created the atmosphere of the 1600s. I could hardly put the book down, and it always left me on the edge of my seat. I also appreciate how historically accurate it is. Most of the characters were real people in the Elizabethan era, which added an extra layer of authenticity. This book made me experience a wide range of emotions, from crying in one chapter to laughing in the next. It’s a rare book that can have such an impact on me.

All in all, I absolutely loved this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who has a passion for historical fiction. It’s a captivating and engaging read that will transport you to another time and place.

I am not at all certain whether I read this when I was a kid. There were several similar books available around the same time.

I rather liked it. However, I was always unsure about the approximate age of the narrator. Was it pre-teen? Or young teen?

But the real issue is that the ending is a mess.

If Nathaniel Field has the plague and his friend is taking care of him, then that friend is bound to give the plague to Will Shakespeare (and the rest of the cast). By the time Nathaniel Field is transported to the twentieth century, it's already too late.

Also, and I'm aware that this is a modern, post-20th-century-Shakespeare-Fever reaction, but I found it a bit offensive that Nathaniel Field is only saved in order to save someone else.

What I really liked a great deal was the recreation of the Globe, the celebration of the new Globe, and presenting to the child reader the concept that there are different ways to stage the same play.

This aspect added a wonderful layer of depth and interest to the story, allowing young readers to explore the world of Shakespearean theater in a unique and engaging way.

This is an excerpt from a review I penned for the now-defunct Riverbank Review.

Susan Cooper, the recipient of the Newbery Medal for The Grey King (part of the Dark Is Rising sequence), wields her magic with great skill. In King of Shadows (the title inspired by A Midsummer Night's Dream), she demonstrates a profound understanding of the magic of the theater. She shows how a group of individuals within an enclosed space can bring the impossible to life. In this magnificent novel for young readers, she has transformed this understanding into a captivating story.

The tale does have a slight wobble at the end when Nat is dispatched to prevent the plague from reaching Shakespeare, allowing him to continue writing his plays. Nevertheless, the power of words to touch and heal, the joys of being on stage and creating magic, and the depth of one boy's connection to the greatest of English writers are crystal clear.

The story is a beautiful exploration of the theater's magic and the impact it can have on a young person's life.

Excellent story! It takes us on an amazing journey as Nat travels back in time to meet Shakespeare and act with him. This encounter ultimately heals the horrible pain in his life. The story is told with great reality, and the characters are so compelling. Cooper shows the skill that we expect from a great writer. It's a wonderful tale that doesn't seem dated at all. In fact, it seems very plausible and real. If you're a reader who is interested in theater, you will absolutely love this book. It offers a unique perspective on the world of Shakespeare and the power of acting. The details are vivid, and you can almost picture Nat on the stage with Shakespeare. It's a must-read for anyone who loves a good story.

This book was a compulsory reading in the school.

The only objective of reading it was to start getting us accustomed to reading in a language other than our mother tongue.

It served as a means to introduce us to the world of literature in a foreign language and help us develop the necessary skills to understand and appreciate it.

Through this book, we were able to expand our vocabulary, improve our grammar, and enhance our comprehension abilities.

It also exposed us to different cultures and ways of thinking, which broadened our horizons and made us more open-minded.

Overall, this compulsory reading was an important part of our education and had a significant impact on our language learning and personal growth.

This may be a young-adult book, but I found it truly fascinating.

An acting troupe of American boys travels to London to perform Shakespeare at the Globe theater. Nathan Field is recruited to play Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream, but unfortunately, he falls ill during rehearsals. The family he is staying with calls an ambulance to rush him to the hospital due to a high fever. While in a delirious state, he has a crazy dream and when he wakes up, he discovers himself in Elizabethan London, recruited to play Puck at the Globe - only this time, it is with William Shakespeare's own company.

At the same time, a 14th-century Nat Field wakes up in a modern London hospital, suffering from bubonic plague. Needless to say, both boys face numerous difficulties in adjusting to the changes in the world they thought they were familiar with. The story mainly follows the Nat who has traveled to Shakespeare's time, with occasional brief mentions of the "other" Nat. Cooper employs an interesting method of justifying the time travel after the boys return. There is a wealth of information about Shakespeare, 14th-century London, and the challenges of staging a play. I was so completely engrossed that I read the book in one sitting (as it's not overly long). It is highly recommended and might even spark an interest in the works of Shakespeare among young people!

What truly captured my attention right from the first paragraph of "King of Shadows" was the remarkable way in which the author manages to vividly bring "life in the theater" to actual life.

Specifically, it is the emotional intensity that is palpable, as well as the deep connection with fellow actors and crew members. She beautifully captures the unwavering 100% commitment that each person brings to the table, the sense of a theater "family" that forms, and the sheer thrill of successfully reaching out to and engaging the audience.

As I read those lines, I felt as if I was being transported back to my own youthful (and even some not-so-young) days in the theater. More than that, I was filled with a sense of delight because someone else's description of an acting company could so closely mirror my own personal experience. Oh, if only I too could find myself in the position of acting alongside Will Shakespeare... It would truly be a dream come true.