King of Shadows is a captivating tale that delves into the life of an orphaned boy.

He gets the opportunity to be a part of the production of a Shakespeare play with an elite theater company in the vibrant city of London.

One fateful night, after falling ill with what seems to be the dreaded bubonic plague, he succumbs to sleep and embarks on an extraordinary journey.

He finds himself traveling back in time to the glorious Elizabethan Age.

In this bygone era, he has the remarkable encounter of meeting the real-life Shakespeare himself.

As he spends time in this new world, he begins to come to terms with the profound loss of his parents.

The story unfolds with his adventures and self-discovery, painting a vivid picture of a boy's growth and transformation in a historical setting.

It combines elements of drama, history, and personal growth to create a truly engaging and unforgettable narrative.

Mostly enjoyable - we liked being immersed into Shakespeare’s world.

It was truly a captivating experience to step into the realm of the great playwright. The language, the stories, and the characters all came alive in a unique way.

However, it must be noted that it just feels quite old now. This was something that my students noticed as well.

The archaic words and the somewhat outdated表达方式 sometimes made it a bit of a challenge for them to fully understand and engage with.

Nevertheless, despite its age, Shakespeare’s work still holds a certain charm and beauty that cannot be denied.

It offers valuable insights into human nature, relationships, and the human condition.

Overall, while there are some aspects that may seem a bit antiquated, the experience of reading Shakespeare for school is still a worthwhile one.

It helps students to expand their vocabulary, improve their reading comprehension skills, and gain a deeper appreciation for literature.

It is a journey into the past that can enrich our present and future.

For me, being a theater geek and an avid fan of time travel, along with plots that don't center solely around romance and "coming of age" tales, and almost anything that is well-written - this book basically met all my criteria.

Susan Cooper had a profound influence on me as a young reader. I was quite surprised to discover that I had missed this particular one. However, it was released somewhat after my "YA" years.

I'm not sure why it isn't more widely known. Perhaps the unattractive covers could be part of the reason. The book appears to be well-researched, yet you never have the impression that the author is trying to show off their intelligence. The historical accuracy is presented merely to serve the plot.

It was both lovely and sad, filled with longing and hope. And Susan Cooper has the remarkable ability to pen sentences that can make my scalp tingle more than any whispers. It's simply an extremely satisfying read.

"King of Shadows" is a remarkable work by Susan Cooper, which serves as a beautiful tribute to her husband, Hume Cronyn. The dedication of the book, 'For my actor', shows her deep affection and respect for him.

Nat Field, along with his acting troupe, has journeyed to England to perform at the "new" Globe Theater in London. However, upon his arrival, he succumbs to a severe illness - the subsonic plague. After a fevered sleep, he wakes up to find himself not in the present but transported back in time to Elizabethan England. In this new era, he discovers that he is also an actor and has the extraordinary opportunity to meet and work with the real William Shakespeare.

Through their relationship, Nat finds unexpected help and guidance that impacts his life in the present. This book is a favorite among boys who love fantasy, although the new cover art might seem to deter some guys. Susan Cooper, who has experience writing for the theater and collaborating closely with actors, honors the traditions of the theater with this captivating story.

A nice enough read indeed. I truly appreciate the way this story has the potential to entice younger readers to view Shakespeare's plays in a fresh light or spark their interest. It's quite remarkable how it manages to do so. However, I didn't think that much attention was given to Nat's characterisation. There could have been more depth and development in塑造 his personality. Additionally, I was a little frustrated at Gil's and Rachel's immediate and unreserved acceptance of Nat's story. It seemed a bit too convenient. I think it would have been more engaging if Nat had to keep uncovering the later information on his own, facing the disbelief of others along the way. Despite these minor flaws, overall it was a nice YA novel that offers an interesting take on Shakespeare and could potentially introduce a new generation to his works.

‘King of Shadows’ is an absolutely magnificent page-turner that has been masterfully crafted by the multi award-winning writer Susan Cooper. It is a captivating time-travelling historical novel that is sure to enthrall readers.

If you have a penchant for mysterious, historical, or time-travelling books, then I can wholeheartedly guarantee that this book is tailor-made for you.

The story commences with a young actor named Nathan Field. He is an American boy who embarks on a journey to London with an all-boys acting company. However, the night before his play, he suddenly falls ill and is rushed to the hospital.

Boom! In an instant, Nat finds himself transported back centuries. The people around him speak in a strange manner, which is how he realizes that he has穿越时空. Harry, the person who welcomes him, leads him to ‘The Globe’, and that is where he encounters the ‘King of Shadows’ himself!

This book is incredibly enjoyable and offers a wealth of knowledge about history and Elizabethan England. Cooper has skillfully incorporated real historical events and details to make readers vividly experience what Nat is feeling.

For those who love page-turners or historical fiction, ‘King of Shadows’ is an absolute must-read. It will transport you to a different era and keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

For younger readers, around the middle grade level, this would serve as an excellent introduction to the life of William Shakespeare, the Globe Theatre, and various aspects of Elizabethan performance and stagecraft.

It offers a captivating look into the world of the renowned playwright, allowing young minds to explore and learn.

However, if you are already well-versed in this subject, some of the material might seem a bit contrived or forcibly inserted.

Nevertheless, it still holds value in helping younger readers understand the drama and how it unfolds, as well as the significance of performing.

By presenting this information in an accessible way, it can spark their interest and encourage them to delve deeper into the fascinating realm of Shakespeare and Elizabethan theater.

Overall, it has the potential to be a valuable resource for both young enthusiasts and those new to the subject.

I read this book during my O Levels, as it was part of the exam and I had to study it. But to my surprise, this was the first time I truly enjoyed reading a book that I was supposed to be studying.

Did this book spark my immense love of Shakespeare? Probably. I love Shakespeare more than most things in this world. But maybe there’s more to it than just that. This book is the kind that makes me think, ‘Damn, I wish I had written that.’

Nat Field, a brilliant young American actor, has been chosen by a strict and eccentric director to perform in a Company of Boys at the New Globe in 1999. They will perform Julius Caesar and A Midsummer Night’s Dream as Shakespeare intended, with only male actors. Nat is to play Puck, and he’s excited. But on arriving in England, he falls ill and wakes up in 1599. He finds himself taking part in Shakespeare’s production of The Dream for the Queen, and no one realizes he’s not the real Nathanial Field.

This story is moving in many ways. I love seeing 1599 London through Nat’s eyes. I love how his dark past is realistically brought up and how he clings to a father figure. I love how he deals with culture shock when he travels back and how hurt he is to leave. And I especially love how the time travel is explained and tied together. There are few loose ends, and Shakespeare is portrayed as a human, which is wonderful.

However, one of my qualms is the speech. There seem to be a lot of thee and thou, which I’m not sure were used correctly. But otherwise, this is a brilliant novel, even for young adults. If you love Shakespeare, you must read it. It’s well written, has a good story, and is well researched. And it won’t take long to read!

Final rating: 4/5. I’ll always love this book.

This book is truly filled with drama.

It presents an amazing plot that is simply captivating and is full of non-stop action.

The main character is named Nathan Field. There is someone who is identical to him and exists in Shakespeare's time. This other Nathan Field is on the verge of meeting Shakespeare. However, he has contracted the plague, a dreaded disease that had a high mortality rate, almost killing everyone who got it.

To prevent Shakespeare from getting the plague and to cure the other Nathan Field, Nathan was zipped back in time and swapped places with him.

Fortunately, this plan ended up working. And then, both of them went back to their respective time periods.

The story is a thrilling adventure that takes the readers on a journey through different eras and showcases the power of fate and the importance of taking risks to save others.

I'm not suggesting that this book was completely awful. However, I simply don't believe it was worthy of my time.

Perhaps it's because I had to read it for school and thus had to analyze every little detail exhaustively. But very quickly, this book failed to hold my interest. It wasn't due to a lack of a fast-paced plot or uninteresting characters. In fact, that might have been a contributing factor. I discovered that the main problem stemmed from the fact that there wasn't anything substantial to analyze. Yes, it had its underlying themes and messages and such, but I found the examinations to be extremely superficial and rather childish.

I would give the author the benefit of the doubt and claim that this book wasn't intended for my age group, if it weren't for the fact that it was assigned to me. This book was neither a source of great joy nor a form of torture. I never trembled with excitement or had butterflies in my stomach. The only time I would have discussions about it with my friends was in class.

For once, this book was just that - a book, and that was its downfall.

I utilize books as a means of escaping from all the chaos happening around me, all the stressors, all the people. Especially those set in a place different from my own, such as historical fiction or fantasy. It was supposed to transport me, sweep me into a world of chamber pots and Shakespeare. But at best, all I felt was a mild interest.

I do have to credit the author for her vivid descriptions of the Elizabethan Era. If Cooper's plot had been engaging enough to draw me in, I would have felt as if I were right there with Nat and the other Chamberlain Men. From the old-fashioned sights to the horrible smells, she captured it all!

Her most significant downfall, however, was the ending. There were numerous loose ends, and in some ways, I felt that the conclusion raised more questions than it answered. This might just be my logical mind at work, but wouldn't the plays Arby was trying to save not have existed before 21st Century Nat was sent back in time? And how is the modern-day Arby actually Burbage? Is he some kind of immortal being or just a descendant? Who was the boy at the beginning with Arby who recognized Nat's value? If Arby was a descendant, was the legacy simply passed down or was there a whole organization dedicated to寻找 a Nathaniel Field? How did the time travel even function? Also, Nat's present-time friends should have been much more skeptical of his story. They practically figured out what was going on with their limited intelligence.

Wow, that was a whole bunch of questions. See? More questions than answers with that ending.

Overall, it was just an okay book.

I've been reading Susan Cooper's stories for a long time. This particular one took approximately 2 chapters to truly draw me in. However, it's an engaging story that provides a pleasant distraction during these challenging Covid-19 times.

The story follows a current-day youth who is sent back in time to spend a week with William Shakespeare and even appears in "A Midsummer Night's Dream". It not only delves into this exciting adventure but also deals with the youth's present-day issues. He has lost his mom and then his dad, which adds an emotional layer to the narrative.

All in all, it's a very enjoyable read. I own the cover art from 2001, but I must admit that I really like the new cover art that has now been released. It gives the book a fresh and appealing look, which I think will attract more readers to this wonderful story.

I really enjoyed reading the story. However, it felt a bit rushed. There were numerous unexplained parts that I wished could have been expanded upon.

I liked learning more about Elizabethan England and experiencing life through the eyes of Nat. But some of the descriptions were quite graphic. It mentioned underage prostitutes, a bloody bear-baiting scene (which I chose to skip over), and even beheadings.

In the present-day part of the story, a suicide is mentioned. The characters, unfortunately, aren't developed very well. At times, they do things that seem illogical.

Despite these flaws, I really enjoyed the way Shakespearean plays were woven into the plot. This could be a great method to spark a child's interest in Shakespeare or theater. Additionally, readers who already have a love for the theater might find more enjoyment in this book.