A well-written tale of time travel is wrapped around some of Shakespeare’s most famous works.

The central character, Nat, is a member of a theatre troupe for boys who perform Shakespeare’s plays as they were meant to be - at the Globe Theatre in London with an all-male cast. They are set to perform ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and Nat has been chosen to play Puck. During a warm-up exercise, Nat suddenly feels very dizzy and sick, and blacks out.

When he awakens, he finds himself transported back to Elizabethan England. There, he learns to adjust to his new life and even has the opportunity to meet William Shakespeare himself! Shakespeare is immediately impressed with Nat and touts him as his best performer.

Back in modern-day England, however, Nat’s Elizabethan counterpart, with whom he has swapped lives, lies in the hospital suffering from bubonic plague. Once this has been cured (just long enough for the original Nat to become emotionally attached to Shakespeare), the two lads are shunted through time again to their own centuries. Nat then struggles to acclimatize to his surroundings and misses Shakespeare desperately.

The twist ending is an unexpected touch and effectively explains the reasons for the time travel.

I highly rate this book as an excellent way to engage younger students in Elizabethan history and introduce them to the works of Shakespeare. Although it can be a bit gruesome in places, Cooper writes with remarkable accuracy about what Elizabethan life would have been like, especially from the perspective of a modern-day child.

However, there is room for further character development of Elizabethan Nat. This opens up opportunities for a class project, such as imagining oneself as Elizabethan Nat transported to modern times and writing a diary entry explaining one’s feelings and how life is different.

The suggested age range for this book is 10 - 11 years, and it can be used in various ways in the classroom. One option is as described above, or it could also be utilized in a history project comparing Elizabethan and modern life.

Overall, this book offers an engaging and educational experience for young readers.

When I was a child, I delved into the captivating world of the Dark is Rising sequence and fell deeply in love with it. I devoured books like Seaward and Dawn of Fear, and to this day, they still grace my bookshelves. However, those were the only books I was aware of that Susan Cooper had penned. Somehow, it never crossed my mind that she would write more in the future! Maybe I even entertained the thought that she was no longer alive? In any case, when I chanced upon this particular book at the library, I picked it up solely based on her name and carried it home. And today, I read it. In a mere four hours flat! Despite having to stop to cook and enjoy a cup of tea, and even reading a chapter or so of Hiccup to Matthew. As you can probably surmise from that, and the five stars I awarded it, I adored this book. It would serve as an excellent companion piece to Atwood's Hagseed if one wished to explore modern perspectives on Shakespeare plays! I will now most definitely have to keep an eye out for her other more recent works.

I am truly excited to discover what else Susan Cooper has in store for us. Her writing has always had a special charm that draws me in and keeps me hooked until the very last page. I can't wait to see what new adventures and ideas she will bring to life in her future books.

This unexpected find at the library has reignited my passion for Susan Cooper's works, and I look forward to embarking on many more literary journeys with her.

I vividly remember reading Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising series when I was a kid, and I absolutely adored it.

This season, when I was in need of a book that had Shakespeare as a character for a reading challenge, this particular book seemed like a rather decent choice.

However, it's not really recommended for adult readers. Instead, it might be an excellent option for a teen who is also studying Shakespeare in school, especially if they are reading A Midsummer Night's Dream.

In fact, I reread A Midsummer Night's Dream simultaneously with this one since the actors in this book are staging the play.

All in all, it was engaging enough for what it is, offering a unique blend of fantasy and Shakespearean elements that could potentially capture the interest of young readers.

A well-written tale of time travel that is intricately wrapped around some of Shakespeare’s most renowned works. The central character, Nat, is a member of a theatre troupe for boys who perform Shakespeare’s plays as they were originally intended - at the Globe Theatre in London with an all-male cast. They are set to perform ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, and Nat has been chosen to play the part of Puck. During a warm-up exercise, Nat suddenly begins to feel extremely dizzy and sick, and then blacks out.

Upon awakening, he discovers that he has been transported back to Elizabethan England. There, he has to learn to adapt to his new life and, astonishingly, even meets William Shakespeare himself! Shakespeare instantly takes a liking to Nat and hails him as his best performer. However, back in modern-day England, Nat’s Elizabethan counterpart, with whom he has swapped lives, lies in the hospital suffering from bubonic plague. Once this has been cured (just long enough in the novel for the original Nat to become emotionally attached to Shakespeare), the two lads are shunted through time again to their own centuries. Nat then struggles to acclimatize to his surroundings and misses Shakespeare profoundly.

The twist ending is an unexpected element that effectively explains the reasons for the time travel. I highly recommend this book as an excellent means to pique the interest of younger students in Elizabethan history and introduce them to the works of Shakespeare. Although it can be a bit gruesome in certain parts, Cooper writes with remarkable accuracy about what Elizabethan life would truly have been like, especially from the perspective of a modern-day child. There is, however, room for further character development of Elizabethan Nat, which opens the door for a class project along the lines of ‘imagine you are Elizabethan Nat transported to modern times. Write a diary entry as if you are him explaining how you feel and how life is different for you’. The suggested age range for this book is 10 - 11 years, and it can be utilized in various ways in the classroom. As described above, one option is to use it for such a project, or it could also be employed in a history project comparing the differences between Elizabethan and modern life.

I read this book years ago and just recently re-read it to determine if it could withstand the test of time.

To my delight, it did. Susan Cooper accomplishes the challenging task of depicting Shakespeare without exaggerating the idea of him being a "man of destiny" or "more than a human being."

We view Shakespeare through the eyes of young Nat Field, who is longing for his parents and discovers a parental figure in Will Shakespeare.

The book is filled with captivating details about Elizabethan London and the theatre. The plot progresses briskly and reaches a gratifying conclusion.

In conclusion, this is undoubtedly the best book featuring Shakespeare for young people. It offers an engaging and accurate portrayal of Shakespeare and his world, making it a must-read for any young reader interested in history or literature.

Here is a very serviceable story about a young actor. He embarks on an extraordinary adventure as he goes back in time and finds himself acting in Shakespeare's Globe. It's a quick read that may not be overly brilliant, but it does manage to convey some of the vivid sights and distinct smells of Elizabethan London rather well. The details bring that era to life to a certain extent. It's a good choice for younger readers who are interested in history and the world of theater. They can get a taste of what it might have been like during that time period through the eyes of the young actor. Overall, it's an engaging little story that offers a bit of entertainment and education.

This book tells the story of a teenage orphan boy named Nat Field. He lives with his aunt and has a remarkable talent for acting. One day, he gets recruited by a company that is preparing for a play in London. However, Nat suddenly feels sick and when he wakes up, he finds himself in 1599.

The reason I gave this book a 3-star rating is that it was extremely confusing. The plot didn't really appeal to me.

One thing I did enjoy was how Nat went back in time and had the opportunity to meet one of the greatest playwrights in history.

On the other hand, something I disliked was the plot itself. Personally, I don't have a preference for this type of books. And towards the end, when the author tried to explain the events, it just didn't work for me and rather spoiled the overall experience.

Nevertheless, I would still recommend this book to those who have a passion for acting and historical fiction, especially those who are fans of Shakespeare. They might find more enjoyment and value in this story compared to someone like me who had a few reservations.

I initially began reading this book to my Year 8 English class at intervals. However, this practice was later phased out by the team.

Eventually, I made up my mind to complete it during the summer break. As a result, my review might be a bit inconsistent.

Certainly, it is best to read this book with some acquaintance of Shakespeare's history and his key works.

Undoubtedly, it can be a bit mind-boggling with a plethora of characters and names. Nevertheless, I found Nat's character and his struggles to be highly compelling.

Definitely, it serves as a fun means to introduce young adult readers to Shakespeare and the Elizabethan era.

This book offers a unique and engaging perspective that can pique the interest of those who are curious about this period in history and Shakespeare's works.

It provides an opportunity for readers to immerse themselves in a fictional world that is intertwined with real historical elements.

Overall, despite its challenges, it is a worthwhile read for YA readers who are looking for something different and educational.

The King of Shadows by Susan Cooper is a captivating story. It's about a teenager, Nat, who has a passion for acting and lives with his aunt. Nat travels to London to pursue his acting dreams. However, he falls ill and finds himself in a dream that takes him 400 years into the past.

In this past, Nat witnesses the lack of modern conveniences like a bathroom. He realizes how much harsher life was back then. Later, Nat gets the opportunity to act in a play in this historical setting. He enjoys it so much that he almost wishes he could stay there with the friends he has made.

When Nat wakes up, he sees his aunt and decides to act in the same play in the present as he did in his dream.

There are aspects of the book that I really loved. One of them was the moment when Nat met the Queen of London. It added an element of excitement and historical significance.

On the other hand, there were things I disliked. For instance, the story didn't provide detailed information about the timeline. It would have been nice to have a clearer understanding of the historical context.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to people who have a penchant for time travel stories, acting, and plays. It offers a unique blend of these elements that is sure to engage and entertain readers.

Holds.

Uppppppp.

I have a deep and abiding love for this book. As a child, it was a source of great joy and wonder, captivating my imagination and transporting me to another world. But as I have grown older, my appreciation for it has only deepened. I now see the layers of meaning and complexity that I may have missed as a youngster. The story still has the power to move me, to make me laugh and cry, and to remind me of the importance of love, friendship, and courage. It is a timeless classic that will continue to be cherished by generations to come.

Review to come in March. Book Battle book.

Book battle over, can now post my review. King of Shadows is a captivating tale about eleven-year-old Nat, an ambitious theater actor. One morning, he wakes up to discover that he has been transported four hundred years back in time to 1599, where he has to perform alongside the great William Shakespeare. Nat is understandably freaked out by this sudden time jump and the presence of Shakespeare. However, as the story progresses, we see Nat grow and develop as a character. He is personable and endearing, and by the time I finished reading, I had really come to like him.

That being said, I did find the book a bit slow at times, with too many characters in both the present and the past. Additionally, the explanation for Nat's time travel at the end left me a bit skeptical. I think that a younger me, perhaps around twelve years old, would have been more enthralled by this book than I was as an adult. Nevertheless, there was one scene that really stood out to me and had a profound impact. It was the moment when young Nat, sobbing, finds comfort in Shakespeare's arms. This scene was truly touching and made me wish I could give Shakespeare a hug myself.

He put his arm over my shoulders and gave me a quick hug. And to my absolute horror, I fell apart. It was the sudden warmth and sympathy, the fact that somebody understood – and not just anybody, but him. I heard myself give a great big ugly snorting sob, and suddenly, hating it, I was in a flood of tears. Will Shakespeare was astonished and probably appalled. By accident, he’d released an emotional overload far bigger than he expected – and far bigger than I could ever explain to him. Not that he had a thought to explanation; he sat down abruptly on the stage, pulling me down with him, and sat there with his back against the great wooden pillar while I sobbed into his shoulder. He didn’t try to stop me; he just waited, patting me gently, saying softly once in a while, like a mother to a very small child, “There. There now.”

(I'M SORRY BUT TWO MONTHS LATER AND THIS IS STILL A GREAT SCENE)

I truly relished the captivating story of a young actor who was gearing up to perform in A Midsummer’s Night Dream. Suddenly, he finds himself transported back in time and gets the remarkable opportunity to act in the very same play alongside Shakespeare himself. The way the author delicately handled the young actor's experience of dealing with his parents' deaths was truly touching. Shakespeare's ability to offer comfort to him in such a profound way added a beautiful layer to the story.

I firmly believe that this novel serves as an excellent medium to gain deeper insights into Shakespeare and the era in which he lived. The inclusion of one of Shakespeare's sonnets that he bestowed upon the young boy was an absolute delight. It was incredibly endearing when Shakespeare addressed the boy and said, “I have no picture of what may become of us after we are dead, Nat. But I do know thy father’s love for thee did not die with him, nor thine for him. Nor mine for my Hamnet I(his dead son) - or for this lady. Love is love. An ever-fixed mark. Remember that and try to be comforted.”

I also have a great admiration for how the author shows such respect for her middle school audience. She fearlessly includes the full sonnet and makes numerous references to it, which not only enriches the story but also educates the readers.

As an interesting aside, I really appreciated Nat’s breakfast - “cubes of bread soaked in warm milk, sweetened.” I had initially thought that this treat originated from the hardships my parents endured during their youth. Little did I know that it actually dates back to the Renaissance. It just goes to show how history and literature can intertwine in the most unexpected ways.