KING OF SHADOWS

Rating:
Summary: And as I am an honest Puck...
Review: From Susan Cooper, award-winning author of The Dark is Rising sequence. This one has a young orphaned American boy, Nat Field, playing Puck in a troupe of boy actors chosen to perform A Midsummer Night's Dream at the replica of the Globe Theatre...and while rehearsing in London, falls back in time to Shakespeare's day, to perform the same part in the original Globe. At the same time, his 16th century double falls forward to present day London, and seems to be suffering from the bubonic plague. Pretty darned sophisticated for a middle school reading level. Engagingly-told in the first person by Nat, we get to hear about the troupe rivalries (both present and past), the excitement and tedium of rehearsals, the incredible high of a performance...and also the sorrows of remembering his father's death, the pleasure of working with Master Shakespeare, and a never-preachy admission of the joy of being a performing artist. Excellent for anyone, kid or grown-up, who's trodden the boards...

Rating:
Summary: Just a good historical book
Review: King of Shadows was oddly good. It tells of a boy named Nat who is playing Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream. One night he falls ill, goes to sleep, and wakes up in 1599 Elizabethan England, right in the middle of Shakespeare's own performance of the Dream. It was very accurate historically and ideal for anyone who likes Shakespeare. I would suggest reading the play, A Midsummer Night's Dream before reading this book. It was meant for grades 7-9.

Rating:
Summary: Just a good historical book
Review: King of Shadows was oddly good. It tells of a boy named Nat who is playing Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream. One night he falls ill, goes to sleep, and wakes up in 1599 Elizabethan England, right in the middle of Shakespeare's own performance of the Dream. It was very accurate historically and ideal for anyone who likes Shakespeare. I would suggest reading the play, A Midsummer Night's Dream before reading this book. It was meant for grades 7-9.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Shakesperean time-travel fantasy
Review: Nat Field, an actor in the American Company of Boys, goes to London with the troupe to play the role of Puck in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the new Globe Theatre. Suddenly, he is transported back in time to 1599 London and finds himself portraying Puck at the original Globe. Not only that, he's performing with Will Shakespeare himself, who is playing Oberon! The author brings the sights, sounds and smells of Elizabethan London to life and takes us behind the scenes of the Bard's own production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." After reading this, you'll probably want to read the play and see a performance yourself. Susan Cooper, who was a student of J.R.R. Tolkien, is an outstanding writer and storyteller. Don't miss her magnum opus, the five-book "The Dark Is Rising" series.

Rating:
Summary: A GREAT book for children 10 and up!!
Review: The book is about young Nat Field. He is playing Puck in a Midsummer Night's Dream. When he goes to bed ill, he is transported back 400 years. (...) I was very pleased with this book. I highly recommend it for girls or boys.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: This book is incredible. Susan Cooper is one of those special authors who can take a plot and weave a story with many different threads going off in different directions, seemingly unconnected, only to bind them all together in one knot at the end that leaves you completely satisfied and with a wonderful feeling of wholeness. The story of Nat Field sent back into Shakespearean times with a special mission, who meets the Bard himself, leaves you with a new outlook on life and really makes you think. I highly recommend this book for any lover of Shakespearean drama or, in fact, anyone who loves a good story to sit down with on a cold, rainy day.