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King of Shadows
by Susan Cooper Margaret K. McElderry Books (Simon & Schuster) 186 pages
I lay very still, with all my senses telling me that I had gone mad. The plague? Nobody's had the plague for centuries. So begins Nat Field's time in Elizabethan England, where he has magically arrived to play a part in William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Nat turned to the stage as a way of escaping his harsh life after his parents' deaths, and his work in the theater paid off when he was chosen to join the Company of Boys, a group selected to perform Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Globe theater in today's London. But several days before the boys are scheduled to perform, Nat somehow travels back from 1999 to 1599, and finds himself in the middle of a London where people get the plague every day and where Shakespeare hasn't yet written some of his most famous plays. But one of those famous plays, A Midsummer Night's Dream, has been written -- and Nat Field is the only person around who can play the part of Puck. For the remainder of his time in the Elizabethan era, he lives and breathes acting. He befriends his costar, Shakespeare, who helps him overcome some of his grief over his parents' deaths. But despite his new contentment, Nat still has much to be worried about. When he arrived in 1599, he somehow took the place of another Nathan Field, a boy who attends Saint Paul's School in London. The Elizabethans think that he's that other Nathan Field, and when the play is over, Nat may find himself sent off to Saint Paul's, living in someone else's time, leading someone else's life. Susan Cooper's King of Shadows is neither a fantasy nor a historical novel, but a mix of both. Although a short read (only 186 pages), it still has a detailed plot and realistic, lovable characters. Even Shakespeare himself comes to life! Great for all ages, King of Shadows is a fast-paced book that's hard to put down. In short, it's a must-read.
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In addition to King of Shadows, Susan Cooper has written a number of other excellent books. These include: For more on Susan Cooper's books, you can also see my Fantasy for Young Adults article. Go To Page: 1
The copyright of the article Book Review: King of Shadows in Reading for Teens is owned by Sara E. Polsky. Permission to republish Book Review: King of Shadows in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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