King of Shadows

Rating:
Summary: Just not up to my expectations
Review: I was excited to read this book because of the way Chenowyth (my daughter) reacted to receiving it for her (twelfth) birthday ~ an absolute meltdown into uncontrollable tears ~ and i knew both she and Lynne love it. Perhaps it is unfair to give any book such a buildup and not expect to be at least a little disappointed. This is a good book, don't get me wrong. It is not, though, to my way of reading, an all-time favourite. I am glad i have read it; it's a good story ~ the story of young Nat Field, an actor in a boy's company, who, travelling to England to play in the Globe in 1999, is curiously taken back in time to play in the original Globe with the Chamberlain's Men, including Shakespeare ~ but not a great story. The plot is rather contrived, and where questions arise Cooper has not used her imagination to answer them but rather ignored them. Nat's meeting with Shakespeare is trite, and how predictable that he would become a special favourite ~ almost instantly ~ of the Bard. Sadly, the only time i was moved in reading this book was on the last page, when i was touched by something the suddenly mysterious company director, Arby, said to Nat, now safely and unhappily back in the Twentieth Century. I shall doubtless read "King" again at a later date, just to see if i have entirely missed something, but currently i feel left out. I suspect Chen has found for herself the first love that is her own ~ every other book she has adored is something we adored before her and gave her. I wish the expectation had worked the other way with this book.

Rating:
Summary: shakespeare would be ashamed
Review: I've read many of Susan Cooper's works, but King of Shadows is the first major flop. The story is plotless as well as lackluster and dull. This book is about a boy, Nathan Field, who is transported back in time to the Elizabethan era in England. There he meets a kind, fatherly figure, William Shakespeare. He also gets a part in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Nat is worried that he will never get home to his own time, but he also wishes he could stay with his bonded friend, Shakespeare. This book is a summer must-not read because the story is really dull. The story never climbs to a true climax. It also doesn't have a good conflict. A kid named Roper bullies Nat, but they become friends. That's not a conflict that can span a book. Nat also struggles with either going back to the present or to stay in the past, but in the end, he merely wakes up in the present. He doesn't even make the choice to travel back to the present, which would have been much more dramatic. Also, the main character is hard to have sympathy for. He only scuttles around at the total mercy of everything everyone says to him. He doesn't show a personal side to himself. When he awakens in his bed transported back in time, instead of pulling his hair out and thinking he's going mad, he simply stares around calmly. That's not really a good reaction in his situation. He also doesn't try to piece together why he went back in time and how. Another moment when it's hard to feel sympathy for Nat is when he goes to a bear fight and just barfs instead of crying out in the arena that this is such an unjust sport. This kind of character doesn't connect with readers. Nat Field doesn't seem human. One thing about this book that a reader might like is that the history, details, and events are very accurate. It is true that Queen Elizabeth I did go to see many of Shakespeare's plays. The costumes for the actors were true to life, as well. The actors would have had their upper torsos painted in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Although these reasons are all true, THIS IS STILL NOT A GOOD BOOK! This is merely the background. Details are not as important as story, substance, plot, climax, and conflict. So, if you have any respect for Shakespeare's works, don't read this book. As for Susan Cooper, she should just stick to boggarts and fairies.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent book!!!!!
Review: In this book, Nat is a young actor who had been shattered by the death of his parents. He traveled to London to perform as Puck A Midsummer Night's Dream in the remake of the Globe theater, and is mysteriously transported back in time to when the play was first performed. He soon bonds with the Bard himself who helps him begin to heal his emotional scars.

I absolutely loved this book. Susan Cooper is one of my favorite authors. She really brought the world of Shakespeare alive with her descriptions of the life back then. When she writes about Nat's emotions while he is acting, you can almost feel yourself onstage with him, getting caught up in the moment. You should read this book!!!!

Rating:
Summary: King of Shadows
Review: King of Shadows is a fairly good book if you like fantisy that takes you backward about 100 years ago in England. The story is about a kid named Nat. Nat is a actor that goes to England to act in a shakespearean play. Then out of Know were he gets very sick and goes to bed. When he wakes up he findes himself 100 years in the past. He meats shakespear andlots of different things happen to him. If this sounds interesting to you read the book and find out what happends to nat.

Rating:
Summary: Read King of Shadows- why? Read on!
Review: King of Shadows is a mystery, a fantasy, and an adventure book all in one. Nathan Field, a young actor with a tragic past, was transported back 400 years to be Puck in Shakespere's version of A Midsummer Night's Dream. The reason? I won't give it away. But I will tell you that a "spell" is cast on the reader as well as Nathan, inticing you into a world of unknown, yet wonderful, ideas, views, and people. King of Shadows was incredible!

Rating:
Summary: This is the BEST book ever!
Review: King of Shadows is the best book. I'm doing Shakespear's Midsumer Nights Dream so I can realate to this book very well. The only bad part is when the boy said that he want back in Shakspears time and the parents believed him, but other then that it is the Best book in the world. This review is by Sydney Lesser and Mrs.Rosenblatt my 5th grade teacher at Gesher. If you liked this book please write to me at [e-mail] and if you didnt like it. But Tell me why. Thanks.

Rating:
Summary: BEST kid book i've ever READ!!!
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: King of Shadows- Amazing!!!
Review: King of Shadows, by Susan Cooper, is a great story with Shakespeare and a great adventure. This book is about a young boy named Nathan Field has been chosen to play the role of Puck for the play 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', which was created by Shakespeare. The acting group that Nat is in, The American Company of Boys, was created by the enigmatic Arby who was the leader of the actors. The actors are very excited for the play. Then Nat gets sick. Nat goes to sleep and has a dream of flying into outer space and is being drawn back by an invisible hand. When he wakes, a strange boy says Nat had the Bubonic Plague! Whats happening? Read this book to find out. One of the extraordinary characters in this story is Roper. He is an amazing gymnast and is merciless to all others. This is shown in many places in the book. He shows it by showing scorn on all of the other actors and cheering at the death of two animals. Another character in the story is Thomas. He is very clumsy and isn't afraid to show it. Thomas has a big show in front of the cast and ends up proving that he is a real klutz. I would recommend this book for many reasons. First, King of Shadows has a theme, going back in time, which many people in the world might like to experience. Also, the story is well written so the reader will know where Nat is, past or present, and what he is doing. This book would appeal to Shakespeare lovers too. I think anybody who wants a great fantasy book with Shakespeare as a character or just a good adventure would LOVE this book!

Rating:
Summary: Shadows is Amazing!
Review: Nat Field steals your heart and captures your attention in Susan Cooper's newest masterpiece, King of Shadows. Nat is hand picked to be a part of an all boy Shakespearian acting troupe at the Globe reproduction in London. While there he becomes ill and when he wakes the date is 1599, and he is Nat Field, a player on loan for the part of Puck in the original production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Here he develops a personal relationship with Master Shakespeare and his personality and 'wanna reach out and hug him' descriptions only add to this great work. A must for any reader...and another amazing work from Susan Cooper.