Book Review - King of Shadows by Susan Cooper

Synopsis:  Only in the world of the theater can Nat Field find an escape from the tragedies that have shadowed his young life. So he is thrilled when he is chosen to join an American drama troupe traveling to London to perform A Midsummer Night's Dream in a new replica of the famous Globe theater.

Shortly after arriving in England, Nat goes to bed ill and awakens transported back in time four hundred years -- to another London, and another production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Amid the bustle and excitement of an Elizabethan theatrical production, Nat finds the warm, nurturing father figure missing from his life -- in none other than William Shakespeare himself. Does Nat have to remain trapped in the past forever, or give up the friendship he's so longed for in his own time?

First Line:  "Tag."

Random Quote:  "Roper wilted, in immediate respect.  Bryan put his dagger away.  Shakespeare's eyes flickered from one to the other of us, and he chose to keep things light rather than heavy."

Review:  I'm immensely fond of Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising Sequence and I also love and adore Shakespeare, particularly Midsummer Night's Dream so when I ran across this one in a recent visit to the children's room at my local library I had to grab it.

A Midsummer Night's Dream by Arthur Rackham - Image by Providence Public Library via Flickr

This is a very cool time travel book about a young boy who journeys back to Shakespeare's time and performs as Puck at The Globe Theatre. It is full of great period detail about theatre at the time and tells a lovely story of a boy who finds his escape there. A great read for kids 10 and up (including the grown-up kind).

Reading Challenges:  Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2010, Once Upon a Time IV, 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, 2010 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge