My Teacher is an Alien

Written by Bruce Coville

Narrated by Nancy O'Connor

The story begins when Susan Simmons returns to school from spring vacation. Susan has been looking forward to the big class play her teacher has been planning. But to her dismay, Ms. Schwartz is gone…replaced by tall, handsome Mr. Smith, a strictly “by the book” teacher with some very strange habits. Investigating her new teacher, Susan makes a shocking discovery: “Mr. Smith” is actually an alien named Broxholm who is planning to abduct five students.

Susan has to stop him! But who will believe her story? Her only chance is Peter Thompson, the class’ biggest geek. Can two kids possibly unmask a powerful alien? And what will happen if they succeed?

A Full Cast Audio production.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Full Cast Audio
• Release date: Jan 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9781933322865

Bruce Coville

BRUCE COVILLE is the author of over 100 books for children and young adults, including the international bestseller My Teacher is an Alien, the Unicorn Chronicles series, and the much-beloved Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher. His work has appeared in a dozen languages and won children's choice awards in a dozen states. Before becoming a full time writer Bruce was a teacher, a toymaker, a magazine editor, a gravedigger, and a cookware salesman. He is also the creator of Full Cast Audio, an audiobook company devoted to producing full cast, unabridged recordings of material for family listening and has produced over a hundred audiobooks, directing and/or acting in most of them. Bruce lives in Syracuse, New York, with his wife, illustrator and author Katherine Coville.

Reviews for My Teacher is an Alien

[mistycliff · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

“The weight of words is far heavier than water,” Ophelia said. “They would drag me to the bottom and hold me captive there.” As though to prove her wrong, Macbeth backstroked through the vellum waves. “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?” Moth considered the proffered appendage. “Nope, you still have jam on you.” p. 240I trust that many of you have either read or watched the grand old plays and their myriad spin-offs. Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Man of La Mancha, The Little Mermaid, Westside, well, you get the point.Readers and Actors are camps that generally flow into one another as both sets are inherently enamored with words. I, for one, had my feet firmly planted in both, early on.I grew up either on the stage or behind it in one capacity or another, as did my sister, my husband, most of my friends and a sizable chunk of my family. As we grew older most of us dropped the habit for other pursuits but my little sister didn’t. While I still belt out Newsies more than once a week in the middle of Atlanta traffic (usually with my car windows closed), she can still be found running off to rehearsal or read-throughs on any given night. My running image of her looks about like Beatrice, the title character, on the cover of Eyes Like Stars.I picked this book up for her, initially. It’s essentially about a girl who grew up in an enchanted theater. An enchanted theater that happens to house every player who has ever been written in script history. Each player is called to his or her scene depending on which play is being produced at the time.Sounds great, right?Well, of course, there’s a bit of a catch. The characters are doomed to confinement in said magical place, by order of The Book of scripts. Needless to say, like most seemingly perfect situations, this doesn’t sit well with all and there are forces brewing to bring down the house and I don’t mean by applause.Mantchev is fantastic in her story weaving. She grabs hold of the root of Hamlet, Ophelia, Macbeth, Peter Pan, the lot, and expertly intertwines the players through each other’s plot lines. The only downside is that it may make you go running for your stack of scripts, leaving you doomed to read through the classics for several weeks. I, myself, have just ordered half of Dear William’s plays from the library as I haven’t read them in some time.That being the only drawback, I highly recommend this to the theatrical bibliophiles. For anyone who knows the thrill of a raised curtain or the dim of house lights, Eyes Like Stars will bring you to your feet.

[maureene87 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The premise of this one–a theater where all the plays ever written are performed–is really neat, and yet somehow I wasn’t wowed by it. [Nov. 2010]

[mutantpudding · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Goofy alien book that is deff not meant for me as I am an adult. But whatever.

[reader1009-863136 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Teen fiction; magic/drama. Theater kids might like this a bit more, as there are tons of references (you should have at least a passing knowledge of Hamlet and the Tempest), but the characters are charming enough on their own if you're not a huge Shakespeare buff.

[avarisclari · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I know these books are mean for younger readers, but it doesn't change the fact that they are genuinely fun reads. Bruce Coville knows how to write for a younger audience without downplaying it for an older audience either.

[benuathanasia · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Astoundingly mediocre. Tip for writers out there - setting does not equal story. Sadly, Mantchev doesn't seem to realize this and has simply rehashed the completely tired trope of "orphaned child who causes mayhem wherever they go is the only one who can save life as we know it" - but in a new setting. The main character, Bertie, is an orphan raised in a theatre. She is one of those thoroughly unlikeable teens who thinks they should be able to do whatever they want and get away with whatever they want, regardless of the consequences to those around them - guilt is only ever felt when her choices negatively impact herself directly.She finally breaks the camel's back and is threatened with eviction from the theatre she grew up in - unless she can prove herself invaluable to the theatre. So she comes up with the most asinine and ridiculous idea humanly possible; she's going to direct Hamlet...in Egypt. So...she's followed the author's lead by doing something wholly unique! Taking beloved characters from out-of-copyright stories and transposing them to a different setting (Fables, Once Upon a Time, Grimm, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, American Gods...nope, this tired crap has never been done before!). BTW, that's half the "allure" of the story - the actors in all the performances this theatre does are the actual characters from the play they perform themselves.Thankfully we never get to see the monstrosity Bertie has created because "lo and behold" she has mysterious magic powers that have something to do with the mystery of her parentage and we get to suffer through THAT insufferable stage performance instead. Meanwhile, there are two romantic subplots that do absolutely nothing to enhance the story in any way shape or form.Final word of advice for the author - don't steal Shakespeare's characters if you can't do a reasonable job of portraying Shakespeare's characters AS Shakespeare's characters.

[laphenix · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Quirky fun with exciting characters and a unique plot.

[rosa.mill · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I remember reading this as a kid and really liking it. Last week I had a kid come in for a short fifth grade book for a book report that was due yesterday (yesterday as in the day before he came into the library not yesterday the day I started listening to it. I decided that I should give it a listen for old times sake.

This is still a fun book. Susan and Peter are still really smart and spunky kids. I really didn't notice the lack of cell phones and computers. There's no way the kids would get away with sneaking around the way they do in the book too. The world is very different and I think the story is holding up well.

[milliehennessy · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Bertie lives in a magical theater where the characters of countless plays come to life after the curtain falls. They are her family and friends, the only ones she’s ever known, after being mysteriously abandoned at the theater when she was a baby. Always one to cause trouble, Bertie is now on the verge of being thrown out of the theater, and must find a way to make herself useful in order to stay. But there is also a threat to the theater itself and Bertie must find a way to save the only home she’s ever known, and all the magical beings that live there. This book sounded very promising. The back of the book does mention two men vying for Bertie’s love, but I must have overlooked that part, because I thought this was a middle-grade book and had it been written as one, I’m pretty sure I would have loved it. Instead I read a book that was suffering from a genre identity crisis. While the majority of the book read as middle grade, there were some awkwardly inserted “romantic” young adult scenes that left me confused and frustrated. Many of the characters were fun and goofy and seemed like excellent allies, or enemies, for a 12-14 year old girl. Instead Bertie is 18 and mostly acts 12, until she’s around one of her two lovers, and then there are kisses and ballroom dancing and getting naked in a Roman-style bath together in order to have a serious conversation (yes, that happened). Yet none of these young adult scenes contains any real romance or even sexual tension that usually accompanies a true YA book. There was a lot of flowery writing that drove me crazy too – it reminded me of Pierce Brown’s annoying love for strange similes. Examples:“Everything smelled of ozone and singed velvet.”“…someone pronounced in a voice that was silk-wrapped daggers.”“Her next words were no more than flower petals strewn on a grave.”“He stood coffin-still, as though carved from stone instead of poured from quicksilver.”WHAT!?With a little rewriting, this book would make a funny and entertaining middle grade work. However, as it stands as “young adult,” it left me wanting a lot more from the writing and though the story ended on a cliffhanger, I won’t be reading the next installment. At least the cover art is stunning!

[devafagan-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the sort of book that I love to dive into and just revel in. It's got a brilliant, unusual, magical, enchanting setting and a strong, funny, active heroine. Bertie is a vivid character (and not just because of her Cobalt Flame hair). I love that she lives with such passion, that she has both strengths and flaws, and that she goes out there an makes things happen (though they may not always go the way she plans). And perhaps more than anything, I loved the Theatre Illuminata itself as a concept: this magical place where all plays (and all players) meet, where you summon a scene change to the Turkish Baths if you need to wash up, and where sound effects and lighting specials cue the mood.

As I was reading I was taking note of all the little turns of phrase and quips and things that spark out at me from the text. And after awhile I started to lose track because there were just so many of them. It was a real treat to read and savor.

Also, it has lovely, lovely food descriptions. I must admit that tasty food descriptions are one of those things that will always make me approve of a book. Even now I am craving buttered toast and French pastries and turkey with gravy. Not to mention a sip of Alice's Drink Me bottle.

I am already anticipating Book 2. Many mysteries were resolved in Book 1, but there's obviously a lot more to be discovered about Bertie, her friends, and the Theater itself. I am looking forward to finding it out!

*standing ovation*

[emiliem-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Meh.


...I just didn't really like it that much. It took a while to get into, and then it was over. So, whatever... *shrug*

[akmargie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Surprisingly original and funny. I don't remember what review prompted me to check this out but I'm glad they did. The theater geek and Shakespeare nerd in me loved the references and I also found the setting of the theater to be very well written. It acted as another character and really made the book stand apart from other fantasy titles. Kinda annoyed at the cliff hanger ending and the love triangle but they both had their desired effect of making me want to read on.

[kewpie83 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

An engaging, unique read! I found it confusing in parts and certain characters didn't feel fleshed out enough for me, but overall, it was a good read that should please anyone who's witnessed the magic the theater holds. I look forward to the sequel! (Also, a sidenote, this cover is one of the best I've seen in a long time!)

[janarose1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Everyone was looking forward to the beginning of sixth grade, after all they were going to have the best teacher in the school. But when Mr. Smith shows up, his strict rules and behavior make everyone realize that their perfect year has been ruined. Susan, spying on Mr. Smith, watches him peel off his face, uncovering that he is an alien. I remember fondly reading this series as a child, and when I saw a used copy for sale at the library I jumped on it. Needless to say, I found the book just as interesting and endearing now as I did then. I can't wait to pass it on to my nieces and nephews to read!

[mortumi_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book, mostly because it was so original and otherworldly. Not to mention the gorgeous cover art. I loved how random and magical the story and setting were. This is a very unique, special book. However, those with little patience for unexplained or illogical things would probably become bored or annoyed with it.

[tiger417_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

i think this was a very interesting book.i would recomend i

[thehidingspot · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was first drawn to Eyes Like Stars because of the cover. My first glimpse was quite some time before the book was released, and without even reading the summary blurb, I was intrigued by the character on the front cover. Blue hair, smoky eye makeup, awesome dress: how could I not think she was awesome. Once I had read the blurb I knew I would read this book, but I didn't know just how much I would love it. Eyes Like Stars has a magical and wholly original premise. I loved seeing the characters that I loved from plays, like Ophelia from Hamlet! I have a bit of a fascination with her character, so seeing this interesting take on her personality, etc. was so fun. Also, Bertie's quest to save the theater and to find out the truth about how she came to live at the theater kept me furiously turning pages. Bertie was an amazing character. Not only is she totally unique, stylish, and smart - she's hilarious. She is definitely in my Top 10 for favorite heroines. Sometimes I like characters, but only love them as part of a couple, but I loved Bertie simply for being Bertie. But wait - I loved her as part of a couple too! Yes, this book has a love plot line too! Yup, it seems to have everything... There is actually a bit of love triangle. Can you guess from the character descriptions above which characters are involved? :) I don't want to say too much, but I'm totally Team Nate; I need a Team Nate button to go along with my Team Peeta button! All of the characters were vividly imagined, I really did fall for all of them, even the villainous ones!I can't write a review for ELS without mentioning the fairies! They are so much fun and so cute...well mostly.READ THIS BOOK. I had a copy from the library, but I'm definitely getting one to keep at home. Even though I just finished it and have tons of books to read right now, I kind of just want to reread ELS... :)

[alaiel4kreuz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When no one is watching the Théâtre Illuminata's company is full of colors and life, happiness and lies. Yes, lies... because even in beautiful places there are lies to hide and truths to discover.And our main character, Bertie, is about to begin her journey.She doesn't know how did she ended up in the Théâtre but she's been there for as long as she can remember and is very happy. Very happy indeed: her room is the stage and her world spins around classic stories like Hamlet, The Tempest and The Little Mermaid. Her best friends are fairies who are always causing trouble but love her and she likes to dye her hair (and her life) with vivid and crazy colors to express herself.But her perfect world is about to crumble when she ruins some set pieces and sets on fire other stuff using a cannon... and now the Theatre Manager -who until now has protect her from being thrown away- tells her that this has been the last drop and that she needs to prove that she is important for the company or leave at once.And now not only she has a few hours to think of something to stay but she also needs protection from Ariel, an air spirit that is part of the company, who believes that only Bertie can set him free and is ready to do whatever it takes to prove he is right...Luckily Bertie has another friend, Nate, who gives her a lucky charm to prevent Ariel from hurting her. But if the charm touches saltwater it will call The Sea Goddess and that would be very bad news.To make things even more interesting the secret of her childhood runs along the purpose of The Book and its secrets... Now she only needs to understand it all.Personal opinion:There are so many things about this book that I loved that I'm afraid I'm going to make no sense at all but I'm going to try because this book deserves all the attention it can get.Who wouldn't want to live in a theatre? I mean, what's not to love?! The costumes, the make-up, the stories, the scenarios, the possibilities and the craziness itself is just enough. If to that you add a caring and handsome pirate and a tempting air spirit then it just ends being AWESOME.And let's not forget that this theatre in particular is magic itself and the players are the real ones from the classics... I had a wonderful and amazing time falling in love again with characters like the fairies from A Midsummer Night's Dream who made me smile, laugh out loud, cry (of amusement!) and clap of joy. They are crazy and funny but they are also loyal and Bertie is very lucky to have them -even if they driver her nuts most of the time. And believe me, they do...-.Then we meet characters less important in the classics that here are important keys for the development of the plot like Nate -who is actually a pirate from The Little Mermaid that only had one line- or Ariel -who comes from The Tempest-.My feelings for both characters are so deep that is actually very difficult to choose a team right now.First there's Nate who would do anything to protect Bertie and shows his love for her in soft and tender ways. He is strong, rude (he is a pirate, remember?), very masculine and sexy... *daydreaming*.And then we have Ariel who seems is just trying to use Bertie to achieve his goals but at the same time shows feelings for her in the most unexpected ways. Completely different from Nate he is tall and lean with long silver hair and a handsome face... *daydreaming again*.Oh, and let's not forget the cover! Have you seen it?! I think it's amazing! It remembers me of some mangas and just wait until you see the next one... *drooling already*.As for me all I have to say is that I have added Lisa Mantchev to my favorite authors because it takes a great talent to create such a wonderful world and make it flow into a story for people to read.

[gildedspine · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Okay, I might be getting way ahead of myself and over-generalizing here but: authors with a background in theater are AWESOME.I've been seeing Eyes Like Stars around for like the past two years, but for some reason I kept putting off getting my hands on a copy - mostly because high school had me studying like a bear eating its body weight before spending the winter napping. I totally regret that now, because that was definitely a time I needed a perky pick-me-up like WHOA.First of all...please tell me how I can end up living at the Theatre Illuminata - minus becoming a foundling child the way Bertie was. It seemed like every other page I was going green with envy, thinking, "Why do places like these only exist in books?!" I mean, Bertie's room is part of the set. How unique can you get?Also, the writing. A major point I've always given to authors with a background in the performing arts is the way the story just seems to flow. When you read Eyes Like Stars - at least to me - it unfolds around you like the perfect movie script. (Speaking of which, this needs to be a movie. Now.)None of the characters are cardboard cut-outs, or take over the stage from anyone else. The only person I really couldn't warm up to was Ariel - mainly because in spite of his NOT being The Little Mermaid, his character was pretty similar. He wanted to be part of that world at all costs...but he went a little far in doing so. Even if it all ended well (and no, I don't count that as a spoiler, thank you very much), I still kept him at arm's length.Nate on the other hand...Oh, and one last push in the right direction: if you don't want to read it for anything I described up there, read it for the fairies - you know, Peaseblossom, Mustardseed...those little cuties from A Midsummer Night's Dream? I always thought that if they had more screen time, they'd really ham it up, and in Eyes Like Stars, they really do.Example: the "Diva" vs. "Divo" scene on page 45. Not only was this cute, it was also funny because my sister and I have had that exact same debate - ie. is Joe Jonas categorized as a diva or a divo? (Don't ask.) Warnings: Bare fairy bottoms, a naked ghost, bathing with a pirate and innuendo, OH MY! Final verdict: Read it. It will make your heart happy. It definitely made mine.

[lyricaltwin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love this book. The idea is one of those that you wish you had come up with, but while reading this, I know that I couldn't put a dent in what Lisa Mantchev did. I absolutely ADORED this book.

[suzanne520 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

When my friend tried to read this book and just couldn't push herself through it, I almost decided not to read it as well. The reason I did pick it up is because it sounded so interesting and original, and I hate to give up on a book that I was excited to read.So anyway, without giving away any spoilers, I will say this book was indeed very confusing (why did the fairies from Shakespeare's play exist in this book?) but it was also fast paced. I enjoyed the concept of the theater being magical and I like Bertie's character because she was head strong and interesting.The love story behind it left something to be desired because I didn't really feel it was developed enough. However, the "Final Act" was so good it made sticking with this story worth it. Overall, I liked it, not loved it. I liked it enough that I do believe I will read the sequel, just not enough to ever re-read it. Check it out if you are looking for something different!

[paulskiy2k · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Novels when turned into plays or movies, never turn out the way you wish.Lisa Mantchev, changes that statement, with her book titled Eyes Like Stars. At first her books looks just like any other book. You open its first pages, realize its a play. It’s not just any play though. The cast of her play is from arrangement of other plays. There is Shakespeare’s characters from A Midsummers Night’s Dream, The Tempest and Hamlet. That isn’t all though there is the play The little Mermaid who in her eyes has the wickedness Witch out of all other witches.Turn the page though to read the play, you see its a book! Shocking isn’t it? Yes, it is. The novel has all the member of every play ever written takes place in Theatre Illuminata and they never leave. All the cast is forever trapped in the Theatre by The Book. An ancient scroll that traps them all there.Reading through the first few pages you meet, Beatrice Shakespeare Smith, the heroine of her tale. Meaning that its not the book that tells the tale neither the plays within this book, but the tale that Beatrice has to write in order to find the questions she desires. Such as how she came about to the theater? Who is her mother? Why even though she messes things up so much, why is the Properties Manger always keep her at the Theatre?It all starts within the pages of this book that is a play within another play. Its an exciting story with characters that have transcended time over many years of Shakespeare and now with adding Bertie’s story of her own.Fast page turned that I read in all of eight hours. I know not everyone is like me but, this is one book that is hard to put down. It has what everyone likes about Shakespeare play with so much more since its all of your favorites put into one exciting tale.This is part of my catch up time. So there is a second one called Perchance to Dream, I’m a hundred pages in and it’s just as exciting so be ready for the next installment soon.

[timothyl33 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

"Eyes Like Stars" is the debut novel by author Lisa Mantchey, as well as the first book of the new Theatre Illuminata series. The story focuses on Bertie Shakespeare Smith, a foundling, who grew up in the Theatre Illuminata, a place where characters from classic plays, come to life to play their roles.Overall, this feels like a work that had too many plotpoints it tried to swallow and ended up choking on it. What didn't help was the fact that the main character is a person that's hard to relate to, and in most parts would come out more as the villain in a high school drama.Its saving grace is the fact that the story does become interesting ...halfway down the book. It doesn't help that towards the end, a trope straight out of a maudlin soap opera, a deus-ex-machina occurs to conclude the story and lead to its sequel. However, it still remained interesting enough for me to hope that the positive trend of the book is something that will continue in Bk 2, "Perchance to Dream." Still, it's should be said that I'm most definitely not within the target demographic and thus my review should be treated with a grain of salt.

[adamjohn_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Susan and her friend Peter found out that their teacher, Mr Smith, is really an alien. They go spying in Broxholm's house. Broxholm is the name Susan heard when "Mr. Smith" was talking into the mirror, to an alien friend. Peter and Susan tell every one at school that Mr. Smith is an alien. Mr. Smith wants to take away five students! Peter and Susan have to do something, and fast!

[kr15tina · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I completely enjoyed this book. The female lead character Bertie is great, a strong willed, independent trouble making young woman.At first I was a little confused about the parameters of the world in which her book is set. But then I just came to accept this world is based on magic and when magic is involved anything is possibly, like when Harry Potter goes into the what seems to be 2 man tent actually contains around 500 square feet of living space. The world that Lisa Manchev has created is based on magic. The Theatre Illuminata contains any, and every prop, set, character ever written within the theater. The characters are not just actors, but they are the person. It is a crazy concept, but I very much enjoyed every word of it.I love Bertie's comical relief sidekick fairies Cobweb, Moth, Mustardseed and Peaseblossom that just want to eat any type of sweets they can get their hands onto. Bertie's two male interests are Nate the protective sweet pirate and Ariel the seductive tempting air spirit.

[bookaddictdiary · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Beatrice (Bertie) Shakespeare Smith has always lived at the theatre, growing up in a magical place where every play ever preformed lives, particularly the immortal characters created by William Shakespeare such as Lady Macbeth, Ophelia from Hamlet, Ariel from The Tempest and the four fairies from A Midsummer Night's Dream, among others. Bertie has always lived a wonderful, and somewhat wild life around the theatre, and is suddenly threatened to leave the theatre unless she can prove her worth. In desperation, Bertie decides to restage Hamlet in Egypt to bring in patrons. As the production comes together, a magical book containing all stories of the stages is stolen, and Bertie must recover it while discovering the secrets behind her unknown origins.Straightforward, but unique and entertaining, Eyes Like Stars is a quick, enjoyable read that felt fresh and fun, as well as somewhat sophisticated for a YA novel due to all the Shakespeare influences. I particularly enjoyed seeing several of the Bard's classic characters interact with one another. While I find it interesting that much of the plot revolved around a restaging of Hamlet, many Shakespeare purist (and Mantchev seems to be one) would cringe at the thought of restaging any of Shakespeare's plays, I still thought the idea was fun and was approached in a light-hearted enough way that it didn't take over the overall plot.While I would have preferred a few more twists and turns, Eyes Like Stars is a magical read from a compelling new author. Fans of magical fantasy, the theatre and even some romance will devour Eyes Like Stars.

[millett23 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

At first reading this book I didn't think that I liked it, then as I kept myself reading it, it started to grow on me. Now I cant wait to get the 2nd book and start reading it. I don't know about the character Ariel, you hate him, then you love him, then you really don't know what to think about him. I hate how Nate gets kidnapped... what the heck? I really need the 2nd book. =)

[urbanfantasyguy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is every bit as good as the cover would lead you to believe. Beatrice "Bertie" Shakespeare Smith is a girl living in the Theatre Illuminata, where she has been since she was a small child. This magical theatre is filled with every character from every play ever written. It's hard to reveal much about the plot without spoiling the story. However, I can say that the plot is second to the setting and the characters in this book. Right away we are thrown into a chaotic world of theatre with characters from works like Hamlet and the Little Mermaid. I put off reading this for some time because I thought that it would be focused on these classic plays and would require foreknowledge of many of them. This was a major mistake as I thoroughly enjoyed it without having any knowledge of theatre at all. The best thing about this novel is that while being absolutely bizarre at some points it still remains very entertaining and will leave you laughing out loud. At least a third of the story involves the four fairies from A Midsummer Night's Dream. Moth, Cobweb, Peaseblossom, and Mustardseed are constantly acting crazy and yet it doesn't get old because it fits in perfectly with the tone of the novel. An incredibly original Young Adult read.

[kat_hicks_6 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Eyes Like Stars is one of the those books whose premis is somewhat difficult to explain (the offical synopsis is very vague). Basically the novel stars Bertie, a wild and blue-haired girl who lives in a magical theater along with thousands of characters from Shakespearean and otherwise plays. (But mostly just Shakespeare.) Bertie's best friends are the fun-loving (and argumentative) faeries from A Midsummer Night's Dream, her bedroom is located on a trapdoor over the stage of the Theatre where pirate ships frequently dock and plays are performed nightly, and the Theatre bathrooms are more often than not occupied by Ophelia trying to drown herself. If all of that didn't make for a pretty hectic lifestyle, Bertie is also constantly at war over props and wall colors with the Stage Manager-- one of the few non-Player characters in the book. Bertie has two love interests, in the grand tradition of YA love triangles: Nate-- a swashbuckling and yet surprisingly pure-hearted young pirate who has captured Bertie's heart; and Ariel-- a seductive, brooding, and decidedly untrustworthy air spirit who hails from The Tempest. It is Ariel who is determined to steal the Book which contains all the plays ever written and binds the players to the Theatre, therefore releasing them onto the real world. The writing of Eyes like Stars is occasionally a little difficult to follow-- I had to reread paragraphs a few times. But the characters themselves are what makes the story, just like they make a great play. Bertie is a headstrong and wacky kind of heroine and the dialogue is pretty funny, especially wherever the faeries are involved. After finishing the book, I am definitely Team Ariel... ...And I see that he and (a brunette??) Bertie are on the front cover of Lisa Mantchev's newest book Perchance to Dream, the sequel to Eyes like Stars! (Which is even now moving up to the top of my to-read list.) The third and last book in the trilogy-- So Silver Bright-- is set to release sometime in 2011. Eyes Like Stars is an unusual and witty fantasy populated by unique and lovable characters. And it's absolutely a must-read for Shakespeare and theatre fans.

[lolitamuse · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Author: Lisa MatchevPages: 384Source: Purchased from AmazonSeries or Standalone?: 1st in seriesAll her world’s a stageEnter Stage RightBeatrice Shakespeare Smith (Bertie): Our heroine.Nate: A dashing pirate who will do anything to protect Bertie.Cobweb, Moth, Mustardseed, and Peaseblossom: Four tiny, mischievous fairies, and Bertie’s loyal sidekicks.Ariel: A seductive air spirit. Disaster follows in his wake, but Bertie simply cannot resist him.Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the characters of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. The actors are bound to the Théâtre by The Book, an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of the actors, but they are her family. And she is about to lose them all because The Book has been threatened, and along with it the Théâtre. It’s the only home Bertie has ever known, and she has to find a way to save it. But first, there’s the small problem of two handsome men, both vying for her attention. The course of true love never did run smooth. . . .* * *Let me start this review off by saying that I am a huge theater nerd, and an actress (I’m playing my first lead this December!), so I was really excited to read Eyes Like Stars when I heard it was all about plays and took place in a magical theater. Yes.Eyes Like Stars also got me good because Hamlet is my favorite play ever, and Ophelia is my favorite character. I did a mini-squee each time Ophelia was mentioned. And, to make the impact even greater, one of the main characters is from The Little Mermaid, which is my favorite Disney movie. So, needless to say, I loved the book before I even started reading it.But, whoo, when I read it, it was like an explosion of amazing. Kablooie. The whole idea of it was pure genius. Every character from every play that was ever written- -most prominently Shakespeare’s plays- - live in the Theatre. So of course, we have quite the quirky cast. Bertie was my favorite character; she was strong and just all-around loveable. She tried to do her best by the Theatre, and cared for the people that lived there. But more importantly, she was just trying to find out who she was.The two men vying for Bertie’s affections are Ariel, a spirit/fey-type guy from Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and Nate, a dashing pirate from The Little Mermaid. Ariel is Ariel and Nate were equally formidable love-interests, but I think I’m on Ariel’s side here. I’m a sucker for the bad boy, and what is Ariel if not that? But he’s not truly villainous. All he’s looking for is freedom, which I thought justified anything he did. He wanted freedom to leave the Theatre, and explore the world outside. One of the magical things about The Book is that it binds the characters to the Theatre, and they can never step outside its doors. Of course, one person did discover how to leave, long, long ago…Mantchev’s debut novel really shines. The writing was fun and fast paced, witty and hilarious at some parts, and there were curves around every bend. Which sort of brings me to my next point, and just about the only thing that left me discontent with the book:Some of the curves that Mantchev threw at us sort of left me…confused. I would have to re-read it a few times, and then I kinda understood what was going on. Also, I couldn’t pin point a setting for the book. Is it written in our world, or in a made up fantasy land? Is it modern day? (I think I recall the mention of a soda-can, but then other things just don’t make sense if it was modern day.) Or is it a more Victorian Era-inspired time? This confusion marred the reading experience for me ever so slightly, which is why I’m docking a star from the “Plot” rating.Definite must read for YA fantasy fans!Other books in this series:Perchance to Dream (sequel)Plot: 4/5Cover: 6/5!Writing: 5/5Uniqueness: 5/5Characters: 5/5