Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev - Review

Beatrice Shakespeare Smith lives in a theater, an extraordinary theater called the Theatre Illuminati, where the characters of every play ever written can be found, bound to the theater by The Book--an ancient book of scripts. Bertie spends her days causing mischief with these actors, especially the four fairies from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Nate (a pirate from The Little Mermaid) and Ariel (from The Tempest) but after one too many chaotic antics she is asked to leave the theater. So Bertie has to find a reason for them to keep her. Can she find out what she brings to this particular theater, discover what brought her there, and ultimately understand who she is destined to be?

I loved this intriguing coming of age book. For me, it was like watching a play. It’s funny, and charming, and so well written that it’s hard to believe this is her debut novel. Full of theatrical, and especially Shakespearean, references this is the perfect way to see a different view of characters you already know and love. And if you haven’t read much Shakespeare, this is a great introduction to the characters that will leave you wanting more.

In the crowded YA genre, Eyes Like Stars stands out. It is unique, creative, beautifully written, with vivid characters, and a strong storyline.

Oh, and of course I would choose Ariel over Nate any day. Of course I would!