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| Eyes Like Stars: Theatre Illuminata, Act I |  | Author: Lisa Mantchev
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Category: Book
List Price: $16.99
Buy Used: $3.78
as of 7/31/2010 03:43 CDT details
You Save: $13.21 (78%)
New (31) Used (19) Collectible (2) from $3.78
Seller: thrift_books
Rating:  79 reviews
Sales Rank: 219,163
Media: Hardcover
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Pages: 368
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 8.6 x 6.3 x 1.2
ISBN: 0312380968
EAN: 9780312380960
ASIN: 0312380968
Publication Date: July 7, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| • | ISBN13: 9780312380960 | | • | Condition: New | | • | Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed |
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Product Description
All her world’s a stage. Bertie Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater. She’s not an orphan, but she has no parents. She knows every part, but she has no lines of her own. That is, until now. Enter Stage Right NATE. Dashing pirate. Will do anything to protect Bertie. COBWEB, MOTH, MUSTARD SEED, and PEASEBLOSSOM. Four tiny and incredibly annoying fairies. BERTIE’S sidekicks. ARIEL. Seductive air spirit and Bertie’s weakness. The symbol of impending doom. BERTIE. Our heroine. Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the actors of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Théâtre by The Book—an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family—and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known. Lisa Mantchev has written a debut novel that is dramatic, romantic, and witty, with an irresistible and irreverent cast of characters who are sure to enchant the audience. Open Curtain
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 79
 A breath of originality in a genre where so much is recycled and retold July 30, 2010
Erin K. Simons (Central Indiana)
For me, Eyes Like Stars was a nostalgic romp. I have a background steeped in the theatre, and urge other former stage rats to rush to the bookstore to pick up this wonderful novel. I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I did.
However, this book isn't only for former ingenues, stage hands and set designers. Anyone who can appreciate a beautifully written and completely original story should seek out Manchev's work.
In Eyes Like Stars, readers are introduced to Beatrice Shakespeare Smith, a 17-year-old who has lived her life in the theatre since she was abandoned there as a child. But Bertie doesn't just live in A theatre -- she lives in THE Theatre, a magical place home to all the Players ever written for the stage. Here, the Bard's Ophelia drowns herself every night and four mischevious fairies from A Midsummer Night's Dream are Bertie's faithful companions. Shakespeare fans, especially, will delight as these classic characters are humorously brought to life alongside pirates from The Little Mermaid, dangerous props from Alice in Wonderland and other treasures of the stage.
Unfortunately, Bertie is almost a grown woman, and a real person living among timeless and immortal written characters. Her imagination and tendancy to get into trouble concerns the Theatre Manager, and is also having an impact on the Players themselves, making some question whether a life contained in the pages of a script is enough. As Bertie struggles to find her place in the world -- and to discover a way to contribute to the Theatre and continue to live there -- she also discovers secrets about the Theatre, its Players and her own mysterious history -- and future.
I loved the originality of Eyes Like Stars, which is so fresh in a genre where so many stories and themes are recycled, rehashed and reinvented. I can honestly say I've never read anything quite like it. However, the characters (Mantchev's own creations, and those she borrowed from other genius playwrights) are the real stars here.
Readers will enjoy the love triangle between Bertie and Ariel -- a mysterious and charming air spirit from The Tempest -- and Nate, a rough-around-the-edges pirate from The Little Mermaid. Mantchev uses both characters to illustrate the possible directions Bertie could take in her life, as well as to add a nice element of romantic tension. The fairies were also a delightful addition to the plot. Their funny antics and dialogue provided wonderful comic relief in the great tradition of The Bard.
I'm so glad that this is only the first book in the Theatre Illuminata series -- especially sicne Act I concluded with a bit of a cliffhanger. I'll look forward to learning more about Bertie's future and her past (Daddy's identity, anyone?) in future novels. Thanks, Lisa Mantchev, for bringing classic theatre to today's YA audience. Even if readers don't have a love for the theatre when they start Eyes Like Stars, there's a good chance they might be intrigued enough at the end of the novel to seek out the original works and "meet" these wonderful characters again in their natural environments.
review taken from One Book At A Time [...] July 26, 2010
Page (One Book At A Time)
I was very interested in this book because I love Shakespeare (yes I'm one of those), plus I love the theater. I'm surprised it took me so long to read it. I think you have to be in the right kind of book for it though because it's almost like the best of make believe in book form. Imagine being able to converse with the characters from every play ever imaginable. Your best friends are fairies, your love interest is an air spirit, and you've been raised by those who run the theater. The author manages do this with such talent! I had a little difficulty at first because the book is sort of written in play format. But, soon I was so enthralled that by the end I was longing for more. I loved the Shakespeare references, and the characters from his plays are an important part of this story. I laughed out loud at some of the lines the fairies had, and held my breathe and some of the interactions between Bertie and Ariel. The story was fantastic! Enough, that I've decided I need to own a finished copy and I can't wait to read the sequel!
 Dazzling July 1, 2010
Morgan Leigh (CT, USA)
I have get something off my chest. *takes deep breath* I bought this book for it's cover. I didn't even read the description first.
This book takes place entirely in an enchanted theater ran by The Book. The Book is what bounds the Players to the roles they were born to play, and it domineers over the magical scene changes. 17 yr old Bertie is not a Player nor a crew member, but has called the Theater her home for the past 10 years, not knowing where she came from. Bertie and her companions, the four mischievious faires from A Midsummer Night's Dream and Nate, a minor pirate from The Little Mermaid, have been known to get into trouble. After a particularly bad incedent, it looks like Bertie's time in the Theater has finally come to pass. But Bertie has one final chance to prove that she can contribute: become a Director and sell out a performance. Of course, not everything goes smoothly as the Players become more and more unsettled with their given roles.
Bertie, while kind of immature for a 17 year old, is strong and funny in her own right. How can you expect a girl who grows up with the most dramatic characters ever to grace the stage not to be colorful? And I love her choice of hair color. The fairies that follow Bertie around and join her in her antics are some of the funnest and funniest characters I have ever experienced. I want one for myself. I'll just have to remember to hide my Twinkies. Nate is a little dry, but sweet enough. I just hope Mantchev fleshes him out more. Ariel's name bothers me. I think of a red-haired mermaid. This made things difficult for me when the romantic tension was being built.
The setting was easily the best part of the book, even though some times I had no idea what was going on. It's not a point of pride for me, but sometimes I couldn't follow the action. It seemed to jump from one point to the other without much of a bridge in between.
I liked the book. Not as much as I could have, but I'm definitely glad that lush cover pulled me in. And the cover also helped in my visualization of Bertie and the fairies. Alexa, I agree with you. This book would be awesome as a animated film by Mr. Miyazaki.
I will read the sequel when I have the chance. I'm looking forward to being drawn into such an imaginative world again.
 Fun June 17, 2010
Emilee Richardson (Houston, TX USA)
My Thoughts:
I am a huge Shakespeare fan, with A Midsummer's Night Dream being my favorite, so naturally, I gravitated towards Eyes Like Stars. How could a Shakespeare fan pass up reading about all the characters dumped into one theater?
If I had to use one word to describe this book it would be: fun. Lots and lots of fun. And frosting, too. But that's two words.
Every character is so full of life, I felt like they wanted to leap out of the book! Bertie is independent, snarky, and high spirited. She's definitely a character I could see myself being friends with, which helped me connect to the story. I cared about what happened to her. The faeries were probably the most hilarious part of this book. They are always fighting over cupcakes and hair dye and wardrobe. Even during some of the more serious moments, I could count on them to lighten things up.
In most books, we have one clearly defined love interest, but in Eyes Like Stars, we have two. Both of whom are sexy, one of whom is caring and thoughtful and the other that is mysterious and dangerous.
The setting, the Theatre, is beautifully and vividly written. Whether the scene was set for the high seas or a Turkish bath, I felt like I was walking around each set as the story played out before me.
The Blurb:
There is love, adventure, danger, and drama all in this one theater, with Bertie at the center of it all. Eyes Like Stars is a fun, fast read that is definitely worth a read.
 not much to talk about June 12, 2010
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
it had a good plot but it jumps from stage to real life.It left me with many WTF? moments and the main character was quit whinny and immature everone raved about this book and said it was marvalous but this book was something to leave alone.If you think im some middle-aged person wrtieing this utterly downing review im 13 and have had many books.so i know what im talking about
Showing reviews 1-5 of 79
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