Books like Eyes Like Stars (Théâtre Illuminata, Act I) by Lisa Mantchev

Beatrice Shakespeare Smith, a sarcastic, likable 17‑year‑old who has grown up as an orphan in the Théâtre Illuminata, faces the threat of being ousted unless she can prove her indispensable value. Her inventive idea is to restage Shakespeare’s *Hamlet* set in ancient Egypt, hoping the spectacle will sell out and restore the theater’s former glory. The theater, however, is no ordinary venue: characters from the world’s most famous plays appear whenever a note is pinned to the Call Board. These mysterious, magically summoned actors must be persuaded to participate in Beatrice’s ambitious production, adding layers of danger, intrigue, and fantastical drama. Against this backdrop of theatrical myth and the quest for identity, Beatrice must navigate her own sense of belonging, challenge the limits of her creativity, and confront the forces that threaten to keep her from the stage she loves.

First publish date: 2009