While Ariel might be charismatic, Nate is obviously the best choice. I wasn't very fond of the love triangle between Nate and Ariel and Bertie though. So while they all retain their personalities as written, it's fun to see them outside of their own plays although this is mostly with Ophelia and Ariel. It was interesting to see Shakespeare's, and other, famous characters brought to life in a different way. And I loved the little fairies who followed her around like a little demon posse. It was nice to see a strong female protagonist who isn't afraid to push down the boys and make them cry if she needs to. She was feisty and conniving and, dare I say, a little sexy. An abandoned girl grows in a magical theater where the characters in the play are not actors, they are actually the characters is so cool. The Little BookwormFirst up, let me say that I love the concept. Some ends are left loose as this is the first book in a trilogy. Her fairy entourage provides comic relief (they were my favorite part of the story). (Which might make it perfect for high schoolers, as many study Shakespeare at some point.) Bertie's a great heroine who makes mistakes (big ones, sometimes) and fights for what she believes in. I really enjoyed it, but I think I would have gotten more out of it if I was more familiar with Shakespeare's works. This is definitely a book for theater buffs. But what Bertie doesn't know is that another force wants to destroy the Theatre, the only home she's ever known. She was raised among the Players, costumes, and scenery but now that she's older she must leave unless she can prove herself invaluable to the Theatre. Bertie has lived there most of her life, brought when she was a young child by a strange woman she barely remembers. The Theatre Illuminata is a magical place where all the characters in the history of the theater live, ready to perform whenever they're called.

My Teacher is an Alien by Bruce Coville