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James Hartley
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The Invisible Hand: Shakespeare's Moon, Act I Paperback – February 22, 2017

by James Hartley (Author)
3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 23 ratings
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The Invisible Hand is about a boy, Sam, who has just started life at a boarding school and finds himself able to travel back in time to medieval Scotland. There he meets a girl, Leana, who can travel to the future, and the two of them become wrapped up in events in /Macbeth/, the Shakespeare play, and in the daily life of the school. The book is the first part of a series called Shakespeare´s Moon. Each book is set in the same boarding school but focuses on a different Shakespeare play.
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  1. Reading age
    11 - 17 years
  2. Book 1 of 3
    Shakespeare's Moon
  3. Print length
    168 pages
  4. Language
    English
  5. Grade level
    6 - 12
  6. Dimensions
    5.48 x 0.38 x 8.39 inches
  7. Publisher
    Lodestone Books
  8. Publication date
    February 22, 2017
  9. ISBN-10
    1785354981
  10. ISBN-13
    978-1785354984
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 6–10—Sam, a student at a boarding school in England, is having vivid dreams, during which he travels back to Medieval Scotland to inhabit the body of Scotsman Robbie Cauldhame. The dreams distract him during the day as he longs to return to the exciting world he's discovered, not to mention a mysterious, beautiful girl he sees there. But these journeys are more than just dreams, and he's not the only one at his school able to "trav." What he has become involved in is something more sinister than he suspects. With heavy usage of British terms, spelling, slang, and boarding school references, this is for intrepid Anglophiles only. It also assumes a working knowledge of Shakespeare's Macbeth, with no explanation of the plot for unfamiliar readers and brief, infrequent forays into the action of the play. Inconsistent pacing and narratorial shifts paired with a handful of typos and a late introduction of the primary conflict make this read all the more difficult. Most troubling of all is the problematic language used for some characters of color and one with disabilities. An Indonesian student speaks awkward, broken English that reads as derogatory. Another student, Femi, is mentioned briefly as "the Nigerian who said he was a prince." Some imagined, roving night criminals are described as potential "gypsies" and "immigrants" by some students. VERDICT Due to harmful stereotypes, a confusing plot, and much that will be unfamiliar to American readers of the target age, this title is not recommended.—Darla Salva Cruz, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY

Review

Time travel, Scotland and Macbeth? Oooh...yes please!!! I love all three to tiny pieces and was totally interested when I started reading this book. The story takes place at a boarding school in Britain where the main character, Sam, has basically been dumped as his parents are either too busy working or too ill to look after him. One night, Sam awakes to find himself in another person's body and in the middle of a Scottish battlefield. Is it a dream? Will what happens in the past affect the future?I really liked Sam! The poor thing...I just really wanted to give him a million hugs throughout the story, especially as more was revealed about his family. He was shy, adorable and quite brave considering the circumstances that he constantly found himself in. There's a scene where he finally makes a connection between his own time traveling and the events in Macbeth that made me smile. He shouts out about how he was there and everyone thought he was absolutely crazy. And why wouldn't they? But that just endeared him to me even more. Super cute! I am interested in seeing how the author will mix in the other plays. I also just realized there's a prequel set at the school during World War II called Heart of Winter. Gothic tale about the macabre? OK! Let's do this... -- Jacquie Atamanuk ― Rattle The Stars

I would recommend this title to young children (4th-8th grade) who are interested in Shakespeare but find his work intimidating. The book has good pacing, interesting setting, believable and likable characters. -- Lisa Baughman, Librarian, NetGalley

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lodestone Books (February 22, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 168 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1785354981
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1785354984
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 11 - 17 years
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 6 - 12
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.1 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.48 x 0.38 x 8.39 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 23 ratings

About the author

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James Hartley

James Hartley

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James was born in England in 1973. He lives and works in Madrid, Spain, where he lives with his wife and two children.

The Shakespeare´s Moon series of books are about children at a magical boarding school who become mixed up in the world of Shakespeare´s plays. Shakespeare himself makes an appearance in the books. Although fast moving novels in their own right, the books are popular with teachers looking for new, fresh ways to get their students into the bard. The books are stocked at the Globe and National theatres and James has worked closely with Shakespeare´s Schoolroom in Stratford-Upon-Avon, where Shakespeare went to school.

The Cognate Readers series of books - The Night School, The Visitor, The Wish and The Star - are graded readers for young adults learning English. Each book contains a glossary and exercises.

You can get in touch with James at jamesalexander007@yahoo.com

Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
3.9 out of 5
23 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Bena Roberts
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!
Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2018
I love Shakespeare.
When I read the description of this book, I was immediately interested. The author has introduced a series of books which aims to present Shakespeare to a young audience in a more accessible and relatable way.

My initial reaction "good luck!" Then I thought this must be some Shakespeare fan fiction. I was surprised!

The Good.
This book does what it is supposed to do. It relates to Shakespeare in a young modern way. Set in a boarding school, it offers a substantial depth of fantasy. The action is fast-paced, and it is easy to read. The introduction of Leana and her arrival at school brings intrigue.

The Bad.
There is little bad to say about this book. I was an English Teacher, now an author -- A Level English Literature, Journalist, avid reader, and book blogger. This book is my kind of read! If I still taught now, I would read this in schools to inspire youth. I have the problem, with my kids that Shakespeare just isn't cool. Mobile apps, games everything else is 'cooler'. This book read at the right age could be a trigger into the marvelous world of literature.

The Ugly.
I think I am a tad jealous that I didn't write this myself! I look forward to reading more and I do hope that these books make their way into the classroom.

5 Stars! I read this book as part of a blog tour and this is my honest review
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Crystal Dawn
4.0 out of 5 stars Hartley has provided a perfect gateway for children and teenagers to experience Shakespeare from a young age.
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2017
Hartley has provided a perfect gateway for children and teenagers to experience Shakespeare from a young age. Shakespeare isn’t remedial literature and certainly difficult at times, but with a strong character and a realistic environment, Hartley has created a conduit that gently introduces complex themes that parallel the life of a young teenager. While some of Shakespeare’s more severe themes are sacrificed to appeal to a more juvenile audience, a strong sense of mystery, a time-travelling twist and an unexpected conclusion come together to satiate the reader’s expectation.
The historical aspects of the story resonate strongly, and with each shift back to Shakespeare’s past, I found myself giddy with anticipation. Hartley’s simplistic prose captures the aesthetics of an ancient world with surprising ease, and scenes of endurance flow with a nature flair that left me in awe. Timeless scenes from Macbeth are reiterated with hypnotising exposition, and some curious and titillating theories—such as the reason behind Lady Macbeth’s lack of children, and the motive of the three witches—are proposed to keep the gears in the reader’s mind turning. These theories add relevance to the narrative, and with the focus on a younger audience, they offer a critical point of view that will encourage readers to think outside of the box, a mandatory skill when approaching Shakespeare.
Although the modern school scenes are grounded in out reality, the castle itself is no less mysterious. When Hartley takes the reader on an expedition through the school, there is a reminiscent quality that harkens back to Rowling’s Harry Potter, which offers moments of tranquility between the madness of the past. A small romance also blossoms between the two core characters, and it’s sweet sprinkle of sugar that adds just enough to the story without taking away from the focal narrative.
At the risk of nitpicking, I have two minor complaints I must bring to the table. Firstly, I would have loved for more time to have been spent in the past, delving into extended Shakespearean elements. Secondly, the age of the characters while in our world is far too limiting. At the tender age of thirteen, they are allowed to be more curious toward their mysterious circumstances, though it also stretches the imagination too thin. Sam, our main protagonists, often acts far wiser than any adults around him. Perhaps if they had been a few years older, with a little bit of expected maturity, it wouldn’t have caused such a dissension. I understand their ages are intended to reflect the target audience, which keeps this issue a minor one, and it never reacts corrosively upon the rest of the story.
The conclusion was excellent, and while I was convinced I had unravelled the inevitable twist early on, I was still taken by surprise—a rarity for a young adult novel. It was emotional and shocking, and one of the better cliffhangers I’ve ever read. The epilogue also offers a charming and poignant taste of the narrative to follow, and I have to be honest: I’m excited! Hartley has established a complex and intriguing world with many threads neatly woven together, and his adept ability to tell a convincing frame story should allow future instalments to impress in all the right ways.
This book earns four stars easily, with full stars for its great World Building, Story and Writing Style.
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meredith rooney
5.0 out of 5 stars A great read for any young adult or adult who appreciates a good novel with a twist of fun.
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2017
A few months ago I stumbled upon Mr. Hartley's prequel to this book on Amazon. It was such an interesting read ( Heart of Winter) that I was eager to get my hands on a copy of The Invisible Hand when it came out this month. I've already finished it and very much so enjoyed it. I am a Middle School and High School English Teacher and have already recommend it to my students for our book club. I try to keep the selection interesting for the students and know for sure that will love this book and we will have enjoyable and endless chats about the setting, characters and so much more. It's written in a unique and playful way that ties Shakespeare into our modern world. A great read for any young adult or adult who appreciates a novel with a twist of fun.
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Top reviews from other countries

Manumit
5.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 11, 2018
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The Invisible Hand by James Hartley

. I love Shakespeare, but have to say that Macbeth is not one of my favorite plays. However I couldn't wait to read Hartley's The Invisible Hand and see how he had made it accessible, fun even, to the younger reader. I wasn't disappointed. Hartley's imaginative and inventive time- slip story skillfully interweaves present day characters, warmongering medieval Scotts and supernatural forces of elemental darkness in a unique and refreshingly different way.

The story is told by focusing on two young people and a budding romance across time. Sam, who during the full moon finds himself able to travel through dreams to the past, and Leana who travels to the future thus linking present day characters with those in the past.
Hartley's writing is evocative with many memorable phrases like, 'nights pocked with starfields' and 'a knife-blade winter wind'. Beautiful.

Once the scene has been set with Sam ensconced in in his bleak boarding school and his dream-life beginning to dominate his thoughts, the tempo and tension builds relentlessly towards a satisfying denouement. An exciting read.
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Rocio
5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely book
Reviewed in Spain on March 21, 2017
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Amazing book for teens!!!
My son is very happy with it!!
Strongly recommend for teens and also for adults.
Enjoy it!
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Debs Apple
5.0 out of 5 stars A 'Must Read' for any young adult
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 5, 2017
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A fantastic book for young adults. Set in an English boarding school, which is portrayed very realistically and atmospherically, a boy finds himself able to travel back in time to Scotland in Medieval times.
Well written and gripping from the start, it cleverly combines English boarding schools with Shakespeare's 'Scottish Play' and I understand that it is the first of a serious of similar books, all based on different Shakespeare plays.
I look forward to reading the rest - I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
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Pablo Andujar
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in Spain on March 10, 2017
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From the present to Macbeth and back again. Reality or dream? I couldn't put this book down until the end!
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 21, 2018
Verified Purchase
I gave this book 4 stars, because I really enjoyed it as an adult, but I didn't quite know where to put it on the children's market. I know it's aimed at children, but I did struggle to think of what age group it would fit, as different parts of the book are more in depth than others, and it is a lengthy book, so with my teacher hat on, I did find it hard to think of the young readers that would enjoy it. My son, who at ten is a very advanced reader, is now reading it so I shall be interested to know what he thinks. His first comment was 'Shakespeare is well boring!' - I had to check he was my child at first, and then explain to him the many, many ways he is wrong! I think that high school children in the first years will benefit from this book more, especially if reading Macbeth at school alongside it. All in all, I enjoyed it, and the paperback is beautiful. Very glad I purchased it for our home, I am sure it shall be used again once high school hits!
One person found this helpful
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