Ophelia by Lisa Klein

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Fiction; Hamlet

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: He is Hamlet, Prince of Denmark; she is simply Ophelia. If you think you know their story, think again. In this reimagining of Shakespeare’s famous tragedy, it is Ophelia who takes center stage. A rowdy, motherless girl, she grows up at Elsinore Castle to become the queen’s most trusted lady-in-waiting.  Ambitious for knowledge and witty as well as beautiful, Ophelia learns the ways of power in a court where nothing is as it seems. When she catches the attention of the captivating, dark-haired Prince Hamlet, their love blossoms in secret. But bloody deeds soon turn Denmark into a place of madness, and Ophelia’s happiness is shattered. Ultimately, she must choose between her love for Hamlet and her own life. In desperation, Ophelia devises a treacherous plan to escape from Elsinore forever . . . with one very dangerous secret.

This is another great retelling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Lisa Klein wrote this before she did Lady Macbeth’s Daughter, which I loved. This book is Ophelia’s story. Telling of how she came to court and then to love the Prince Hamlet. I love the twist on this showing Ophelia as the tom boy girl who was made into a Queen’s Lady. I found the story to be engaging in all the right ways. It is one of those books that you will love. And anyone who likes Shakespeare will enjoy this new take on this great play.

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

ISBN: 1582348014

Pages: 336

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Saving Juliet by Suzanne Selfors

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Paranormal Romance; Time Travel, Shakespeare, Theater

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Two Juliets, both alike in desperation… Seventeen-year-old Mimi Wallingford, of the Broadway Wallingfords, has a life most girls can only dream of – complete with the starring role in her family’s production of Romeo and Juliet. But acting is not her dream, and she’s fighting for the right to trade her script for a scalpel and become a doctor. Fourteen-year-old Juliet Capulet, of the Verona Capulets, has lived a lonely life – imprisoned by the feud that consumes her family and by her iron-fisted mother’s forcing her into an unwanted marriage. She will do anything to avoid her betrothed, even if it requires faking a boil on her bottom – or something more dangerous. During the play’s final performance, Mimi’s wish to get away actually comes true when she and her heartthrob costar, Troy Summer, are magically transported into Shakespeare’s Verona. Now that she knows the real Juliet, Mimi doesn’t want to stand by and allow the play to reach its tragic end. But if saving her new friend means changing the ending of the greatest love story of all time, will she and Troy ever make it back to Broadway?

Mimi has grown up in and around theater, and she hates it. Her Romeo is actually called Troy who is a pop star. As things go forward she and Troy go to the time of the real Romeo and Juliet. This is a great story that shows a new take on the great characters of Romeo and Juliet. The story is all told in the perspective of Mimi. It is such a change by using a classic tale that is so well known and putting a new twist on it. I really loved reading this story, as it takes Shakespeare and time travel together.

Publisher: Walker Publishing

ISBN: 0802798314

Pages: 272

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