Review: Falling for Hamlet

I am always looking for novels to bring into pieces that I teach. I feel that it gives the piece credibility that extends past the author's own words. It's as if I can say to students, "Well, you may not think this piece is important, but let me introduce you to others who would disagree..." I especially love it when novels I introduce are YA novels because they speak my students' language.

This is why I had to buy and read this novel. I had to find other ways to connect Shakespeare to modern times, to prove to my students he is not antiquated nor are his ideas. He lives on...even in the world of YA lit. 

Summary (from Goodreads):

Meet Ophelia: a blonde, beautiful high-school senior and long-time girlfriend of Prince Hamlet of Denmark. Her life is dominated not only by her boyfriend's fame and his overbearing family, but also by the paparazzi who hound them wherever they go. As the devastatingly handsome Hamlet spirals into madness after the mysterious death of his father, the King, Ophelia rides out his crazy roller coaster life, and lives to tell about it. In live television interviews, of course.

Passion, romance, drama, humor, and tragedy intertwine in this compulsively readable debut novel, told by a strong-willed, modern-day Ophelia.

My Thoughts:

Author Michelle Ray brings Hamlet into the twenty-first century, rife with all the modern “drama” that can be seen on television.

But this book is not a focus of Hamlet or his characterization.

Enter Ophelia, whose father is a loyal worker to the Hamlet household and whose brother is a college student full of warnings. But when King Hamlet suddenly dies, the household falls into a spiral, taking everyone living there down with it, including Ophelia – with exception, it seems, to the King’s brother and Ophelia’s father.

While Hamlet struggles to find the truth of his father’s death, readers of the famous play will recognize sprinkled elements of the original, almost a wink to the audience that Hamlet is not forgotten; however, the star is Ophelia, and it shines bright on her relationship with Hamlet, her father, the royal household, her friends.

The novel is not plot-driven but character-driven. Readers must first invest in Ophelia as a character in order to buy into the plot. I not only bought into Ophelia but also all the minor characters as well. I feel the author brought Shakespeare’s most popular play into modern times in an authentic way.

The characterization of each character matches that of Shakespeare’s, and there are clever additions that answer questions that my students always ask while reading the play.

• Where is Ophelia’s mother?
• What kind of relationship does Ophelia and Hamlet really have?
• How close is Ophelia to her father and her brother?
• What role does Polonius play in the Royal household?

These holes are skillfully filled throughout the novel, allowing me to bring up Ray’s ideas to my own students when these questions arise during the reading of the play.

But…I do have a complaint.

For me, I found the opening and closing of each chapter to be a distraction from the storytelling itself. The novel would have been stronger without the talk show antics and police interrogation. After quite a few chapters I found myself skipping them completely, and by novel’s end I did not feel as if I had missed out on anything.  

While reading this novel, I could not help but notice parallels between Ophelia and Hamlet’s relationship and that of Kate Middleton and Prince William (while they were dating). There were a lot of similarities, and it is clear that the Royal couple is where she drew inspiration. After all, if you are going to bring characters like Ophelia and Hamlet into modern society, what better way than through Kate and William?

While this is an interesting and authentic update to Shakespeare’s tale, it does not live up to Klein’s Ophelia. I am sure that others have made the same comparison. The two novels are presented in different ways and serve two different purposes. If you have read Klein’s Ophelia, do not miss out on this novel. While it may not live up to Klein’s novel, it is still a strong re-telling.

Hooray for having two YA novels to introduce to students when teaching Hamlet! At the conclusion of teaching the play, I plan to book talk both novels to my students.

Have you read either novel? What are your thoughts?

Do you have a YA novel that you use when introducing/teaching classical literature to students? Share your title(s) in the comment section.

Happy Reading!

Snow in Summer: A Modern Snow White

Another B&N find, I picked this up in the children's section. The cover of this book intrigued me first. I love fairy tales, especially modern retellings, so I had high hopes for this one.

Summary (from the book jacket): 

With her black hair, red lips, and lily-white skin, Summer is as beautiful as her father's garden. And her life in the mountains of West Virginia seems like a fairy tale; her parents sing and dance with her, Cousin Nancy dotes on her, and she is about to get a new baby brother. But when the baby dies soon after he's born, taking Summer's mama with him, Summer's fairy-tale life turns grim. Things get even worse when her father marries a woman who brings poisons and magical mirrors into Summer's world. Stepmama puts up a pretty face, but Summer suspects she's up to no good - and is afraid she's powerless to stop her.

Master storyteller Jane Yolen crafts a brand-new Snow White tale filled with magic and intrigue, set during the early twentieth century in Appalachia, that will be hard to forget.

My Thoughts: 

Readers are thrust into Appalachia with Snow in Summer, Summer for short. She is dealing with the loss of her mother, and in a way her father as well. His love for Summer is not as strong as that for his now deceased wife, and Summer is left to her own devices.

While keeping the house going, she is kept company by Cousin Nancy until Stepmama arrives. Papa has quickly fallen under her spell, but there is something about Stepmama that does not seem to ring true. But Summer is young and unwise, so she falls quickly into the grasps of this character.

Summer is a well-defined character, and she makes the book worth reading. Her spirit keeps the reader feeling comforted that all will be well in the end, until Stepmama comes onto the page. The menacing feeling she evokes in the heart of readers make her a solid villain, a villain that we count down to the demise of while rooting for Cousin Nancy and the “return” of Papa.

While the character of Summer is delightful, Stepmama is a pest, Papa is oblivious and Cousin Nancy stays away. If this was not frustrating enough, Yolen does not have a defined voice in the novel. Readers will go back and forth between Summer, Stepmama, and Cousin Nancy, weakening the effect of the storytelling. This novel needed a third person voice, which would have strengthened the overall effect of the plot and its characters.

If you enjoy fairy tales retold, add this to your reading list. While it did not knock my socks off, I still enjoyed it as a whole.

 

Hauntingly delicious...

I'll admit - there are three reasons I purchased this book: (1) I was going to meet Jackson Pearce at the Decatur Book Festival; (2) the cover of awesomesauce; (3) the witch. 

I hate meeting authors when I have not yet read their books. I feel like it is almost a betrayal because I cannot let them know how much I enjoyed getting lost in their story. With my hectic school schedule, that was not an option this year. So I decided to save it for fall break when it would be October, my favorite month of the year. 

Let me just say that it was the right decision - the creep factor in this novel makes it worthy of an October read.

Summary (from Goodreads):

As a child, Gretchen's twin sister was taken by a witch-like monster in the woods. Ever since, Gretchen and her brother, Ansel, have felt the long branches of the witch's forest threatening to make them disappear, too.

When their stepmother casts Gretchen and Ansel out as teens, they stumble upon a sleepy Southern town and are invited to stay with Sophia Kelly at her sweet shop. Sophia molds candied magic: coveted treats that create confidence, bravery, and passion.

Life seems idyllic and Gretchen and Ansel finally start to forget their haunted past - until Gretchen meets handsome local outcast Samuel, who gives Gretchen a reason to fear Sophia: girls have been vanishing at Sophia's annual chocolate festival, taken by the insatiable 'witch' of Gretchen's nightmares. Can Gretchen save herself, the girls of Live Oak, and Sophia?

Of one thing, Gretchen is certain: a monster is coming, and it will never go away hungry.

My thoughts:

"There it is - the fear, crawling up through me from somewhere deep in my chest. 

It's darkly comforting and familiar, a friend I despise. I've never known myself 

without the fear - as much as I want it gone, I'm not even sure who I'd be 

if I woke up without it." - Gretchen

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. Again, I saved it for October because it seemed like the appropriate time to help me celebrate the creepiest month of the year. There were times when I was reading this and had to put it down and step away. Not because it was bad. Because it was that good. 

Pearce thrusts readers into a retelling of an age-old fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel, and delivers a solid story. As the story begins she uses repetition and alliteration, two strategies often found in children's stories. They helped ease me into the story, providing a rhythm that seemed to calm me as I read the heart-pumping "Prologue." As the story progresses, Pearce abandons the repetition and alliteration because it is no longer a children's tale. This is a tale of survival - a tale of finding one's true self - a tale of facing one's fears.

The development of Gretchen and Ansel as characters is right on target. Pearce leaves nothing to the imagination with these two - except what happened to their sister. Instead, she creates a clout of mystery and intrigue around Sophia and the town of Live Oak, leaving the reader to question what is the true story of the disappearance of eight young girls as well as Gretchen and Ansel's sister.

The story's conclusion is rife with action - making this a unisex read. This is not a story just for girls; it is a story for all readers of all ages.

Readers will feel satisfied long after the story is finished - maybe even question walking next to the woods for a wee bit of time. This is what makes Sweetly worth the read.

Two great audios...

At 4:33 AM, London Lane's mind forgets the day. She must write everything from the day down; otherwise, those moments will be lost to her forever. She survives by waking each day and reading previously written notes. But can she trust herself to always be truthful in those notes?

While London may not be able to remember the past, she is able to see the future. This acts as a "safety blanket" for her. She knows that no matter what is currently happening, it will work out in the future, and this gives her comfort. At least until the disturbing dream starts.

The question is WHY? What happened to London to cause such a fate? Can she figure it out before she loses all that she finds dear to her - her best friend, her new love, herself?

With characters such as Jamie (her best friend) and Luke (her love), London is able to grow and come full circle by the novel's surprising end.

An intriguing idea, this novel is a must for those who love YA novels.

I did this novel as an audio, and I really enjoyed the reader. Some audiobooks fall short as a result of the reader, but I felt that this reader helped make the book. She did a great job interpreting the characters, thus enhancing my experience with the novel.

Imagine being the most popular boy in school. The one everyone wants to be. The one everyone loves. But not because of who you are on the inside but because you are rich and beautiful. This is life the life of Kyle Kingsbury. That is, that was his life. Kyle is placed under a curse by Kindra, a good witch with a good heart. Her goal - to teach Kyle that there is more to life and to love than outside appearance. 

While Kyle is perfect on the outside, inside he is a hideous beast. So, Kindra gives him a taste of the other side; however, because he does one act of kindness, he is given a chance to redeem himself. He has two years to do it - two years to find true love and to receive a kiss.

This is the old tale of Beauty and the Beast, just told from the Beast's point-of-view.

As a whole, I enjoyed this novel. There were elements that were a bit too hokey, but then again it is a fractured tale told from a unique view point. For this reason, I recommend this novel to all readers of YA, to all lovers of fractured fairy tales, and to teen boys. I believe with the tale from Beast's view, it helps make this a unisex novel.

As for the reader, I did enjoy his interpretation. I thought he did a great job presenting these characters in an honest way, which helped me enjoy the novel even more. I feel that if I read this novel instead of doing it as an audio, I would not have enjoyed the novel.

Gemma Doyle, meet Neil Gaiman

Like many of you, I am a cover shopper. If the cover sticks in my mind, I pick up the book and read the description to see if I'm interested. In the case of Heather Dixon's novel, the cover alone sold this novel to me. I knew looking at it that I would love it. After all, I love Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle series, so how could I go wrong with this choice?

After sitting on my shelf for many weeks, I saw Entwined as an audio at my library. I decided that since I really wanted to read it but I have so much going on with teaching, I would give the audio a try.

Summary (from cover):

Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her...beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing...it's taken away. All of it.

Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation.

Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest.

But there is a cost.

The Keeper likes to keep things. 

Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.   

My thoughts:

Azalea is cast in the middle between doing what is right by her sisters and what is right by expectations. She is in charge of caring for the well-being of the eleven youngers, and Azalea takes this job quite seriously. But she also knows there are rules that must be followed, and she walks a fine line between following those rules and breaking them (but for the right reasons).

Dixon creates an interesting world for readers. We are privy to RB (royal business) within the palace, but we are also initiated into a magic that grows within the user. One that requires an oath, an oath that may cost some their lives. While the plot itself is fascinating and perfectly paced, the world created beyond the palace walls in the one that will capture readers, much like Keeper is trying to capture his freedom.

Dixon's "other world" brings a Gaimanesque quality to it, creating perfect juxtaposition between the intention of Azalea and her sisters and that of Keeper. Those who have read any of Gaiman's work will immediately pick up on the macabre creation of Dixon's within the magical world, a world that is meant to keep all twelve girls safe, not tear them apart.

But do not be fooled readers. While the girls do spend time in the magical world dancing, while the girls do find themselves in a precarious situation, this is not the focus. This is what enhances it. There is plenty of fainting, romance, fainting, romance, fainting, and romance to keep you turning the page as well. All of this fainting, romance, and magical world make this worth you reading.

Like Bray's Gemma Doyle trilogy, Entwined casts an enchantment over readers.

A final note about the title - let's just say that it is clever, and the reveal of the title's origin will be a clever surprise to readers.

A modern take on an old tale

Title and author: Tris and Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison

Publisher: Egmont

Date: Oct. 11, 2011

ISBN: 978-1606841730

Source: NetGalley

Summary (Goodreads):

A modern retelling of the German fairy tale "Tristan and Isolde," Tris and Izzie is about a young witch named Izzie who is dating Mark King, the captain of the basketball team and thinks her life is going swimmingly well. Until -- she makes a love potion for her best friend Brangane and then ends up taking it herself accidentally, and falling in love with Tristan, the new guy at school.

My thoughts:

First, let me make a statement about the cover – it’s beautiful. At first glance this appears to be a love story, and I have read comments that say the cover was misleading; however,  having read the novel and looked at the cover once more, it becomes clear to me that the cover does not depict a love story so much as a story about love. It is important that at the novel's conclusion you look to the cover again; the pieces of the puzzle should fall together.

This is a simple tale with a complex plot – what defines love? Can a “love” potion really be just that, a potion, or does free will have more to do with the situation? This is what Izzie is gripping with as the novel’s plot begins to unfold. While her head belongs to Mark, it seems that her heart and soul belong to Tris, but that is just because she drank the potion (by accident, of course), right? 

Dealing with mixed feelings is not all Izzie must deal with in the novel. There is a terrible monster awaiting her death. One that wants to steal her magic, magic she does not believe she has, magic that she must do all in her power to preserve. A monster that sends others to "sniff" her out; to find and kill her. There are two people in Izzie's life who seem to know about this monster, two people who want to keep Izzie as safe as possible. After all, could be their last hope.

The writing of this novel does start off with a strong, solid plot idea. As a matter of fact, for most of the novel the author sets a clean pace for readers; however, as the end comes closer, it becomes clear that a deadline was looming and that an ending was needed. The ending is rushed, harsh, and not developed along the same pace as the rest of the novel. This makes the novel’s writing seem disjointed, as if there was no true direction for the novel’s conclusion.

With that said, I enjoyed this novel as a whole. I have read other reviews that were dissatisfied; however, I did not step away from this novel dissatisfied at all. Even with an ending that did not fully work for me, I felt that this novel was worth my time. I wanted to turn the page to see what kind of “mess” Izzie would find herself in next. It has been a while since I have read a character who is able to cause herself so much trouble so fast in such a comical way, whether it was meant to be comical or not. I found her character fun but a bit dense.

What I liked: (1) Izzie as a character; she was the most well-developed, the most even of all of the characters. While it is true she is the star of the plot and should be center stage, not all "stars" of novels are developed in a way that satisfies me. As a whole, I did enjoy her character and her evolution throughout the novel. (2) Izzie and her mom; loved their dynamic of holding one another accountable for everything and nothing at the same time. It seems these two have the stereotypical parent/teen relationship rife with secrets. (3) The magical element; I love a good witch story, one full of magic and intrigue. This one qualifies just as that for me.

What I disliked: The ending was a harsh reminder of Bella’s character in Breaking Dawn. Izzie had no idea for most of the novel how to work her power and then all of a sudden she could. Did not buy it for Bella and not buying it for Izzie.

Why you should read it: If you enjoy YA, if you enjoy magical reads, if you enjoy fairy tales, you should give this novel a fair shot. This author has a lot of potential to write another, more solid novel. The idea is there. The execution is there. She just needs to refine the pacing of bringing a conclusion to her writing.

 

Godmother - not the one you grew up with...

While browsing the YA section at B&N, I noticed that they've started a YA book club. Since I (1) love reading YA, (2) have started a YA book club for teachers, and (3) love talking with others about YA, I figured I should give this club a shot. This led me to the club's newest selection, Godmother.

This is not a novel I would usually read on my own. As a matter of fact, I have passed it up several times because the cover did not appeal to me. I know, I know, but I'm a cover shopper, what can I say. I am glad that I was "forced" into reading this novel because it was an interesting spin on Cinderella's tale.

Summary

Lil spends her days working in a used bookstore. She harbors a very important secret: she is really THE fairy godmother who was responsible for getting Cinderella to the ball; however, something goes terribly wrong, and Lil is punished - banished, thrown to Earth to live among the humans.

Lil spends the novel atoning for her mistake, one she is desperate to fix. Can Lil fix the mistake and get the princess-to-be to the ball before it is too late?

Turgeon takes on a classic tale and gives it a surprising ending. I like the narration style - back and forth between present time and that of when she was a fairy - but was not as pleased with the ending. I felt it needed just one more page to seal the deal for me. While this may seem a bit petty, you have to read the book to truly understand what I mean. I have a few unanswered questions, questions I feel could be answered by providing just one more page of text. 

With that said, I am interested in seeing what Turgeon does with Mermaids. She has a lot of potential as a force within YA fantasy tales.

Spotlight on: Avalon High - A Modern Tale of King Arthur

Meg Cabot is a staple in the world of YA. Her contributions to these readers is amazing, and she really shows her depth as a writer. It seems she does not prefer to stick with just one genre, giving readers a reason to keep reading her books.

Avalon High is an example of this. She does not disappoint with this retelling of Camelot. The story is told through the eyes of Elaine, who is named for the Lady of Shallot. Her parents have moved to Annapolis, setting into motion a strange sequence of events. While running, Elaine meets Will, who may or may not be the reincarnation of King Arthur himself. Soon Elaine learns that things are not as they seem, and even the math teacher, Mr. Morton, seems to have a significant role to play.

If all of this reincarnation mumble-jumble is true, then Elaine must find a way to change her own fate as well as Will's before it is too late.

Fans of Arthurian legends will enjoy the representation of legendary characters and how Cabot transpires from the legend to the modern. The tale is quirky and fun.

What if Jane Eyre fell in love with a rock star?

A very worthy question for a very worthy book. Jane by April Lindner brings this classic into contemporary times, staying true to the original plot while being clever in its face lift for a contemporary audience. Readers who are Jane Eyre fans will not be disappointed with this novel.

Brief Synopsis

Jane Moore is forced to drop out of Sarah Lawrence following the death of her parents. The stocks they left her turn out to be virtually worthless, and with money dwindling fast she must find a job. So, she decides she will be a nanny. After all, Jane is practical and stern, just what children need. She lands a position at Thornfield Park caring for Maddy, the daughter of a famous rock star. But, Jane is not impressed by the glitz and glamor of the rock star lifestyle, and this attitude is what makes Nico Rathburn fall for her. But Nico has a secret, one that could ruin his reputation as a rock star seeking a comeback; more importantly, that secret could cost him Jane.

Lindner stays true to the original plot throughout, providing us the answer to "What if Jane Eyre lived in contemporary times?" This novel will appeal to a plethora of readers and may even introduce the classic into their lives, a book they thought they would never read. While Lindner's inspiration for writing this book was a result of reading retellings of Pride and Prejudice, I feel that this novel is far superior.

If you enjoy a good love story; if you enjoy a good mystery; if you enjoy reading period, you must add Jane to your mound. I could not put this book down; I gave up grading to finish this book. I absolutely had to see how Lindner would tie up loose ends...and she did so amazingly and in a way that fits with the times. 

I loved this book, and I think many of you will too - Jane, read it today!

Jane Austen for a new generation

I believe I have expressed before that I am a cover shopper. I like to browse the shelves to see what jumps out at me. This time it wasn't the cover but the title - Prom & Prejudice. I found myself glancing back at this title several times, never paying attention to the cover nor its author, just that title. I am a sucker for Mr. Darcy (Colin Firth edition), so upon another visit to the book store I picked this book up. Then I noticed the author, Elizabeth Eulberg, and I knew I had to buy this book. After all, I absolutely loved The Lonely Hearts Club (it was the first book I featured in my Spotlight On... page).

I was right! This book had me at its opening line:   

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single girl of high standing at Longbourn Academy must be in want of a prom date.

Brief Synopsis

Lizzie Bennet is a high school junior, extraordinary player of the piano, and a scholarship student at Longbourn Academy. This causes her much strife with many of her classmates who, of course, come from wealthy backgrounds and view Lizzie as an "outsider" as well as competition. She has just two friends on her side, her two roommates Jane and Charlotte. 

Longhourn Academy students have just one thing on their mind: prom. This is no ordinary high school prom. This is how they will be introduced into society. While Jane is enamored with Charles Bingley and hopes he will ask her to prom, Lizzie finds herself repulsed by the entire idea, but most importantly she is repulsed by Bingley's snotty friend, Will Darcy.

Can Lizzie set aside her pride and Will his prejudice in order to make a love connection, or is Lizzie destined to stay in her dorm room the night of prom?

Eulberg does an excellent job paying homage to Austen's masterpiece, using clever names to connect the modern teen to this classic. She stays true to the characterization of the tale, giving Lizzie just as much pride and Darcy just as much prejudice. This novel's cleverness is reminiscent of Meg Cabot's Avalon High, a re-telling of King Arthur. Prom & Prejudice is a strong indication that Elizabeth Eulberg will be a part of the teen writing scene for many years to come, and I for one cannot wait to devour another one of her clever novels.