Author R A Spratt returns with an entertaining, Shakespeare-inspired fiction follow up to Hamlet is Not OK.
Teenage Shelby is a reluctant reader, frightened of Shakespeare. She’s happy to remain distant from the school play, painting sets as an understudy. When the lead actress takes a fall, Shelby grudgingly steps up. Dan, her former tutor, offers wisdom and support.
Through a magical ‘portal in the play’, Shelby and Dan travel to a fictional dimension of late medieval/early Renaissance Italy. (‘This is fiction, it doesn’t always have to make sense.’) Here they’re intricately connected with the unfolding Verona drama, coexisting with the play’s characters. (Just like Shelby, readers are likely to know more than they realise about Romeo and Juliet.)
Romeo v Juliet is meta-cognitive and magical, filled with witty, intelligent commentary and side conversations, popular devices used by Shakespeare. It’s a fun, fresh and contemporary critical response.
Reviewed by Mark Parry
Age Guide 12+
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
R A Spratt was born in the UK. Now based in Bowral NSW, she’s the bestselling writer of dozens of absurd and witty books including Friday Barnes, The Adventures of Nanny Piggins, The Peski Kids and the ‘Shockingly and Astonishingly Good Stories’ collections. Her podcast, Bedtime Stories with R.A. Spratt, has had over 5 million downloads and connects R.A. with story-lovers across the globe.
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