Selby is horrified when her English teacher Ms Karim tells her class they will be acting out Romeo and Juliet. Selby’s teacher knows that her
class won’t read the text as expected, so she is making them learn it by being in it. The play will be on stage in nine week’s time.
Remembering the last time she encountered one of William Shakespeare’s plays, Selby knows she must avoid reading Shakespeare at any cost. Luckily for her, she nabs a Set Crew spot. Painting and making sets is a much safer option, and she gets down to work as her classmates begin learning their lines.
Ms Karim gave a stipulation before she got the Set Crew job, but Selby hardly gave it another thought. Who cares if she is supposed to be the Understudy for Juliet? Juliet is to be played by the biggest drama queen in the class and there was no way on Earth, she would give up the limelight for anyone.
Until she had to.
Suddenly, Selby must be Juliet. But it’s impossible. She wasn’t listening to the rehearsals the entire time, doesn’t know any of the lines, and fears what might happen on stage in front of everyone.
Who can she call? There’s only one person who will understand her dilemma. Dan Ncube – her former homework tutor.
He knows what happens when Selby reads Shakespeare. When reading Hamlet the year before, they ended back in the 1500’s, and met the man himself. Selby shudders at it happening again.
They must find out, before Selby hits the stage. WHOOOSH! They find themselves in the middle of a street brawl between the Capulets and the Montagues in Verona Italy!
Another hilarious foray by R A Spratt into William Shakespeare’s work – this time the most famous love story of all, Romeo & Juliet.
The blunt contrasts between the 1500’s and the present provide class discussion topics within the story, with characters baulking at the norms of the day.
These stark differences also provide many opportunities for R A Spratt’s humour to entertain readers. With many laugh out loud moments, modern day Selby tackles 16th Century customs, Romeo’s ego, his friend Mercutio’s advances, and finally, a solution to her place in the school play.Â
Just like R A Spratt’s previous novel Hamlet is Not OK, Romeo v Juliet is perfect for introducing reluctant teenage students to the classic play. But there’s more than just laughs. Readers will be left with some basics of the play, it’s origins, the setting and a taste of the language.
R A Spratt reveals she is an avid lover of Shakespeare, and I for one hope she has more of his plays in sight for Selby to experience.
So clever, and laugh out loud funny. Romeo & Juliet like you’ve never experienced before!
Author – R A Spratt
Age – 12+
Publisher – Penguin Random House Australia
Set – Present, Australia / 1500’s Verona Italy
Viewpoint – 3rd person
Violence – Yes
Sex – No
Real Life – Yes
Fantasy – Yes
Blend – Real Life / Time Travel / Humour / Historical
(2026, Penguin Random House, Series, Humour, Clever, Funny, William Shakespeare Play, Romeo & Juliet, 1500’s, 16th Century, Past vs Present, Social Norms, School Play, Dyslexia, School, Time Travel, Love, Romance, Historical, Retelling)