Review: Beautifully dark and poetic. Loved this contemporary retelling of Romeo and Juliet.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 28, 2012
I knew ahead of time that this was a modern rendition of Romeo and Juliet -- my favorite play of Shakespeare's -- so right away, I was looking forward to reading this story. And then, when I started to read it, I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was written in verse. Stephanie Parent's writing style in general swept me into the story right from the start and (literally!) didn't let me rest until I reached the end. I stayed up late and woke early to read, devouring it in less than 24 hours, which is unusual for me.I loved Julia's character, gifted in music and uncertain in life in so many ways. Different from her friends, she wonders if she is missing out on something because she isn't crazy about boys, doesn't like to go out dancing, and has never even kissed anyone before. That all changes when she meets Reed (technically, she's kissed first by a cringe-worthy boy named Perry, but it felt like a guppy in her mouth, so that doesn't count). I also really liked Reed -- he has a dark side to him because he's stuck in the most troubling of living situations. But there's this spark inside him, he's observant and insightful, and he has an amazing capacity for love. And so does Julia, but she can't fully express this to Reed until it's too late.Stephanie did an incredible job making you feel what Julia feels. Her descriptions are visceral and beautiful and real. And Julia and Reed have real problems that modern teenagers face, drugs being among one of them. I thought that Stephanie explored the storyline involving the drug-use very well and appropriately - as a "cautionary tale."And the ending made me cry, I admit it. I was bracing myself for it, because Romeo and Juliet = tragedy, but the story also ended with a clear and resounding note of hope. I loved this story and look forward to reading more from this author.