For young people age 12-15, mention the name William Shakespeare and you’ll get two very different reactions. Some can’t get enough while others find his writing confusing. This great new  title will satisfy both camps.

The format is entertaining and topical. There’s an ongoing cartoon about two kids who use a book portal to visit Shakespeare, but the main focus is on four of Shakespeare’s most famous and beloved works. Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Twelfth Night, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream are each given two chapters for readers to explore in a unique way.

You first learn about each story with lines from the play. This is no boring retelling of the tale, but an interactive journey with fascinating facts and insights. A second chapter then looks at how each story has impacted books and movies of present day. Also included are an INQUIRE & INVESTIGATE page giving readers a hand-on task. An example of one from Romeo and Juliet has kids creating a rap song.

Before you reach the first chapter a snappy introduction tells about Shakespeare’s past and present. A four page timeline of events in Shakespeare’s life starts it off. Next we learn about his early years and his works on stage. Did you know 2016 is the 400 year anniversary of his death? I also discovered historians found large chunks of his life where no one seems to know what he was doing.

A full glossary and resources are added at the end. Great extensions with books, websites, and a reveal of the QR codes in case you don’t have a tablet or phone to find them. An index gives further proof how easy it is to find what you need.

I’m a fan from the opening scene to the end. In the words of the Bard himself– “I do love nothing in the world so well as you: is not that strange?”
—Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing

For a closer look inside SHAKESPEARE visit Nomad Press and Amazon.

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Have a great weekend. Relax, have fun with family and friends, and READ!