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The Juliet Club
Suzanne Harper

HarperTeen, 2008 - 416 pages

average customer review:based on 8 reviews
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   highly recommended  highly recommended





Shakesperean Non-Tradgedy

Anyone who has been to high school knows that most romance is reminiscent of Shakespearean tragedy. "The Juliet Club" takes a spin on that idea, with Kate being chosen to go to Verona for a Romeo and Juliet seminar. The novel is rich with descriptions of Verona's buildings and city, giving the reader a realistic view of walking this famous city's streets. Anyone who has read some of Shakespeare's more popular plays will enjoy the many references and jokes based from them, but it can also be slightly confusing, especially the references to his more obscure works that I have never heard anything about.

"The Juliet Club" is an engaging, but relatively easy read. Not very many people who start this book will be able to put it down! The storyline flowed well, but was somewhat predictable, however small changes kept me on my toes. None of the characters were 2-D, and the character development was enough to make many other teen romances green with envy. Going into "The Juliet Club" I expected an angst ridden sob-fest, but this story was not a tragedy by any means. I truly enjoyed this entertaining romp into nontraditional teen fiction.



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A Great Shakespeare Tribute

Kate, who has decided to stay firmly out of love after being dumped by her boyfriend, heads to Italy for a summer at a Shakespeare seminar in Verona, hometown of Romeo and Juliet. However, she soon finds her convictions challenged when her fellow Shakespeare Scholars attempt to set her up with the local heart-throb.

I really, really enjoyed this book. I thought that the characters were well-drawn, the dialogue was quick and snappy, and the plot was very amusing. Anyone familiar with Shakespeare will appreciate the references to his plays, and anyone unfamiliar with him might very well become interested in picking up one of his works after finishing this book. I would especially recommend this to middle schoolers and high schoolers with an interest in literary history or anyone looking for a well-written, breezy romantic comedy.


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Dear Juliet

A Shakespearian seminar in Verona, Italy brings together teenagers from around the world. There's Kate, the girl who has sworn off love, whose professor father is also taking part in the seminar. Local attendees include the suave Giancomo, his well-meaning, odd-job-taking best friend Benno, and Silvia, whose dark clothes and cold manner conceal her true personality and fashion expertise. There's Tom from Laguna Beach, who would rather play soccer (which is called football in Europe and other parts of the world) and Lucy, a sweet Southern belle.

In addition to discussing and performing scenes from Romeo and Juliet, they must also respond to the letters of heartbroken people who have written to Juliet for advice. The students fade in and out of crushes with each other while learning, writing, and wandering through the historic city. This story will appeal to young romantics and probably inspire more than one to write to the real-life Juliet Club.



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Fantastic

Since Hurricane Gustav decided to ruin my week, I had time to catch up on some reading. I will admit the cover artwork and title of the book enticed me to read it. I'm not much for reading, but this book was a delight. The romance was just so easy going and beautiful for teenage love. I would recommend this book to any young girl first experiencing Shakespeare or young love.


A Great Summer Read, With A Little Romance Of Course

I have become a big fan of Shakespeare spin-offs/interpretations, ranging from ones that take place during his time (like Ophelia by Lisa Klein) to ones that take place now (like Saving Juliet by Suzanne Selfors). This adds to the collection.
Kate Sanderson is a smart girl who learns from her mistakes. After being dumped by her boyfriend for another girl, she vows never to fall in love again.
Kate then finds out that she has been accepted into a summer course in Verona, Italy, where Romeo and Juliet took place. Kate is excited: she will eat, study, and see the awesome sights. Her friend Sarah though thinks something else will happen though: she will fall in love.
There is a whole cast of characters at the course: Tom, the average soccer playing California boy who maybe isn't so much into Shakespeare as he seems; Lucy, the beautiful, kind, and polite Southern belle; Silvia, the revengeful and fiesty Italian with a secret core; Benno, the hard-working boy who wishes to be more like his friend Giacomo; and of course Giacomo, the handsome Italian boy who plays girls like cards.
Throughout the course, the teens learn, answer questions about love, etc. But something better happens: Silvia has a wickedly wonderful plan (a Shakespearan one no less) that will forever change these scholars.
I was enthralled the whole times. Although it seems like a shallow book from afar, it is quite wonderfully written. The plot was well-organized and rapid. Everyone got a happy ending, and a well-deserved one too. The only complaint I have is that perhaps the author could have set the epilouge a year later because Kate and Giacomo live like 4,000 miles away from one another: how will they visit? Otherwise, I enjoyed it emmensely, especially because I am much like Kate. I think other girls looking for a summer read will find that too.
The character development was wonderful, the plot was wonderful, the setting beautiful. It gives all girls hope that one day they will find their match. A time-transporter.


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Italy . . . Shakespeare . . . but no romance?

Kate Sanderson inherited her good sense from her mother, a disciplined law professor, and her admiration for the Bard from her father, a passionate Shakespeare scholar. When she gets dumped, out of the blue, for the Practically Perfect Ashley Lawson, she vows never to fall in love again. From now on she will control her own destiny, and every decision she makes will be highly reasoned and rational. She thinks Shakespeare would have approved.

So when she is accepted to a summer Shakespeare symposium in Verona, Italy, Kate sees it as the ideal way to get over her heartbreak once and for all. She'll lose herself in her studies, explore ancient architecture, and eat plenty of pasta and gelato. (Plus, she'll be getting college credit for it?another goal accomplished!) But can even completely logical Kate resist the romance of living in a beautiful villa in the city where those star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet met and died for each other? Especially when the other Shakespeare Scholars?in particular Giacomo, with his tousled brown hair, expressive dark eyes, and charming ways?try hard to break her protective shell?

"In fair Verona, where we lay our scene . . . "




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recommendations

ENGL710: Shakespeare and Children's literature; K-State; Spring 2009
NEW TEEN BOOKS 2008 PART 2
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Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare Made Easy)



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