Hello my little favorite munchkins. How are you all doing? I am so sorry that I am posting this review so late but I will be posting twice, yes you heard me, TWICE tomorrow!!! I am trying to go see Love, Simon tomorrow because the BOOK WAS AMAZING AND IF YOU WANT ME TO POST A REVIEW JUST LET ME KNOW.
Anyways, why don’t we get to this review?
Pages: 188
Author: Traczy Chevalier
Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, Retelling
Publisher: Hogarth
Publishing Date: May 11th, 2017
Description according to GoodReads, “From the New York Times bestselling author of Girl with a Pearl Earring comes the fifth installment in the Hogarth Shakespeare series, a modern retelling of Othello set in a suburban schoolyard
Arriving at his fifth school in as many years, a diplomat’s son, Osei Kokote, knows he needs an ally if he is to survive his first day so he’s lucky to hit it off with Dee, the most popular girl in school. But one student can’t stand to witness this budding relationship: Ian decides to destroy the friendship between the black boy and the golden girl. By the end of the day, the school and its key players – teachers and pupils alike – will never be the same again.
The tragedy of Othello is transposed to a 1970’s suburban Washington schoolyard, where kids fall in and out of love with each other before lunchtime, and practice a casual racism picked up from their parents and teachers. Peeking over the shoulders of four 11 year olds Osei, Dee, Ian, and his reluctant girlfriend Mimi, Tracy Chevalier’s powerful drama of friends torn apart by jealousy, bullying and betrayal will leave you reeling.”
Review:
- This is a retelling of Othello.
- Sadly, I haven’t read it yet, but I did enjoy this book.
- It really was a great book to read at this time because it once again shows how children are important in society and how powerful we can all be.
- The time period and the setting in which it took place was amazingly written and made me feel like I was in the 70’s.
- The characters were very lovable and well written making them feel very realistic.
- Which you know by know is something that I love.
- The only problem I have with the story is the pace which seemed a little off balanced for me.
I give this book 4/5 stars.
Author:
According to GoodReads, “Born:
19 October 1962 in Washington, DC. Youngest of 3 children. Father was a photographer for The Washington Post.
Childhood:
Nerdy. Spent a lot of time lying on my bed reading. Favorite authors back then: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Madeleine L’Engle, Zilpha Keatley Snyder, Joan Aiken, Susan Cooper, Lloyd Alexander. Book I would have taken to a desert island: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery.
Education:
BA in English, Oberlin College, Ohio, 1984. No one was surprised that I went there; I was made for such a progressive, liberal place.
MA in creative writing, University of East Anglia, Norwich, England, 1994. There’s a lot of debate about whether or not you can be taught to write. Why doesn’t anyone ask that of professional singers, painters, dancers? That year forced me to write all the time and take it seriously.
Geography:
Moved to London after graduating from Oberlin in 1984. I had studied for a semester in London and thought it was a great place, so came over for fun, expecting to go back to the US after 6 months to get serious. I’m still in London, and still not entirely serious. Even have dual citizenship – though I keep the American accent intact.
Family:
1 English husband + 1 English son + 1 tortoiseshell cat.
Career:
Before writing, was a reference book editor, working on encyclopedias about writers. (Yup, still nerdy.) Learned how to research and how to make sentences better. Eventually I wanted to fix my own sentences rather than others’, so I quit and did the MA.
Writing:
Talked a lot about becoming a writer as a kid, but actual pen to paper contact was minimal. Started writing short stories in my 20s, then began first novel, The Virgin Blue, during the MA year. With Girl With a Pearl Earring (written in 1998), I became a full-time writer, and have since juggled it with motherhood”
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