Editorial Content for Beatrice Bunson's Guide to Romeo and Juliet: A Novel
Contributors
Reviewer (text)
Paula Marantz Cohen’s new novel, BEATRICE BUNSON’S GUIDE TO ROMEO AND JULIET, chronicles the life of Bea Bunson, a freshman learning to navigate the challenges of high school. Bea struggles with her daily life like any teenager, as she grows apart from her best friend, Nan, and deals with the dramatics of her older sister, Jen. Bea also begins to find first love, as she meets a cute boy while visiting her grandmother at her retirement home. Bea finds solace from her hectic life in Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," comparing her discussions with her English class and her teacher, Mr. Martin, to situations in her own life.
"Cohen captures the voice of a high school freshman accurately, as Bea struggles with themes many young adults face...Anyone who has read "Romeo and Juliet,"...will find this novel to be engaging and a fairly fast read."
Bea’s ongoing comparison of Shakespeare’s play to her own life is an entertaining and unique idea, as Bea learns how to be a better friend and student through her discovery of Shakespeare. In an attempt to include those who are unfamiliar with the plot of "Romeo and Juliet," Cohen lifts actual passages from "Romeo and Juliet," giving the reader context for Bea’s conversations and thoughts about the play. The focus upon the play within a book is extremely creative, and, as Bea reads the play for the first time, provides new perspectives for both readers who have just discovered Shakespeare and those who are familiar with his work.
Cohen captures the voice of a high school freshman accurately, as Bea struggles with themes many young adults face, such as bullying on social media and the importance of popularity. However, at times, Cohen’s voice overpowers Bea’s, as Bea becomes slightly preachy and dry. As a character, Bea has few flaws, seeming almost too perfect to be found sitting in an actual high school classroom. Still, Cohen’s attempt to make the novel relatable to young adults largely works, as she captures the complicated and sometimes awkward social dynamics of high school. For example, as Bea struggles to find a new circle of friends as she fights with Nan, she goes to sit with two awkward boys from her English class, who at first are completely silent and shocked with her choice to sit with them.
Anyone who has read "Romeo and Juliet," or enjoys discussion of Shakespeare’s works will find this novel to be engaging and a fairly fast read. This novel could also be used by teachers as a companion to "Romeo and Juliet," as Bea’s class discussions would help clarify the plot for students struggling to understand Shakespeare. For readers who enjoy Cohen’s other work, such as DEATH AND THE SAT’S or WHAT ALICE KNEW, this novel is a must read.
Teaser
High school begins, and it seems to Beatrice Bunson that nothing is the same, not even her best friend, Nan. The "new" Nan doesn't hang out with Bea after school; instead she's running for Student Council and going to parties and avoiding Bea at lunchtime. On the bright side, there's English class with Mr. Martin, where Beatrice discovers that Shakespeare has something to say about almost everything --- and that nothing in life is as dramatic as Romeo and Juliet. But when Nan gets in over her head in her new social life, it's up to Beatrice to restore her reputation --- and she may need to make a few new friends to pull it off. One of them, the slightly brainy guy that Beatrice meets at her grandmother's retirement home, is definitely kind of cute, and probably dateable.
Promo
High school begins, and it seems to Beatrice Bunson that nothing is the same, not even her best friend, Nan. The "new" Nan doesn't hang out with Bea after school; instead she's running for Student Council and going to parties and avoiding Bea at lunchtime. On the bright side, there's English class with Mr. Martin, where Beatrice discovers that Shakespeare has something to say about almost everything --- and that nothing in life is as dramatic as Romeo and Juliet. But when Nan gets in over her head in her new social life, it's up to Beatrice to restore her reputation --- and she may need to make a few new friends to pull it off. One of them, the slightly brainy guy that Beatrice meets at her grandmother's retirement home, is definitely kind of cute, and probably dateable.
About the Book
High school begins, and it seems to Beatrice Bunson that nothing is the same, not even her best friend, Nan. The "new" Nan doesn't hang out with Bea after school; instead she's running for Student Council and going to parties and avoiding Bea at lunchtime. The boys who were gross in middle school have become surprisingly polite, while the "cool" kids are still a mystery. Bea's older sister, meanwhile, acts like she's living in a soap opera.
On the bright side, there's English class with Mr. Martin, where Beatrice discovers that Shakespeare has something to say about almost everything --- and that nothing in life is as dramatic as Romeo and Juliet.
But when Nan gets in over her head in her new social life, it's up to Beatrice to restore her reputation --- and she may need to make a few new friends to pull it off. One of them, the slightly brainy guy that Beatrice meets at her grandmother's retirement home, is definitely kind of cute, and probably dateable. (Fortunately, nothing is the same in high school.)
As Beatrice and her classmates tackle Romeo and Juliet, they unveil the subtleties of the play as well as broader lessons of love, family, honor, and misunderstandings. Guided by Mr. Martin, these ninth-graders help us to understand Shakespeare, as Shakespeare helps them begin to understand themselves.
