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STILL STAR-CROSSED

A perfect blend of the intimate and the epic, the story both honors its origin and works in its own right.

Love and violence intertwine in this spectacular sequel to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

The peace purchased with Romeo’s and Juliet’s deaths lasts two weeks before the Capulets and Montagues renew their fight in the streets of Verona. Those closest to the young lovers struggle with their grief: Rosaline Tirimo mourns both her cousin Juliet and her former suitor, Romeo, but resolves to escape the cycle of violence and the grudging charity of the Capulet family by becoming a nun. Benvolio Montague sees Mercutio’s and Romeo’s ghosts everywhere, but he suppresses his anger at the Capulets. Then Prince Escalus attempts to force the feuding families into concord by arranging a marriage between Rosaline and Benvolio, even as a third party incites riots and slays young Capulets and Montagues indiscriminately. Unlike their cousins’ whirlwind romance, Rosaline and Benvolio’s courtship consists of squabbling, sleuthing and a grudging sense of duty. Taub splits her focus between the personal and the political, sending the narrative shuttling among Rosaline, Benvolio, Rosaline’s spirited sister, Livia, and desperate Prince Escalus without losing the thread. Rosaline and Benvolio’s tale is equal parts historical fiction, detective story and high adventure, relayed in accurate but not overwhelming period language, informed by Romeo and Juliet and Shakespeare’s other works but offering an expanded and original perspective.

A perfect blend of the intimate and the epic, the story both honors its origin and works in its own right. (Historical fiction. 12 & up)

Pub Date: July 9, 2013

ISBN: 978-0-385-74350-1

Page Count: 352

Publisher: Delacorte

Review Posted Online: April 30, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2013

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WINGS OF STARLIGHT

A magical story with a classic Disney feel exploring love, friendship, and leading amid hardship.

Shortly before the new queen’s coronation, a monster wreaks havoc, forcing a young fairy princess to intervene at her own risk.

In Pixie Hollow, the Never Fairies of Spring, Summer, and Autumn work to create seasons for the humans on the Mainland, while the fairies of Winter remain apart in the Winter Woods. Clarion, a governing-talent fairy who’s soon to take over as queen of Pixie Hollow, often looks wonderingly at the Winter Woods. But crossing the border is against the rules set forth by her mentor, Queen Elvina. When a monster from Winter breaks free and enters Spring, Clarion bristles at Elvina’s dismissal. Determined to be involved, she secretly travels to Winter, meets with Milori, the Warden of the Winter Woods, and learns that the land is nothing like what she’s heard, making her wonder what else the queen has been untruthful about. Together Milori and Clarion work to discover the secrets of Pixie Hollow, which may save them—or lead to death. Set in a magical place of flowers and pixie dust, this story considers the control we have over the roles we’re assigned. Clarion is a beautifully complex character—strong yet insecure, lovable due to her willingness to prioritize relationships over rules. Themes of fear, forbidden love, and good vs. evil are present in this fast-paced, engaging tale. Main characters are cued white.

A magical story with a classic Disney feel exploring love, friendship, and leading amid hardship. (Fantasy. 12-18)

Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2025

ISBN: 9781368098458

Page Count: 400

Publisher: Disney Press

Review Posted Online: Oct. 26, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2024

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IF HE HAD BEEN WITH ME

There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.

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The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.

Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.

There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.   (Fiction. 14 & up)

Pub Date: April 1, 2013

ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5

Page Count: 336

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013

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