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samantha_randolph 's review for:
Saving Hamlet
by Molly Horton Booth
After a rough freshman year, Emma is ready to start sophomore year with a new haircut and a, hopefully, new attitude. When she’s suddenly called to be the assistant stage manager for her school’s production of Hamlet, she’s nervous but excited. However, her long time crush, Brandon, is directing the show, her best friend, Lulu, doesn’t get the role she desperately wanted, and the guy who helped her at a rough moment last year, Josh, is cast as the lead…. even though his acting is terrible. It feels like just when Emma is getting comfortable, something else goes wrong. While Emma is attempting to figure everything out, she falls through the stage’s trap door and lands in London, 1601, at the Globe Theater. Through time-travel adventures, friendship mishaps, and drama all around, Emma discovers what it means to step into the role of herself.
Molly Booth’s SAVING HAMLET is a delightful, dramatic surprise. The premise sounded fun, and I wasn’t expecting the incredible depth and emotion SAVING HAMLET captures. Friendship is perhaps the most prominent theme throughout, and Booth navigates the different characters (and timelines) expertly. No one is perfect, but Emma battles with seeing a character or two through rose-tainted glasses. On the opposite side, she also sees humanity and surprise in characters she never expected to, and she frequently must battle with her first (and sometimes second and third) impressions of the people around her.
Most notably, however, is Emma’s relationship with herself. She’s been abandoned and betrayed by friends, and she’s unexpectedly given responsibility she wasn’t anticipating. Though she begins believing a personality overhaul is due, she slowly discovers new facets she already has within herself. She learns to voice her opinions and to trust in her instincts.
With humor, excellent nuances of friendship, and a fun, light time-travel element, SAVING HAMLET is a touching story about finding your strength, standing your ground, and learning through the Bard.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/21075-saving-hamlet
Molly Booth’s SAVING HAMLET is a delightful, dramatic surprise. The premise sounded fun, and I wasn’t expecting the incredible depth and emotion SAVING HAMLET captures. Friendship is perhaps the most prominent theme throughout, and Booth navigates the different characters (and timelines) expertly. No one is perfect, but Emma battles with seeing a character or two through rose-tainted glasses. On the opposite side, she also sees humanity and surprise in characters she never expected to, and she frequently must battle with her first (and sometimes second and third) impressions of the people around her.
Most notably, however, is Emma’s relationship with herself. She’s been abandoned and betrayed by friends, and she’s unexpectedly given responsibility she wasn’t anticipating. Though she begins believing a personality overhaul is due, she slowly discovers new facets she already has within herself. She learns to voice her opinions and to trust in her instincts.
With humor, excellent nuances of friendship, and a fun, light time-travel element, SAVING HAMLET is a touching story about finding your strength, standing your ground, and learning through the Bard.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/21075-saving-hamlet