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elizabethamerson's review
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
amyappy's review against another edition
3.0
A sweet story, if not particularly sophisticated. I can see why middle school readers would like this--there's romance and gangs and interesting enough characters. Not being a middle schooler myself, I do have a few quibbles. I thought Draper oversold the comparisons to the original Romeo and Juliet story, having the characters themselves being conscious of it and talk about it to each other was a little much. I generally prefer my adaptations or retellings to be a little more subtle, or at least not so overly self-conscious. Also, I felt that Draper's dialogue was a little awkward... her characters sometimes don't talk like real high schoolers, even her adults have lapses in realistic conversation. Again, minor nitpicking... Draper's successes far outweigh those concerns. Am I likely to read this again? Probably not. Would I recommend this to a student? Definitely. :-)
literaryk's review against another edition
4.0
**Last book of age 30! Birthday tomorrow**
After reading Copper Sun, I think I forgot that Draper's books usually remind me of soap operas. This book was a complete telenova with a very loose connection with Romeo and Juliet, which the book pokes a little fun at multiple times. Star crossed lovers, danger and tension, and even a comedic relief newscaster!
I sat in on an author visit with Draper and she mentions she only writes for teens, and that she does well. I can see this book in the hands of most of the students I teach! Easy to read, engaging and dramatic, I'd suggest this to any student that asks for romance and suspense.
After reading Copper Sun, I think I forgot that Draper's books usually remind me of soap operas. This book was a complete telenova with a very loose connection with Romeo and Juliet, which the book pokes a little fun at multiple times. Star crossed lovers, danger and tension, and even a comedic relief newscaster!
I sat in on an author visit with Draper and she mentions she only writes for teens, and that she does well. I can see this book in the hands of most of the students I teach! Easy to read, engaging and dramatic, I'd suggest this to any student that asks for romance and suspense.
lydialibrary's review against another edition
5.0
I don't know why, but my mind wanders back to this book all the time. It was an assigned reading in the 8th grade and I STILL think about it.
coffeewithcammie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I liked the actual story but for some reason the way it was written and executed isn’t for me. I couldn’t get over the writing and a lot of the dialogue it was just kind of weird.
jessknelson1's review against another edition
1.0
FOR TEN YEAR OLDS :)
I personally thought this book was horrible, and not because the author is a bad writer. I feel that I read more advanced books then this, and while the storyline was okay, the words used are more appropriate for kids with a lower reading level. I thought it was cute, as well as stupid. I would recommend this only to people younger then me, because for me and anyone older then me, it is a waste of time.
I personally thought this book was horrible, and not because the author is a bad writer. I feel that I read more advanced books then this, and while the storyline was okay, the words used are more appropriate for kids with a lower reading level. I thought it was cute, as well as stupid. I would recommend this only to people younger then me, because for me and anyone older then me, it is a waste of time.
rinn4's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book. I thought it had a bit of a fast passe and I finished it in a hurry so I couldn't really soak in the end of it but I loved the characters and the plot line. I thought that it was a really good version of an old story. There was history, romance, friendship, coming of age, and wow so much love. Ben is my favorite character and I would totally go out with him. He is so cool and I am really glad that he and Destiny ended up together. Sometimes this book was a bit to easy to follow but I usually predict what is going to happen in a book because I am an author myself. Julio is such a cool guy and you want Romi to be your friend. I just wish this book was longer because I didn't want it to end. I know them falling hard was part of the story but I wish they had had a bit more time together before the climax. I liked how you didn't really know if they were going to die or not and all the supporting characters were really good.
dlberglund's review against another edition
3.0
I've been looking forward to reading this book for a while, but moved it up on my list as an appropriate follow-up to another book with Romeo and Juliet connections. I was interested in how Ms. Draper would make the story fresh in a modern urban setting. One thing that impressed me was that many characters commented on the most obvious similarities between our main characters and Shakespeare's, almost a meta-analysis by the characters themselves. Once that was out of the way, it left more room for Draper to explore the same themes of love, bigotry, and risk without getting bogged down in tracking all of the parallels.
The story was written in the late 90s, so some of the technology is rather dated. (Yes, we used to have these things called "car phones", and not everyone had one. They were about the size of a thick dictionary, which were other things we used to have. This was also back when our phones were plugged into the walls, and our internet worked through those same phone lines. Strange, I know.) I don't think that modern readers will get bogged down in this, but it is certainly noticeable in some places.
Some of the parental dialogue also came off as somewhat stiff. That was the biggest stumbler for me--the conversations between the parents never rang true for me. But otherwise, the story itself was very good and well worth the read.
The story was written in the late 90s, so some of the technology is rather dated. (Yes, we used to have these things called "car phones", and not everyone had one. They were about the size of a thick dictionary, which were other things we used to have. This was also back when our phones were plugged into the walls, and our internet worked through those same phone lines. Strange, I know.) I don't think that modern readers will get bogged down in this, but it is certainly noticeable in some places.
Some of the parental dialogue also came off as somewhat stiff. That was the biggest stumbler for me--the conversations between the parents never rang true for me. But otherwise, the story itself was very good and well worth the read.
stephisbranded's review against another edition
3.0
I remember really liking this as a kid. I couldn't tell you much about it now because it has been years, but it's worth a read.
alistofsydneys's review against another edition
5.0
I love this book, the other night I sat down and read it front to back 4 times. I love it that much, I love the ending and how the book is based on a now day Romeo and Juliet.
*Reread July 2017*
*Reread July 2017*