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nicolemhewitt's review against another edition
5.0
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
This book is incredibly adorable and a perfect way to introduce MG readers to the concept of LGBT relationships. Since Mattie herself is unsure of how she feels, it gives the reader permission to be unsure with her, and it eases the MG reader into the idea that Mattie might be having romantic feelings for another girl. Because of that, a relatively simple book becomes powerful.
What Fed My Addiction:
Slow realization.
At the start of this book it's never even occurred to Mattie that she could be attracted to a girl---after all, she's just getting over a crush that she had on a boy, and it's not like she's been questioning her sexuality her whole life. Because of that, we get to see the whole story from a realistically naive point of view. Mattie is confused at first about what she feels for Gemma. She certainly has no idea how Gemma feels about her. She's also hesitant to put a name to what she's feeling, which I think is, once again, realistic. The relationship between Gemma and Mattie is sweet and adorable and hard to define. In other words, it's perfect.
Shakespeare!
I actually think I'm going to use this book to help teach my kids Romeo and Juliet as part of our homeschooling curriculum because it explains so much about the play but it doesn't make it feel like you're learning (the details are all presented as part of the plot and they never feel extraneous or overbearing). This book actually makes Shakespeare seem downright fun! There's even a list of Shakespearean insults at the back of the book that I know my kids won't be able to resist. I'm fairly certain that even though my fourteen year old son is a bit above the age range for this book, he'll still get a lot out of it and still enjoy it. I've always loved Shakespeare, so I think this book is a perfect way to help pass that love down!
Friendships.
Mattie's two best friends, Lucy and Tessa get a lot of time center stage in this book and I loved the way the friendships are portrayed. Not one of them (Mattie included) is perfect, but they obviously love each other and they share the type of friendship that I remember having in middle school, when everything was a bit more dramatic than it needed to be but you had your best friend by your side. I also loved how supportive Tessa and Lucy are of Mattie.
What Left Me Hungry for More:
Little more?
I wish we'd gotten just a little bit more resolution between Gemma and Mattie. There's a hint of future possibilities for them, but nothing more than that. And I actually think I would have even been okay with that if the moment had been given just a teensy bit more weight. I know that Dee was trying to make this story less about a particular romance than about Mattie's journey, though, and I definitely respect that. (Still, we all crave that HEA, right?)
Defense of instalove in Romeo & Juliet.
I will say that the book really focuses on the romance of R&J, and Mattie argues for the idea that what Romeo feels is real. I've never been a fan of instalove and R&J is no exception to that (even though I love the play overall), so I had a hard time getting on board with Mattie's arguments. But since she was sort of using the play to process her own emotions, I can see how she'd want to see the romantic side of the story rather than the more tragic side (plus, it fits with a MG theme a lot better).
Star-Crossed is a sweet story of self-discovery amidst the chaos of middle school theatrics. I struggled with rating this one because there are so many fantastic aspects to the book , but I finally settled on 4/5 stars. No, 4.5. No, 4. No ... Okay 4, but seriously close to 4.5.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
This book is incredibly adorable and a perfect way to introduce MG readers to the concept of LGBT relationships. Since Mattie herself is unsure of how she feels, it gives the reader permission to be unsure with her, and it eases the MG reader into the idea that Mattie might be having romantic feelings for another girl. Because of that, a relatively simple book becomes powerful.
What Fed My Addiction:
Slow realization.
At the start of this book it's never even occurred to Mattie that she could be attracted to a girl---after all, she's just getting over a crush that she had on a boy, and it's not like she's been questioning her sexuality her whole life. Because of that, we get to see the whole story from a realistically naive point of view. Mattie is confused at first about what she feels for Gemma. She certainly has no idea how Gemma feels about her. She's also hesitant to put a name to what she's feeling, which I think is, once again, realistic. The relationship between Gemma and Mattie is sweet and adorable and hard to define. In other words, it's perfect.
Shakespeare!
I actually think I'm going to use this book to help teach my kids Romeo and Juliet as part of our homeschooling curriculum because it explains so much about the play but it doesn't make it feel like you're learning (the details are all presented as part of the plot and they never feel extraneous or overbearing). This book actually makes Shakespeare seem downright fun! There's even a list of Shakespearean insults at the back of the book that I know my kids won't be able to resist. I'm fairly certain that even though my fourteen year old son is a bit above the age range for this book, he'll still get a lot out of it and still enjoy it. I've always loved Shakespeare, so I think this book is a perfect way to help pass that love down!
Friendships.
Mattie's two best friends, Lucy and Tessa get a lot of time center stage in this book and I loved the way the friendships are portrayed. Not one of them (Mattie included) is perfect, but they obviously love each other and they share the type of friendship that I remember having in middle school, when everything was a bit more dramatic than it needed to be but you had your best friend by your side. I also loved how supportive Tessa and Lucy are of Mattie.
What Left Me Hungry for More:
Little more?
I wish we'd gotten just a little bit more resolution between Gemma and Mattie. There's a hint of future possibilities for them, but nothing more than that. And I actually think I would have even been okay with that if the moment had been given just a teensy bit more weight. I know that Dee was trying to make this story less about a particular romance than about Mattie's journey, though, and I definitely respect that. (Still, we all crave that HEA, right?)
Defense of instalove in Romeo & Juliet.
I will say that the book really focuses on the romance of R&J, and Mattie argues for the idea that what Romeo feels is real. I've never been a fan of instalove and R&J is no exception to that (even though I love the play overall), so I had a hard time getting on board with Mattie's arguments. But since she was sort of using the play to process her own emotions, I can see how she'd want to see the romantic side of the story rather than the more tragic side (plus, it fits with a MG theme a lot better).
Star-Crossed is a sweet story of self-discovery amidst the chaos of middle school theatrics. I struggled with rating this one because there are so many fantastic aspects to the book , but I finally settled on 4/5 stars. No, 4.5. No, 4. No ... Okay 4, but seriously close to 4.5.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
harpies's review against another edition
5.0
Finally! This is the middle grade about girls liking girls I've wanted for ages, and it was ABSOLUTELY LOVELY.
actuallyahorsereads's review against another edition
5.0
This book was one of the most adorable things I have ever read.
kelleemoye's review against another edition
4.0
Full review with teaching tools: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=12501
I really, really, really enjoyed this book. First, it made me like Shakespeare more than I did before. Second, I think that it dealt with sexual identity in a gentle and realistic manner.
I must admit that Shakespeare is a fear of mine because I just never have felt like I got him the way I should as an English Lit major and English teacher; however, it is what it is. When I see Shakespeare plays, I am always transported into the story and understand what all the hoopla is about, but reading it cold, I just never get it. I worried that a story about a middle school putting on Romeo and Juliet would let the Shakespeare bog it down, but it did the opposite–it helped this story be what it is. The reader learns to love Shakespeare as Mattie learns to love him. And since we are in class and at rehearsals with Mattie, we also get to be part of some of the lessons about the play thus helping the reader understand the text as well as Mattie is supposed to. It was brilliantly intertwined.
Mattie’s feelings toward Gemma are obvious to the reader before Mattie even realizes what they are, but that felt truly realistic to me because if you are someone who has already crushed on boys, feeling the same way towards a girl could be confusing, but Dee never makes it seem like what Mattie seems is anything but natural which is beautiful to see in a middle grade novel.
I really, really, really enjoyed this book. First, it made me like Shakespeare more than I did before. Second, I think that it dealt with sexual identity in a gentle and realistic manner.
I must admit that Shakespeare is a fear of mine because I just never have felt like I got him the way I should as an English Lit major and English teacher; however, it is what it is. When I see Shakespeare plays, I am always transported into the story and understand what all the hoopla is about, but reading it cold, I just never get it. I worried that a story about a middle school putting on Romeo and Juliet would let the Shakespeare bog it down, but it did the opposite–it helped this story be what it is. The reader learns to love Shakespeare as Mattie learns to love him. And since we are in class and at rehearsals with Mattie, we also get to be part of some of the lessons about the play thus helping the reader understand the text as well as Mattie is supposed to. It was brilliantly intertwined.
Mattie’s feelings toward Gemma are obvious to the reader before Mattie even realizes what they are, but that felt truly realistic to me because if you are someone who has already crushed on boys, feeling the same way towards a girl could be confusing, but Dee never makes it seem like what Mattie seems is anything but natural which is beautiful to see in a middle grade novel.
lesbrary's review against another edition
4.0
Super cute! And I think I understood Shakespeare more from reading this than from the university courses I took on it? So glad there's a) a bisexual middle grade/kids' book now and it's awesome and b) a middle grade/kids' book that has a girl who has a crush on a girl and it's awesome!
If you're wondering about the representation: I thought I heard that this book included the word "bisexual", but it didn't. Still, it was very clear that Mattie acknowledges that she has the capacity to have crushes on boys and girls. Also:
If you're wondering about the representation: I thought I heard that this book included the word "bisexual", but it didn't. Still, it was very clear that Mattie acknowledges that she has the capacity to have crushes on boys and girls. Also:
Spoiler
Mattie worries about how people will react to her crushing on a girl, but the only homophobia in the book is one kid saying "That's gay" about something and the teacher and his classmate (the popular girl who's been kind of a jerk otherwise) both immediately saying that wasn't okay and that being gay is nothing to be ashamed of. Mattie comes out to her sister, teacher, and friends without them really batting an eyelash. She doesn't come out to her parents yet, but doesn't seem worried about it. She asks Gemma (her crush) out on a date as the end, and she accepts.lauraslibraryy's review against another edition
5.0
CUTE! This is a gorgeous little middle grade novel and I loved every second of it. I wish I had read literature like this when I was in middle school or high school, but I'm so glad that it's available for people now! It's an amazing LGBT story with a girl discovering her sexuality while in a school play.
This is the story of a girl named Mattie who is in her school's production of Romeo and Juliet. It ignited a love for Shakespeare in me that I NEVER knew I had, and it was just a wonderful story. I appreciated that the perspectives truly felt like 13-year-olds. Would highly recommend!
This is the story of a girl named Mattie who is in her school's production of Romeo and Juliet. It ignited a love for Shakespeare in me that I NEVER knew I had, and it was just a wonderful story. I appreciated that the perspectives truly felt like 13-year-olds. Would highly recommend!
theburningbook's review against another edition
4.0
Dulce, tierno, hermoso. Un muy buen rato. Me llenó el corazón. El enamoramiento de Mattie fue precioso.
Un recordatorio de lo que son intenciones puras y que, hola, la bisexualidad existe. Gracias.
Un recordatorio de lo que son intenciones puras y que, hola, la bisexualidad existe. Gracias.
fallingletters's review against another edition
4.0
Review originally published 29 June 2017 at Falling Letters.
Whoohoo, I finally get to review this book! I had it on hold at the library for sometime before it was released March 14. I felt like I had to wait agggeeees for it to come in. I would have bought it at Chapters but they didn’t have it in store. Anyway. I was able to enjoy the entire book last Sunday while I was out at the lake.
What I love most about Star-Crossed is that it doesn’t complicate Mattie’s feeling. Mattie recently had a crush on a boy, and now she has a crush on a girl. Some of her friends try to comment on that (Can you like boys and girls? Is she gay now?) but Mattie avoids any attempt to label herself. She’s only in grade eight, and all she knows for now is that she has a crush on a girl (and that doesn’t mean she can’t have a crush on a boy). I imagine at that age, when you’re just figuring things out, it’s not necessary to come away with a concrete definition of your sexual or romantic identity.
Mattie does fret a little about what her classmates may think of her. She wonders that while hypothetically her classmates aren’t homophobic, how would they react around a real girl who likes another real girl? The overall arc of the story is less about Mattie coming to terms with her feelings (she likes girls and boys, she knows that) and more about Mattie making her own decisions. The people she comes out to don’t make a big deal about it and are supportive. I cheered for Mattie at the end, which I thought was a perfect conclusion.
The story also feels very realistic and grounded in how Mattie’s crush develops and how she interacts with her friends and classmates. I thought the development of her crush on Gemma in particular was very cute. I recognize myself going through similar motions when I was in middle school!
How Dee incorporated Shakespeare both through the class play and classroom lessons also really impressed me. I actually just saw a production of Romeo and Juliet a few weeks ago, so the play was fresh in my mind. I remember studying the play in high school. My classmates had many similar reactions as Mattie’s classmates. Dee makes Shakespeare intriguing and fun, showing that his work doesn’t have to be indecipherable for young people.
Whoohoo, I finally get to review this book! I had it on hold at the library for sometime before it was released March 14. I felt like I had to wait agggeeees for it to come in. I would have bought it at Chapters but they didn’t have it in store. Anyway. I was able to enjoy the entire book last Sunday while I was out at the lake.
What I love most about Star-Crossed is that it doesn’t complicate Mattie’s feeling. Mattie recently had a crush on a boy, and now she has a crush on a girl. Some of her friends try to comment on that (Can you like boys and girls? Is she gay now?) but Mattie avoids any attempt to label herself. She’s only in grade eight, and all she knows for now is that she has a crush on a girl (and that doesn’t mean she can’t have a crush on a boy). I imagine at that age, when you’re just figuring things out, it’s not necessary to come away with a concrete definition of your sexual or romantic identity.
Mattie does fret a little about what her classmates may think of her. She wonders that while hypothetically her classmates aren’t homophobic, how would they react around a real girl who likes another real girl? The overall arc of the story is less about Mattie coming to terms with her feelings (she likes girls and boys, she knows that) and more about Mattie making her own decisions. The people she comes out to don’t make a big deal about it and are supportive. I cheered for Mattie at the end, which I thought was a perfect conclusion.
The story also feels very realistic and grounded in how Mattie’s crush develops and how she interacts with her friends and classmates. I thought the development of her crush on Gemma in particular was very cute. I recognize myself going through similar motions when I was in middle school!
How Dee incorporated Shakespeare both through the class play and classroom lessons also really impressed me. I actually just saw a production of Romeo and Juliet a few weeks ago, so the play was fresh in my mind. I remember studying the play in high school. My classmates had many similar reactions as Mattie’s classmates. Dee makes Shakespeare intriguing and fun, showing that his work doesn’t have to be indecipherable for young people.
doublen's review against another edition
3.0
To be honest some of the things Mr. Torres said made me uncomfortable. There were some racial remarks in the beginning and some remarks towards the end of the play that also made me uncomfortable. Otherwise it was an okay story.