A review by hannahleelovestoread
Star Cross Lovers by Elvo Fortunato Bucci

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Have your tissues ready when you read this book, because it is devastating. A young adult retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the beginning is deceptively cozy and comedic. Miriam and Dante, teenagers from the Italian village of Ortona, meet during a chance encounter and fall for each other quickly. A Jew and a Catholic, respectively, Miriam and Dante don’t mind their differences; in fact, each is fascinated by the other. But as World War II roars on, Italy more strongly establishes itself as an Axis power, and the violence of Hitler and Mussolini — along with the calculated persecution of Jewish people — arrives in usually peaceful Ortona. 
This book is, if possible, even more tragic than the original play. I think this is because it features much more realistic plot points (as opposed to Friar Lawrence’s famous sleeping potion), and because the young lovers are a few crucial years older. Don’t expect a happy ending at all, and do expect the theme to focus more on blaming war and the evil of the world in general than on the bad decisions of parents and how they affect children. Despite its terribly sad ending, as a fan of Shakespeare tragedies, I loved this book. The author clearly has a thorough knowledge of both World War II history and of Shakespeare’s works, and I am eager to read more of their work. 
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