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A review by katykelly
New Boy by Tracy Chevalier
4.0
Othello for primary school...
Chevalier has taken Shakespeare's tragedy of revenge and placed it in a fascinating context - that of an elementary school playground/classroom, with a class of students not yet adolescent, not quite still children. It does work, but some aspects don't feel quite authentic.
New boy Osei (Othello) is black, and in the 1970s classroom, stands out, with both blatant and less open racism all around him on his first day - from staff as well as fellow students. Dee (our Desdemona) immediately takes to him, they decide to 'go out', as many other classmates are doing, such as Mimi and Ian (the play's Iago).
The book follows the main plot of Shakespeare's play, with mistaken actions, subterfuge and lies, jealousy and revenge, as teachers look on at the actions of the young protagonists.
Osei's situation is quite hard to watch - the language used around him, about the colour of his skin, is abhorent and shocking, and hard to comprehend. Dee is sweet and the heart of the story, quite a realistic character, Mimi also is well characterised and conflicted. Osei, thrust into yet another new school with rules, names and cliches he is outside of, sympathetic. It is Ian who didn't sit right, his character doesn't transfer well to that of an 11-year-old boy. The hostility and evil temperament of a boy determined to manipulate and twist others to his plans just doesn't feel realistic - he speaks and thinks like a grown man, with the emotional distance of a adult sociopath.
The plot moves quickly from stolen pencil cases, kisses, fights and accusations to a very physical conclusion. Knowing the ending of the play, you do worry for the children: just how Chevalier will treat her young cast, just how far will she go? You don't quite know how some characters fare, the author doesn't reveal their fate in so many words.
It's an interesting spin on the Shakespeare, with a sexualised young cast (which shocks a little but really shouldn't), racism in teachers (which shocks a little too), well transposed in features to a school setting. 10 Things I Hate About You worked in a high school (Taming of the Shrew), West Side Story (teenage gangs) worked on the New York streets, and now we've moved to ever younger children for petty revenge and rivalry.
Shakespeare truly is universal.
Not one for the age group portrayed possibly, but teenagers studying the play would find this useful supplementary discussion material.
With thanks to Netgalley for the advance review e-copy.
Chevalier has taken Shakespeare's tragedy of revenge and placed it in a fascinating context - that of an elementary school playground/classroom, with a class of students not yet adolescent, not quite still children. It does work, but some aspects don't feel quite authentic.
New boy Osei (Othello) is black, and in the 1970s classroom, stands out, with both blatant and less open racism all around him on his first day - from staff as well as fellow students. Dee (our Desdemona) immediately takes to him, they decide to 'go out', as many other classmates are doing, such as Mimi and Ian (the play's Iago).
The book follows the main plot of Shakespeare's play, with mistaken actions, subterfuge and lies, jealousy and revenge, as teachers look on at the actions of the young protagonists.
Osei's situation is quite hard to watch - the language used around him, about the colour of his skin, is abhorent and shocking, and hard to comprehend. Dee is sweet and the heart of the story, quite a realistic character, Mimi also is well characterised and conflicted. Osei, thrust into yet another new school with rules, names and cliches he is outside of, sympathetic. It is Ian who didn't sit right, his character doesn't transfer well to that of an 11-year-old boy. The hostility and evil temperament of a boy determined to manipulate and twist others to his plans just doesn't feel realistic - he speaks and thinks like a grown man, with the emotional distance of a adult sociopath.
The plot moves quickly from stolen pencil cases, kisses, fights and accusations to a very physical conclusion. Knowing the ending of the play, you do worry for the children: just how Chevalier will treat her young cast, just how far will she go? You don't quite know how some characters fare, the author doesn't reveal their fate in so many words.
It's an interesting spin on the Shakespeare, with a sexualised young cast (which shocks a little but really shouldn't), racism in teachers (which shocks a little too), well transposed in features to a school setting. 10 Things I Hate About You worked in a high school (Taming of the Shrew), West Side Story (teenage gangs) worked on the New York streets, and now we've moved to ever younger children for petty revenge and rivalry.
Shakespeare truly is universal.
Not one for the age group portrayed possibly, but teenagers studying the play would find this useful supplementary discussion material.
With thanks to Netgalley for the advance review e-copy.