Hamlet: A Novel by John Marsden
RSSGeri Diorio, The Ridgefield Library, CT -- School Library Journal, 07/29/2009
MARSDEN, John. Hamlet: A Novel. 240p. Candlewick. Aug. 2009. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-4451-2. LC number unavailable.
Gr 9 Up–The story of Hamlet seems tailor-made for YA literature; it includes angst, unrequited love, drama, obsession, family issues, and self-doubt. In turning Shakespeare’s play into a novel, Marsden has made it very accessible. The book is brief and the story moves quickly. Hamlet’s indecision does not stall the action, but rather drives the narrative–readers wonder what, if anything, he will do. The setting is contemporary, but feels timeless. Marsden stays true to Shakespeare’s text, while modernizing the dialogue. He makes the prince a sympathetic teen who is struggling with his hormones, his grief, and the fact that his uncle is now his stepfather. He is lonely, not only because of his royalty, but also because his drive to avenge his father has caused him to commit murder. Hamlet wants to be a man, but he’s not sure if he’s quite ready. This is a wonderful treatment of the play: engaging, gripping, dark, and lovely.
