Julia and Romano

Gr 7 Up–A modern day retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet set in rural Canada. Jules Anderson and her mother are relocating from busy city Toronto to the quaint town of Campbell River after her parents’ messy divorce. Jules’ mother, a high-powered attorney, has gotten a job with Eco-Guardians, a conservationist organization currently in the middle of a court case against a local logging company over logging rights. During her first full day in Campbell River, Jules is saved from a herd of seals by Cody Romano, a mysterious and charismatic teen boy. They hit it off, but as they continue to spend time with each other, they realize that with Cody’s father being the owner of the logging company, their parents are on opposite sides of the court case. While this story has a happier ending than the original, the writing style feels just as dated. Walters (We All Fall Down) depends on dialogue to inform readers about the setting and any character’s backstory, which makes for a boring and flat story. Cody tends to talk at Jules instead of with her in their conversations, and Jules becomes a passive participant in her relationship with Cody. This book might suit younger teens or readers looking for less mature stories, but its simplicity may not hold the attention of older teens. Cody is of Italian descent and characters read white.