Prince of Shadows

Gr 9 Up—English teachers always try to sell Romeo and Juliet as teen-friendly. Students are not always convinced, but Caine's take on the classic finally makes it true. The events of the play are all here, told from the point of view of Romeo's cousin Benvolio. The city of Verona is mired in the violent gang warfare between the Montagues and Capulets. Romeo still begins the tale pining for Rosaline, until he meets Juliet at a masked ball and falls wildly in love. Mercutio remains a cousin to the city's Prince and friend to the Montagues, as well as a wit and good swordsman. But in this version, Benvolio takes center stage, a young man who amuses himself by stealing from those he deems evil. He meets Romeo's Rosaline and falls for her himself. Caine expertly weaves her story around the play, and she describes the setting and action in more modern tones. Her Mercutio is gay, a change that harms nothing of the original play, provides her story with its driving force, and adds some modern depth and appeal. This novel truly has it all: sword fighting, Benvolio's nighttime adventures as the "Prince of Shadows," intrigue, romance, curses, derring-do, murder, and magic. It should make Shakespeare that much more accessible to teens.—Geri Diorio, Ridgefield Library, CT