THE TOTAL TRADGEDY OF A GIRL NAMED HAMLET

Author (last name first):
Dionne, Erin
Publisher, Date of Publication: 
The Penguin Group/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

8th and

Classification:  Fiction 

Hamlet's dream to remain under the radar in her eighth grade class is dashed when her genius seven year-old sister Desdemona enrolls in her school. Her Shakespearean scholar parents who show up like a walking, talking renaissance fair doesn't make it easier for her. Hamlet teeters between protecting her little sister from two snobby girls who want to use her and keeping her distance from her. To make things worse Hamlet's English and History class teams up to do one of Shakespeare's plays e.g. A Midsummer's Night Dream in class she is asked to read a part and realizes that she's good at it but given her history with her family she doesn't want to tell them making a big deal out of it. She learns that being herself isn't such a bad thing and that it's ok to stick out sometimes. The author keeps your attention with the crazy things Hamlet and her family go through throughout the story. The colorful cover of the book attracts attention. This book has an AR test available. 

Reviewed By: Lila Davis (Night Circulation Manager at Midwestern State University)