ARC Review of Saving Hamlet

Saving Hamlet

by Molly Booth

Emma Alan couldn't be more excited for sophomore year. New haircut, new life, right? Maybe this year will be the one where Brandon, her senior crush, will notice her. But as soon as she arrives at school, she's pulled aside by Brandon (her heart somersaulting) and tells her that she's been promoted to stage manager! But there are some things that come with it she didn't expect. One day, when she's staying after school, she accidentally falls into a trap door built just for her high school's production of Hamlet. But when she hits the mat, she can tell it's...different.  Well, turns out that she's traveled back 400 years in time. She soon finds that she didn't land in any old place, but Shakespeare's very own Globe! Saving Hamlet by Molly Booth includes many relatable subjects from the very jumbled minds of teenagers. Throughout finding where her heart, head, and life lies, something Emma said was, "it was it wasn't over yet." I'm sure we've all had the same thoughts in her heads when faced with failure at some point, right? The author so precisely captures something that millions of teens could relate with easily.
My favorite character was Cooke, because of how well written he was. Cooke, a twentysomething Ophelia for Shakespeare, was comical yet someone you could easily rely on. He never failed to make Emma laugh and fit in with the Shakespearian cultures. Saving Hamlet and it's wonderful way of connecting with the reader on every level really made the experience worthwhile.

  Finally, Molly Booth and her wonderful cast of characters really opened my eyes to the way people think. She taught me that you have to break out of your shell to succeed. It really stood out from any other teen fiction book on the market, from the interwoven plot lines down to the comedy. She teaches us that living outside what you normally call your comfort zone can really be worthwhile.

5/5 stars.

• Age Range: 12 - 17 years
• Grade Level: 7 - 12
• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Disney-Hyperion (November 1, 2016)

Thanks to Disney-Hyperion for the opportunity for review.

Review by Adrianna P.