GRAPHIC NOVELS

A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

by William Shakespeare (text) & illus. by Poe Tse
Udon. (Manga Classics). Apr. 2019. 400p. adapted by adapted by Crystal S. Chan. Tr $24.99. ISBN 9781947808096; pap. $17.99. ISBN 9781947808102.
COPY ISBN
Gr 7 Up–Shakespeare’s tale of mismatched, unrequited love gets “manga-ized” in this lushly illustrated volume. While Old English vernacular can be difficult for readers, Chan’s adaptation will resonate with teens. The magnificent black-and-white drawings in this play about star-crossed lovers perfectly capture characters’ emotions. What initially begins as a story of forbidden love between Hermia and Lysander morphs into a complicated and multidirectional story involving feuding fairies, magic love potions, and a domineering donkey thespian. This over-the-top romantic comedy meshes well with Tse’s art and would pair well with the original play to help readers keep track of the characters and their exploits and decipher the dense figurative language.
VERDICT A great entry point for new Shakespeare readers and manga enthusiasts alike. For most middle and high school libraries.
Reviewed by Tamela Chambers, Chicago Public Library, IL , Jul 25, 2019

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