Here Goes Nothing

Gr 8 Up–Finally, another entry for the delicious genre of Shakespeare stories in modern-day high school! Walking in the footsteps of Clueless or 10 Things I Hate About You, this novel tackles the peak rivals-turned-lovers duo: Much Ado About Nothing’s Beatrice and Benedict. Readers follow responsible older sister Beatrice as she grapples with younger sister Hero’s new boyfriend and his boisterous friend group. It gets worse when that group includes Bennie, the literal girl-next-door and Beatrice’s sworn nemesis. Ohland puts readers clearly in Beatrice’s head, and she is way darker than Shakespeare’s quippy heroine. She’s still got the sass, but mixed with a hefty dose of social anxiety; this Beatrice is an outsider with loads of angst behind her snark. The sisters’ backstory involves more drama, dealing with a dead mother and a mentally checked-out dad. Beatrice is concerned about college, about her own identity, about who she is beyond “Hero’s sister.” This novel ultimately expands past the relationship bubble. It’s about finding one’s identity, addressing personal sexuality, and discovering what one wants in the world with so many labels.