FICTION

Romeo and/or Juliet: A Chooseable-Path Adventure

illus. by Natasha Allegri & others. 400p. Riverhead. Jun. 2016. pap. $20. ISBN 9781101983300.
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With Shakespearean and classic romantic literature being introduced in high school, this book seems a perfect fit for teens. After all, Romeo and Juliet are teens, and they're in love—unless they're not. It's up to readers to choose. Maybe Romeo can't get past his lust for the unattainable Rosaline, or he'd rather hang out with his best buds Mercutio and Benvolio. Maybe Juliet follows her parents' advice and marries Tom Paris, or she flees the Capulet household to escape the arranged marriage and become a pirate. If the pair do manage to meet and fall in love, can they escape a tragic end? North has turned Shakespeare's play about star-crossed lovers into a seemingly endless game of choices, with the ability to play as either Romeo or Juliet and a guarantee that any path taken will turn into an outrageously silly adventure. For some threads, North cleverly inserts original passages from Shakespeare's work to heighten the comic effect. Gamers will be attracted to the format, and fans of North's comic book series "The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl" will already be familiar with his signature brand of humor. More than 80 artists have contributed an eclectic mix of original illustrations that highlight the hilarity of many of the possible endings.
VERDICT Even incurable romantics are sure to find this a fun parody and a welcome diversion from the required reading list.

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