A Midsummer Night's Dream

October 2, 1996
Coville follows up his version of The Tempest (see p. 84) with a retelling of another of Shakespeare's most popular plays. The fundamental story of magic, mischief and the trials and tribulations of love is preserved through well-chosen use of the original language and Coville's heady prose ("The queen... saw the ass-headed monstrosity through magic-drenched eyes"). Major plot lines are clearly and concisely rendered, but it is the portrayal of the various levels of humor-from Bottom's buffoonery to Puck's gleeful magic-making-that really captures the essence of the play. Nolan's (Dinosaur Dream) sumptuous, painterly watercolors highlight the theatrical setting of the spellbound wood. Gnarled, mossy trees provide the backdrop for a cast of unusually youthful lovers, gossamer-winged fairies (which nod at Rackham's famous interpretations) and a truly puckish Puck. A first-rate entree to the Bard. Ages 7-up.

January 1, 2012

Gr 6 Up-There is no shortage of graphic-novel adaptations of Shakespeare for teens. Often the process of rendering the language accessible will strip the text of its beauty, the result becoming noticeably awkward. This version of Romeo & Juliet has suffered such a fate, with numerous narration boxes standing in for expository dialogue and lines like "I'll try to like him, Mother, and hope in getting to know him that he will inspire my love." A teen-friendly, expressive illustration style makes this book easier to look at than to read. With its broad comedy and frenetic activity, Midsummer Night's Dream fares better. The drawing style is manga-inspired: characters have big eyes and hair, exaggerated expressions, and a lot of teeth. Color palettes and backgrounds are harmonious, with appropriate color distinctions between the magical forest scenes and Theseus's palace. Occasional editing gaffes undermine the effort, but all in all, these are serviceable graphic-novel adaptations.-Paula Willey, Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, MD

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2012
Color by Fares Maese. Brevity and simplicity are the operating principles in this greatly reduced graphic novel retelling. Only the colorful and competent (but hardly memorable) art lends the tale life in this version. Although this abridgment may be harmless, it's difficult to see the point in introducing children to a master of language by removing all the verbal flare and variety from his work.

(Copyright 2012 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)