Synopses & Reviews
Beth Sondquist, age twelve and a half, dreams of playing the part of Juliet. For now shes just the cat in
Cinderella, but one day, shes determined to become a real actress. But all her hopes for an acting career come crashing down when the Oakfield Childrens Theater is slated to be closed. Its new owner has decided to make it into an adult theater, a
real theater. Beth and her best friend, Zandy, are willing to do whatever it takes to save the theater, but their plans quickly go awry. When Beths father catches her sneaking back into her bedroom window well past bedtime, Beth is in big, big trouble.
With eviction looming, the childrens theater director decides to close the theater with the same play the theater opened with fifty years ago—Romeo and Juliet. But Beths grounded for the next two weeks, and she wont be able to try out. How will Beth pull off playing Juliet if she cant even make tryouts?
Playing Juliet is funny and honest and celebrates bravery and doing the right thing even when it gets you into trouble. Its about having the courage to go after what you want and making your dreams come true. Its also about friendship and family. As an almost-thirteen-year-old, Beth has a unique bond with thirteen-year-old Juliet, and she eventually recognizes just how silly and immature Juliets decisions are. Only Beth can play Juliet as the kid that she is. With a little bit of luck, maybe shell get her chance.
Review
Playing Juliet is cinematic, fast-paced, full of theater magic, misdirection, and Shakespeare. . . . I couldn't stop reading.” —Jane Yolen, award-winning author of Owl Moon and How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?
Review
Playing Juliet is cinematic, fast-paced, full of theater magic, misdirection, and Shakespeare. . . . I couldn't stop reading.” Jane Yolen, award-winning author of Owl Moon
and How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?
"Joanne Stewart Wetzel's middle-grade debut is a hit! Starry-eyed, yet hopelessly superstitious, Beth Sondquist dreams of someday playing Juliet. With the threat of her local children's theater closing, the part of a lifetime may happen sooner than she ever anticipated. Playing Juliet is a dazzling adventure in which readers are sure to find that 'parting is such sweet sorrow.'" Kerry O'Malley Cerra, author of the Crystal Kite Award winner Just a Drop of Water
Bravo! A standing ovation for Playing Juliet, an adventure-filled story that offers a look backstage into the fascinating world of childrens theater and introduces a protagonist who will steal your heart as she chases after her dreams.” Miriam Spitzer Franklin, author of Extraordinary
About the Author
JoAnne Stewart Wetzel is a self-proclaimed theater geek, and she recently completed a twenty-year quest to see at least one production of every play written by Shakespeare. She is also a published author of two previous books for children, including a nonfiction theater book, Onstage/Backstage (Carolrhoda). Her picture book, The Christmas Box (Knopf), was named a Noteworthy Book for Children by Bank Street College of Education. She resides in Palo Alto, California.