Romeo and Juliet are gone. Will love live on? Despite the glooming peace that's settled on Verona after the recent tragedy, Montagues and Capulets are brawling in the streets. Faced with more bloody battles, Prince Escalus concludes that the only way to truly marry the fortunes of these two families is to literally marry them together. Everyone is skeptical, but none more so than the pair selected, for the most eligible Montague bachelor is Benvolio, Romeo's best friend, still anguished by the loss of his companions, and the chosen Capulet maid is Juliet's older cousin Rosaline, the girl Romeo first loved and whose refusal of Romeo's affection paved the way for bloodshed. Contrary to their late cousins, there's no love lost between Benvolio and Rosaline, yet they forge a bond to end the renewed feud not only to escape their forced betrothal, but to save their lives and the city of Verona itself.
- Author: Melinda Taub
- Format: Paperback
- Pages: 352
- Size: 5.5 x 8.5
- Publisher: Delacorte Press
- Ages: 12 and older
“When Verona’s violence can’t be quelled, Prince Escalus orders the “dark, devilish” Montague Benvolio to wed Rosaline, of the Capulets. Benvolio sees Rosaline as the cause of the strife that ensues, while Rosaline struggles to reconcile childhood feelings toward Escalus. Together, Benvolio and Rosaline banter their way to a compromise, unmask the mystery person who is on the blood feud, reunite the families, and avoid their undesirable trip to the priest! This dark drama, set in the world of Romeo and Juliet, is tempered with wit and humor as Taub blends Shakespearean-style dialogue with a less opulent prose narrative that artfully decodes the vocabulary for readers new to the Bard. Readers will enjoy following the heroes as they encounter romance, intrigue, and characters reminiscent of Hamlet and the cast of Much Ado about Nothing, among others."- Booklist
