{"id":8762053951725,"title":"Werewolf Hamlet","handle":"werewolf-hamlet","description":"\u003ch6\u003eComing February 18, 2025. Pre-order today!\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/kerry-madden-lunsford\"\u003eKerry Madden-Lunsford\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAre werewolves appropriate for fifth grade?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e10-year-old Angus has the perfect plan for his fifth-grade legacy project: stage a performance of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eHamlet\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, but with werewolves. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eWerewolf Hamlet\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eHis 17-year-old brother Liam is like a werewolf now. Angus never knows if he'll be nice or mean or when he'll sneak out to get drunk or worse. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe pressure is on at home, too. Mom and Dad are going to default on the mortgage. Older sister Hannah is fed up and ready to move herself from Los Angeles to Maine. Little sister Sidney doesn't really get what's going on. When Liam goes missing, Angus has to hunt through Hollywood to find him before his family falls apart for good.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridgemoves.com\"\u003eCharlesbridge Moves\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n[TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/werewolf-hamlet-spread.jpg?v=1721053162\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" class=\"cvr-border-gray\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/werewolf-hamlet-cover.jpg?v=1721053162\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/werewolf-hamlet-cover-hires.jpg.zip?v=1721053161\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/werewolf-hamlet-readers-group-guide.pdf?v=1724768225\"\u003eDownload the Reader's Group Guide\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKerry Madden-Lunsford, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKerry Madden-Lunsford is a regular contributor to the\u003cem\u003e LA Times \u003c\/em\u003eOpEd page. She directs the creative writing program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and teaches in the Antioch MFA Program in Los Angeles. She is the author of the picture book\u003cem\u003e Ernestine’s Milky Way.\u003c\/em\u003e She also wrote the Maggie Valley Trilogy, which includes \u003cem\u003eGentle’s Holler, Louisiana’s Song,\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eJessie’s Mountain.\u003c\/em\u003e Her first novel, \u003cem\u003eOffsides\u003c\/em\u003e, was a New York Public Library Pick for the Teen Age. Kerry is the mother of three adult children, and she now lives full-time in Birmingham, Alabama.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/kerry-madden-lunsford\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Kerry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA JLG Gold Standard selection\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?4673889858015672850\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eBooklist\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review\u003c\/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eDisplaying rare knacks for both lively classroom banter and sensitive portrayals of complex dynamics within a close but stressed family, Madden-Lunsford hands 10-year-old Angus Gettlefinger the challenge of convincing his reluctant teacher to allow him to perform a version of \u003ci\u003eHamlet\u003c\/i\u003e with a werewolf cast. Why? Because as a classic “play within a play,” it would allow him to act out his own intense feelings while mirroring what he sees his increasingly secretive, angry, drug-and-alcohol abusing teenage brother, Liam, becoming. Meanwhile, money problems force the four Gettlefinger sibs and their frazzled, underemployed parents out of their house and into a one bedroom apartment. The pressure mounts to crisis level when Liam fails to come home after one of his nighttime excursions, but a cathartic whirl of rash acts, straight talk, and, yes, onstage howling does ultimately lead to cautiously optimistic outcomes for Angus and his family. The author closes with resources for teen alcoholics and their concerned family members, but not before delivering a story that is rich in wise insights, comical and emotionally wrenching moments in turn, imaginary dialogues with Lon Chaney and other silent film era stars, and colorful quotes from the Bard drawn in large part from the online Shakespearean Insulter. Who says \u003ci\u003eHamlet\u003c\/i\u003e isn’t appropriate fare for elementary-schoolers?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFifth grade is hard, and it’s even harder when you’re convinced your older brother is a werewolf. Angus Gentlefinger, who is white, has always had a flair for the dramatics. Inspired by the historic nature of his LA home, Angus decides that his fifth grade legacy project will be a special production of Hamlet. But things are hectic in the Gentlefinger house. With three siblings and parents who are facing foreclosure on their home, Angus tries to battle the duties of his school assignments and his brother’s ever-growing erratic behavior. Angus is tired of lying for Liam and never knowing which version of his brother he’s going to get; a production of Werewolf Hamlet may be just the way Angus can show Liam how his actions are affecting others. Madden-Lunsford captures the wild imagination of childhood while tackling the hard-hitting subjects of addiction and powerlessness in the face of it. Angus’s imagination allows him to cope with the current struggles of his life, including familial addiction and financial hardship. Readers dealing with these issues will find comfort in the book’s optimistic ending. The dynamic play-inspired formatting, real Shakespeare quotes, and references to classic Hollywood figures are engaging and educational. Idealism and reality blend seamlessly here, and Angus’s journey navigating his brother’s growing addiction issues is powerful and poignant for all. VERDICT An emotional and engaging tale teetering the line between tragedy and comedy; this is a delightful addition to any middle grade collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFor his fifth-grade legacy assignment—a class project students create as a sort of departing gift to their school as they ready for sixth grade—Angus has decided to write a play that, as the book’s title suggests, recasts Hamlet with werewolves. Angus has of late been somewhat obsessed with the furry shapeshifters, not just because they’re cool but also because they seem a lot like his oldest brother, whose mood swings and erratic behavior have thrown the family into a tailspin. Liam, however, is no mythological creature—just a regular addict, repeating the cycle of using, promising to get clean, and relapsing in short order. Angus is sure if he could just do something to remind Liam of what he’s missing, the old Liam will show up, but even a play based on their childhood make-believe isn’t going to fix the emotional havoc Liam has caused. This is a painfully accurate depiction of a family in the throes of addiction, and the dynamics will have a gut-punching familiarity to any reader who has watched family members struggle with alcohol and drugs. Angus and his siblings work so hard to not be a bother to their parents and even as they resent Liam for his behavior, they’re desperate to have him back in their lives. The book is wise enough to leave Liam’s addiction vague, without mention of a catalyzing incident and avoiding a pat ending. This is Angus’ story, not Liam’s, and the ultimate success of his werewolf play underscores a valuable message crystalized in the author’s note: sometimes you have to craft your own story even when others around you are destroying theirs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n \u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-433-1\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 10 and up\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 256\u003cbr\u003e5\u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\/\u003c\/span\u003e\u003csub\u003e2\u003c\/sub\u003e x 8\u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\/\u003c\/span\u003e\u003csub\u003e4\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublication date: February 18, 2025\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e[\/TABS]\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2024-07-15T10:34:43-04:00","created_at":"2024-07-15T10:19:28-04:00","vendor":"Charlesbridge","type":"Children's Book","tags":["Browse by Age_Middle Grade","Browse by Fiction\/Nonfiction_Fiction","Browse by Language_English","Browse by Subject_Art\/Music\/Theater","Browse by Subject_Humor","Browse by Subject_Life Lessons \u0026 Skills","Browse by Subject_Poetry \u0026 Language"],"price":1899,"price_min":1899,"price_max":1899,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":46697382609133,"title":"Hardcover","option1":"Hardcover","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"44331","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":41093841256685,"product_id":8762053951725,"position":1,"created_at":"2024-07-15T10:19:20-04:00","updated_at":"2024-07-15T10:19:22-04:00","alt":null,"width":600,"height":894,"src":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/werewolf-hamlet-cover.jpg?v=1721053162","variant_ids":[46697382609133]},"available":true,"name":"Werewolf Hamlet - Hardcover","public_title":"Hardcover","options":["Hardcover"],"price":1899,"weight":567,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":2,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"continue","barcode":"978-1-62354-433-1","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":33758164386029,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.671,"height":894,"width":600,"src":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/werewolf-hamlet-cover.jpg?v=1721053162"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/werewolf-hamlet-cover.jpg?v=1721053162"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/werewolf-hamlet-cover.jpg?v=1721053162","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":33758164386029,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.671,"height":894,"width":600,"src":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/werewolf-hamlet-cover.jpg?v=1721053162"},"aspect_ratio":0.671,"height":894,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/werewolf-hamlet-cover.jpg?v=1721053162","width":600}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003ch6\u003eComing February 18, 2025. Pre-order today!\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/kerry-madden-lunsford\"\u003eKerry Madden-Lunsford\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAre werewolves appropriate for fifth grade?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e10-year-old Angus has the perfect plan for his fifth-grade legacy project: stage a performance of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eHamlet\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, but with werewolves. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eWerewolf Hamlet\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eHis 17-year-old brother Liam is like a werewolf now. Angus never knows if he'll be nice or mean or when he'll sneak out to get drunk or worse. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe pressure is on at home, too. Mom and Dad are going to default on the mortgage. Older sister Hannah is fed up and ready to move herself from Los Angeles to Maine. Little sister Sidney doesn't really get what's going on. When Liam goes missing, Angus has to hunt through Hollywood to find him before his family falls apart for good.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridgemoves.com\"\u003eCharlesbridge Moves\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n[TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/werewolf-hamlet-spread.jpg?v=1721053162\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" class=\"cvr-border-gray\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/werewolf-hamlet-cover.jpg?v=1721053162\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/werewolf-hamlet-cover-hires.jpg.zip?v=1721053161\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/werewolf-hamlet-readers-group-guide.pdf?v=1724768225\"\u003eDownload the Reader's Group Guide\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKerry Madden-Lunsford, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKerry Madden-Lunsford is a regular contributor to the\u003cem\u003e LA Times \u003c\/em\u003eOpEd page. She directs the creative writing program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and teaches in the Antioch MFA Program in Los Angeles. She is the author of the picture book\u003cem\u003e Ernestine’s Milky Way.\u003c\/em\u003e She also wrote the Maggie Valley Trilogy, which includes \u003cem\u003eGentle’s Holler, Louisiana’s Song,\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eJessie’s Mountain.\u003c\/em\u003e Her first novel, \u003cem\u003eOffsides\u003c\/em\u003e, was a New York Public Library Pick for the Teen Age. Kerry is the mother of three adult children, and she now lives full-time in Birmingham, Alabama.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/kerry-madden-lunsford\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Kerry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA JLG Gold Standard selection\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?4673889858015672850\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eBooklist\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review\u003c\/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eDisplaying rare knacks for both lively classroom banter and sensitive portrayals of complex dynamics within a close but stressed family, Madden-Lunsford hands 10-year-old Angus Gettlefinger the challenge of convincing his reluctant teacher to allow him to perform a version of \u003ci\u003eHamlet\u003c\/i\u003e with a werewolf cast. Why? Because as a classic “play within a play,” it would allow him to act out his own intense feelings while mirroring what he sees his increasingly secretive, angry, drug-and-alcohol abusing teenage brother, Liam, becoming. Meanwhile, money problems force the four Gettlefinger sibs and their frazzled, underemployed parents out of their house and into a one bedroom apartment. The pressure mounts to crisis level when Liam fails to come home after one of his nighttime excursions, but a cathartic whirl of rash acts, straight talk, and, yes, onstage howling does ultimately lead to cautiously optimistic outcomes for Angus and his family. The author closes with resources for teen alcoholics and their concerned family members, but not before delivering a story that is rich in wise insights, comical and emotionally wrenching moments in turn, imaginary dialogues with Lon Chaney and other silent film era stars, and colorful quotes from the Bard drawn in large part from the online Shakespearean Insulter. Who says \u003ci\u003eHamlet\u003c\/i\u003e isn’t appropriate fare for elementary-schoolers?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFifth grade is hard, and it’s even harder when you’re convinced your older brother is a werewolf. Angus Gentlefinger, who is white, has always had a flair for the dramatics. Inspired by the historic nature of his LA home, Angus decides that his fifth grade legacy project will be a special production of Hamlet. But things are hectic in the Gentlefinger house. With three siblings and parents who are facing foreclosure on their home, Angus tries to battle the duties of his school assignments and his brother’s ever-growing erratic behavior. Angus is tired of lying for Liam and never knowing which version of his brother he’s going to get; a production of Werewolf Hamlet may be just the way Angus can show Liam how his actions are affecting others. Madden-Lunsford captures the wild imagination of childhood while tackling the hard-hitting subjects of addiction and powerlessness in the face of it. Angus’s imagination allows him to cope with the current struggles of his life, including familial addiction and financial hardship. Readers dealing with these issues will find comfort in the book’s optimistic ending. The dynamic play-inspired formatting, real Shakespeare quotes, and references to classic Hollywood figures are engaging and educational. Idealism and reality blend seamlessly here, and Angus’s journey navigating his brother’s growing addiction issues is powerful and poignant for all. VERDICT An emotional and engaging tale teetering the line between tragedy and comedy; this is a delightful addition to any middle grade collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFor his fifth-grade legacy assignment—a class project students create as a sort of departing gift to their school as they ready for sixth grade—Angus has decided to write a play that, as the book’s title suggests, recasts Hamlet with werewolves. Angus has of late been somewhat obsessed with the furry shapeshifters, not just because they’re cool but also because they seem a lot like his oldest brother, whose mood swings and erratic behavior have thrown the family into a tailspin. Liam, however, is no mythological creature—just a regular addict, repeating the cycle of using, promising to get clean, and relapsing in short order. Angus is sure if he could just do something to remind Liam of what he’s missing, the old Liam will show up, but even a play based on their childhood make-believe isn’t going to fix the emotional havoc Liam has caused. This is a painfully accurate depiction of a family in the throes of addiction, and the dynamics will have a gut-punching familiarity to any reader who has watched family members struggle with alcohol and drugs. Angus and his siblings work so hard to not be a bother to their parents and even as they resent Liam for his behavior, they’re desperate to have him back in their lives. The book is wise enough to leave Liam’s addiction vague, without mention of a catalyzing incident and avoiding a pat ending. This is Angus’ story, not Liam’s, and the ultimate success of his werewolf play underscores a valuable message crystalized in the author’s note: sometimes you have to craft your own story even when others around you are destroying theirs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n \u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-433-1\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 10 and up\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 256\u003cbr\u003e5\u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\/\u003c\/span\u003e\u003csub\u003e2\u003c\/sub\u003e x 8\u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\/\u003c\/span\u003e\u003csub\u003e4\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublication date: February 18, 2025\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e[\/TABS]\u003c\/p\u003e"}