WEREWOLF HAMLET, by Kerry Madden-Lunsford, Charlesbridge Moves, Feb. 18, 2025, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 10-13)
A 10-year-old Shakespeare fan tries to figure out his changing relationship with his big brother in Werewolf Hamlet, by Kerry Madden-Lunsford.
10-year-old Angus is unique. He quotes Shakespeare and wants to stage a Werewolf Hamlet play for his 5th grade legacy project. Angus’s 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.
Meanwhile, tension continues to build for Liam’s family in Los Angeles. Mom and Dad are going to default on the mortgage. Older sister Hannah is fed up and ready to move herself to Maine, and little sister Sidney doesn’t really get what’s happening. Then Liam goes missing, and Angus decides he has to find him.
A realistic, heartfelt look at the complexities of family relationships and struggles. Along with Angus’s loveable charm, sense of humor, and desire to stage his original play, Werewolf Hamlet is sure to win its audience—on and off the page—over. —Synopsis provided by Charlesbridge Moves
Werewolf Hamlet is a middle-grade novel that focuses on family dynamics and how they impact all aspects of life.
Author Kerry Madden-Lunsford uses humor, friendship and Shakespeare as scaffolding for this heartfelt read. First-person narrative, scripts and “conversations with Liam” give the story a unique feel.
Angus is the kind of kid you want to root for. He grew up idolizing his brother, only to have his brother transform into someone he doesn’t recognize — a werewolf of sorts. Angus is well developed and fun to read about. Liam is sort of a mystery, but that makes sense as the story unfolds from Angus’ point of view.
There are parts of Werewolf Hamlet that are hard to read. Angus and his family are dealing with a lot of loss and trauma. But there’s a thread of love (and humor) throughout that brightens even the hardest spots.
Werewolf Hamlet offers something — theater, family, friendship, werewolves, school dynamics, and Los Angeles landmarks — for a large cross-section of readers. It’s a well-realized contemporary novel with a lot of heart. And as an added bonus, you can flip the book’s cover over for an awesome Werewolf Hamlet poster.
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