Enchanting Review: Saving Juliet

SAVING JULIET
SUZANNE SELFORS
Fantasy YA
Walker Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0802797407
256 Pages
$16.95
Hardcover - Available Now

Rating: 5 Enchantments

Mimi Wallingford lives a life most girls would kill for, especially where her starring role as Juliet to pop star Troy Summer's Romeo at her family's theatre is concerned. But in reality, Mimi Wallingford is tired of being a Shakespearian actor, having been on stage since she was little. All she wants to do is get to the final show and get on a plane to Los Angeles to spend a few weeks with her aunt. But when the supposed chance of a lifetime comes up, her mother ruins her plans, cancels her flight and orders her to shake the panic attacks that are practically ruining her ability to step foot on stage.

SAVING JULIET is one of my favorite books of the year. Mimi is a great character, stuck in a life that her mother has created for her and one she sees no way out of, especially when she finds out her mother's been using Mimi's own trust fund to keep the aging theatre afloat. Once she's magically transported back to Verona, she realizes Juliet is in much the same situation and vows to help her new friend.

There are so many great scenes in SAVING JULIET that it's hard to pick one or two to talk about in this review. When Mimi first meets Romeo himself, and finds him to be not at all like the Romeo from the play. I loved the ball where Mimi helps Juliet sabotage herself, hoping it'll dissuade Paris from wanting to marry her. And the scene where Mimi goes to the church and finds Troy under the care of the Friar after being injured and has to help Troy realize this isn't a kidnapping, they've really traveled back in time. I really enjoyed watching the relationship between Troy and Mimi evolve, from her barely being able to tolerate him as Romeo in the opening chapters to friendship and maybe more as they try to get out of Verona alive.

Ms. Selfors creates a Verona that is quite enjoyable to visit. All the play's characters are represented, from Benvolio to Mercutio to the truly despicable Lady Capulet. SAVING JULIET is Ms. Selfors first YA novel. Visit her website at www.suzanneselfors.com

Lisa
YA Director
Enchanting Reviews
March 2008