Book: THAT WAY MADNESS LIES: 15 OF SHAKESPEARE’S MOST NOTABLE WORKS REIMAGINED Edited by Dahlia Adler
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Release Date: March 16, 2021
Publisher: Flatiron Books
ISBN-13: 978-1250753861
Numbered Pages: 321
Short Stories: There are 15 Short Stories Total, 4 of Which Are Written by Authors in the Melanin in YA Database
Design: Devan Norman
Jacket Design & Hand Lettering: Jon Contino
Purchase: Bookshop I Barnes & Noble I IndieBound I Amazon
Add it to Goodreads: Here
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Synopsis:
A midnight dance in a gym. A cast party amongst the stars. An ode to a fallen rap legend.
Contemporary audiences have always craved reimaginings of William Shakespeare’s classic works. Now, today’s best writers for teens take on the Bard in these fifteen whip-smart and original retellings!
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Dedication: “For Micah, whose stories are only just beginning”
End of Book: About the Authors, About William Shakespeare, Acknowledgements
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K. Ancrum
Author: K. Ancrum
Short Story: “The Taming of the Soul Mate” – Pages 45-63
Shakespeare Work Reimagined: The Taming of the Shrew (Comedy)
Genre: Speculative
Setting: Engagement Party
Tense: Past Tense
Point of View (POV): Third Person
Themes/Subjects: Love, Soulmates, Fate, Freedom, Tradition, Independence, Identity, Social Roles & Expectations
Characters + Identifiers (Main Character + In Order of Named Appearance):
Katherine – College Freshman
Lucentio – 17-years-old, Bianca’s Soulmate, tall, dark-gray hair (p. 49)
Sabrina – College Freshman, Katherine’s Best Friend, gray curls (p. 46)
Bianca – Katherine’s Younger Sister, Lucentio’s Soulmate, white-gray hair (p. 48)
Janet – Sabrina’s Choice of a Potential Soul Mate for Katherine
Petrucio – Lucentio’s Friend, dark and shiny hair, eyes the same hue but lighter (p. 52), curly hair (p. 56)
For Readers Who Enjoy: The One (Netflix), Black Mirror Episode 404 “Hang the DJ,” The Adjustment Bureau
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Lily Anderson
Author: Lily Anderson
Short Story: “We Have Seen Better Days” – Pages 89-109
Shakespeare Work Reimagined: As You Like It (Comedy)
Genre: Contemporary
Setting: Camp Arden
Tense: Past Tense
Point of View (POV): First Person
Themes/Subjects: Love, Secrets, Rivalry, Forgiveness
Characters + Identifiers (Main Character + In Order of Named Appearance):
Rosalinda “Rosie” – braided pigtails (p. 96), red dyed hair (p. 98)
Dad / Duke Castillo – Camp Director, Rosie’s Father
Celia “Cece” – Rosie’s Older Cousin by 2 Years, sharp toenails (p. 90), hair in space buns (p. 91)
Orlando Cohen-Kersey (Formerly “Orly,” now “Lando”) – Rosie’s Friend, 1 year older than Rosie, Tall, light-skinned, Black, owlish glasses, dimples (p. 91), afro (p. 92),
Ollie – Orlando’s Older Brother
Mom – Rosie’s Mother
Madison Poffenberger – Camper
Tinsley Poffenberger – Camper
Rachel – Camper
Fun Fact:
There are pop culture references to PERCY JACKSON, Jordan Peele, FIFTY SHADES OF GREY, and Jurassic World.
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Patrice Caldwell
Author: Patrice Caldwell
Short Story: “Elsinore” – Pages 252-274
Shakespeare Work Reimagined: Hamlet (Tragedy)
Genre: Paranormal
Setting: April 1892 English Country Estate “Elsinore”
Tense: Present
Point of View (POV): First Person
Themes/Subjects: Madness, Death, Justice, Revenge, Social Status, Politics, Deceit, Monsters
Format: Epistolary
Characters + Identifiers (Main Character + In Order of Named Appearance):
Lady Anne – 17-years-old, The Late Duke’s Daughter
Camilla Whitbeck – Lady Anne’s Best Friend
Duchess Penny Taylor / “Mother” – Lady Anne’s Mother, Duchess of Elsinore, Black, American
Lord Andrew Taylor – Lady Anne’s Uncle Turned Stepfather, Duke of Elsinore, English
Papa – Lady Anne’s Father
Samuel “Sam” Whitbeck – Camilla’s Brother, green eyes (p. 264)
Mama – Camilla & Samuel’s Late Mother
Reginald “Reggie” – Jester
Fun Facts:
There are pop culture references to Grace van Helsing and Sherlock Holmes.
This short story is followed by an Author’s Note.
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Tochi Onyebuchi
Author: Tochi Onyebuchi
Short Story: “The Tragedy of Cory Lanez: An Oral History” – Pages 223-238
Shakespeare Work Reimagined: Coriolanus (Tragedy)
Genre: Contemporary
Setting: Long Beach, CA
Tense: Present
Point of View (POV): Told through interviews conducted by the Narrator
Themes/Subjects: Community, Fame, Reputation, Hip Hop, Politics, Class, Identity, Masculinity, Humanity, Rivalry
Triggers: Violence (Stabbing), Death, Homophobia
Characters + Identifiers (Main Character + In Order of Named Appearance):
Cameron Marcus / Cory Lanez – 17-year-old, Rapper/Singer, Queer, Family roots in Zimbabwe (p. 231)
Terence Stevens – CitiZens Rap Group Member, Childhood Friend
Herbert McKenzie – CitiZens Rap Group Member, Childhood Friend
Menachem Adler – Cameron’s Childhood Friend, Producer, Jewish
Violet Marcus – Cameron’s Mother
Van Nathan Marcus – Cameron’s Father, member of the Black Panther Party
Titus Lawrence – Former Member of the Piru Street Bloods
Cornelius Thompson – Former Member of the Piru Street Bloods
Adrian Young – Senior VP of A&R at Volscian Records
Tyson “Aufset” Aufson – Rapper, Cameron’s Friend & Unconfirmed Love Interest
Vera Gibson – Cameron’s Partner and the Mother of Cameron’s Son
Mutasa – Cameron’s Son
Julius Brown – Former City Councilman
Silas Vale – Local Law Enforcement Community Liaison
Fun Fact:
There are pop culture references to Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, Motown, N.W.A., Rick Ross, Jay Z, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Tupac Shakur, E-40, The Game, Rosa Parks, Serena Williams, ScHoolboy Q, Bryson Tiller, JID, Burna Boy, DJ Khaled