Click Here To Purchase From Amazon Something Rotten

ISBN: 0803732163

Publisher: Dial

Something is rotten in Denmark…Denmark, Tennessee that is.

It’s nice to see a campy retelling of a classic that’s not in graphic novel format. Written for the teen reader, SOMETHING ROTTEN doesn’t regurgitate Shakespeare’s HAMLET in colorful action blocks in order to get a classic in the hands of reluctant readers. Nor does author Alan Gratz sacrifice the story’s soul for readability. The story is very readable, but that’s because Gratz is a masterful storyteller. This author has made Shakespeare’s classic his own.

Most teens are going to find Gratz’s version, which echoes the classic in modern terms, more entertaining than the original. Horatio, the main character, finds himself in Denmark, Tennessee where the air and water are foul, the product of modern technology and greed. He’s visiting his best friend, Hamilton, who is mourning the recent death of his father. After viewing a videotape, the boys realize that more than pollution is fouling their town. It appears that Hamilton’s father was actually murdered and apparently, everyone in the story has motive! They’re all there—the faithless wife, the covetous brother, even Hamilton’s ex-girlfriend, Olivia, suffers from a bit of maniacal tunnel vision where the Prince family is concerned.

Fortunately for the Prince family, Denmark, and the reader, Horatio is one cool dude! (Do teens still say dude?) He’s smart and confident enough to be quirky. Often a bit cheeky, he’s not disrespectful—it’s just who he is. He begrudgingly takes on the role as chief detective and through his antics, Gratz creates a fast-paced page-turner that teens and adults both will enjoy. Along the way, he has his own demon to battle. He must fight his forbidden attraction to Olivia. As his best friend’s ex, she’s off limits, but that doesn’t stop him from drooling.

Adult readers shouldn’t fear that the story will be too simple—it isn’t simple, it’s just plain fun. Teachers might want to consider Gratz’s version as extra credit. Comparing and contrasting the two versions will ensure that students learn and enjoy HAMLET.

Click Here To Purchase From Amazon Something Rotten

The above review was contributed by: Susan Sales Harkins: Susan is a Software consultant and the author of several articles and books on database technologies. She and her husband, William, collaborate on children's non-fiction. Click Here to read more of Susan’s Reviews.

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