Our teen book spotlight this week is on books that are all about classic retellings! These are stories that have been inspired by books that are considered to be classics that have been written in the past and are now used as inspiration for newer books. Some follow the storylines pretty consistently while others completely turn the story on its head with role reversals, different points of view, settings, or even introducing elements such as science fiction and fantasy. Some of them may be from classic titles that you have heard of before while others may be completely new to you and now you may feel the need to go back to the original source material and read that version as well. These books and more can be found by searching the catalog using the search tag #yaclassicsretelling as well as on Libby and Hoopla. Check back next week for a new teen book spotlight and if you have any book suggestions, please let us know!!
Jake, Reinvented by Gordon Korman--Rick becomes friends with the popular new boy, Jake Garrett, football player and host of superlative parties, and in the process discovers the true nature of his schoolmates and uncovers the mystery of Jake's past.
This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel--Fifteen-year-old twin brothers Victor and Konrad Frankenstein seem nearly inseparable until their lives get torn apart when Konrad becomes deathly ill. Driven to craft the Elixir of Life, an ancient formula he discovered in The Dark Library, Victor sets out with his friend Henry and adopted sister Elizabeth to obtain the necessary ingredients for restoring Konrad's health. Their quest takes them to the tallest tree in Sturmwald and to a dangerous Swiss cave, and requires them to make risky, sacrificial decisions.
Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg--For Lizzie Bennett, a music scholarship student at Connecticut's exclusive, girls-only Longbourn Academy, the furor over prom is senseless, but even more puzzling is her attraction to the pompous Will Darcy, best friend of her roommate's boyfriend.
Jane by April Lindner--In this contemporary retelling of "Jane Eyre," an orphaned nanny becomes entranced with her magnetic and brooding employer, a rock star tortured by his secret past.
Ophelia by Lisa Klein--In a story based on Shakespeare's "Hamlet," Ophelia tells of her life in the court at Elsinore, love for Prince Hamlet and escape from the violence in Denmark. While this version extends beyond the original tale, the main points remain authentic and deliver Ophelia's perspective on the activities of Queen Gertrude, the evil Claudius, Horatio and Prince Hamlet.
The Madman’s Daughter by Megan Shepherd--This trilogy starter centers on 16-year-old Juliet Moreau, Dr. Moreau's daughter, as she sets out from London to find her estranged father, whose dangerous experimentation with animals has led to his self-inflicted exile on a remote island. With help from her father's assistant, Montgomery, Juliet travels to the island to uncover the truth. Along the way she rescues a castaway, Edward, and finds herself deeply drawn to both her companions. When Juliet finally arrives at the island, she confronts her father, and her worst nightmare becomes a reality.