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The Next Shakespeare
Who thought a poem would trigger World War Three?
Tristan Gunner—skateboard fanatic, junk food junkie, award-winning poet. But you’d think he just got detention instead of the school’s grand prize for poetry. And even though Chris won five Math and Science awards, the next Einstein is crying because he’s not the next Shakespeare. Astra wants them both to cut the drama, and caught between a mortified winner and a crybaby loser, she hopes Chris can get over his attitude before World War Three erupts in her kitchen.
Tristan Gunner—skateboard fanatic, junk food junkie, award-winning poet. But you’d think he just got detention instead of the school’s grand prize for poetry. And even though Chris won five Math and Science awards, the next Einstein is crying because he’s not the next Shakespeare. Astra wants them both to cut the drama, and caught between a mortified winner and a crybaby loser, she hopes Chris can get over his attitude before World War Three erupts in her kitchen.
- GenresYoung Adult
20 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 17, 2011
28 people want to read
About the author
Wanda Ernstberger
2 books125 followersHi everyone. I write fantasy and comedy for adults and teens. My short stories have been published in Spilling Ink Review, Aphelion, The Aroostook Review, and Etopia Press. My first novel, To Catch a Ripple, is an urban fantasy released by World Castle Publishing.
http://www.worldcastlepublishing.com/...
http://www.worldcastlepublishing.com/...
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 31, 2011
As a short story, I enjoyed The Next Shakespeare. It was a fun, light read, with real life depth. (Does "real life depth" make sense? It does in my head, anyway!) It was a short story, meaning only 20 pages, but in those 20 pages I quickly grew to really like Astra and Tristan. Astra was the narrator, but the story really wasn't about her. It was more or less about her two friends, Tristan and Chris. Tristan was a slacker, the "dumb" kid. Chris was university bound, and had received countless awards for his intelligence. Except... Slacker Tristan beat him at something! A poetry contest. Chris got jealous. He was always the smart one. And poor Astra got stuck in the middle.
I didn't really like Chris. He was selfish a little shallow. He needs to learn the meaning of friendship and that being smart really isn't everything. Thankfully, it is a lesson he is beginning to learn by the end of the story. That being said, I really liked Tristan. The saying "more than meets the eye" really fits him, and I enjoyed getting to learn bits about his life. Astra was a character I liked okay, but I felt like I really didn't get to know much about her. She was kind of just there, telling the story. I would have liked a little more background on her. It would have made for a stronger main character.
As for Chris' poem? Yeah... I could see why he didn't win. He should certainly stick to numbers, not words. But Tristan's poem brought tears to my eyes. It was deep and real, and Tristan should have felt proud to have written it, not embarrassed.
The story itself was realistic and well told. I mean, who hasn't gotten a little jealous from time to time? The writing could have been a little better, containing a little more detail (especially concerning the characters!), but it was overall a enjoyable read. You know, I could actually see it being a great novel too, if the author ever wanted to make it into one.
I didn't really like Chris. He was selfish a little shallow. He needs to learn the meaning of friendship and that being smart really isn't everything. Thankfully, it is a lesson he is beginning to learn by the end of the story. That being said, I really liked Tristan. The saying "more than meets the eye" really fits him, and I enjoyed getting to learn bits about his life. Astra was a character I liked okay, but I felt like I really didn't get to know much about her. She was kind of just there, telling the story. I would have liked a little more background on her. It would have made for a stronger main character.
As for Chris' poem? Yeah... I could see why he didn't win. He should certainly stick to numbers, not words. But Tristan's poem brought tears to my eyes. It was deep and real, and Tristan should have felt proud to have written it, not embarrassed.
The story itself was realistic and well told. I mean, who hasn't gotten a little jealous from time to time? The writing could have been a little better, containing a little more detail (especially concerning the characters!), but it was overall a enjoyable read. You know, I could actually see it being a great novel too, if the author ever wanted to make it into one.
August 4, 2011
Chris had won a few academic awards, deeming himself the next Einstein. However, he still seemed upset because he had felt he had deserved to be the next Shakespeare. Astra is used to his whining about grades, though when he complains about not getting the Shakespeare award, he has gone a bit too far. The next Shakespeare went to Tristan, one of Astra’s friends, a boy who doesn’t have a lot. Chris needs to learn a valuable lesson of life if he expects Astra to talk to him again.
This is a very short book. I read it all in one setting and loved every minute of it. Ernstberger created a tale that told a moral. Her style was unique, but wonderfully put-together. The novel was a bit to the point, which had its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages: There weren’t many side-stories to get in the way. You didn’t have to worry about forgetting the main plot. The disadvantages: There weren’t really any disadvantage except that it was dangerously short; I was hoping for a bit more backstory and what the friends are doing now after resolving their problems. No matter what, it was fantastic in its delivery but wished there was more to the story.
I hated Chris. As soon as he was introduced, I wanted to throw something at this character. He would brag about grades or be disappointed if he didn’t get that perfect 100. I realized that there was more to it, that his parents brought a great deal of his attitude into play. Still, Chris was not my favorite of characters. Tristan and Astra were okay, but I didn’t really get to know them in the amount of time I read about them. I did like Astra’s voice and attitude, but wished I knew more about her backstory.
Overall, this book was great! It was a fast-read and taught a wonderful lesson that will stay with you forever. If you haven’t read this novel yet, you must check it out.
This is a very short book. I read it all in one setting and loved every minute of it. Ernstberger created a tale that told a moral. Her style was unique, but wonderfully put-together. The novel was a bit to the point, which had its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages: There weren’t many side-stories to get in the way. You didn’t have to worry about forgetting the main plot. The disadvantages: There weren’t really any disadvantage except that it was dangerously short; I was hoping for a bit more backstory and what the friends are doing now after resolving their problems. No matter what, it was fantastic in its delivery but wished there was more to the story.
I hated Chris. As soon as he was introduced, I wanted to throw something at this character. He would brag about grades or be disappointed if he didn’t get that perfect 100. I realized that there was more to it, that his parents brought a great deal of his attitude into play. Still, Chris was not my favorite of characters. Tristan and Astra were okay, but I didn’t really get to know them in the amount of time I read about them. I did like Astra’s voice and attitude, but wished I knew more about her backstory.
Overall, this book was great! It was a fast-read and taught a wonderful lesson that will stay with you forever. If you haven’t read this novel yet, you must check it out.
July 7, 2011
First off I just want to say that this book is really short!And I'm actually really glad it is. I read this all in one sitting, and I thought that 20 pages was the perfect amount for this story but not enough to connect with the characters.
The point of view is Astra's. She has two guy friends Chris and Tristan. Chris is a really smart guy but thinks he's better than everyone one else because of that. Tristan is a sweet guy that comes from a broken home and I think just wants to make it out of high school and start a new life.I liked that Ms.Ernstberger added in some lessons such as, value your friends and treat others with respect no matter where they come from or who they are.
Overall, the book is an easy and light read that you will probably finish in one sitting. I gave this book 3 stars because although I think the story is good I just didn't connect with the characters as I would have liked to!But I do recommend to check it out!
The point of view is Astra's. She has two guy friends Chris and Tristan. Chris is a really smart guy but thinks he's better than everyone one else because of that. Tristan is a sweet guy that comes from a broken home and I think just wants to make it out of high school and start a new life.I liked that Ms.Ernstberger added in some lessons such as, value your friends and treat others with respect no matter where they come from or who they are.
Overall, the book is an easy and light read that you will probably finish in one sitting. I gave this book 3 stars because although I think the story is good I just didn't connect with the characters as I would have liked to!But I do recommend to check it out!
June 20, 2011
I have always thought that the measure of a good children's - or in this case - teen - novel is if, as an adult, you can also read and thoroughly enjoy it. This definitely falls into this category.
As it is a short story it is all too easy to give too much away, so I won't go into the plot, but I will say that I enjoyed the characters. They were real, had genuine and authentic emotions and reactions and the interactions worked every time. Wanda's style is light, with appropriate touches of humour and the pace is perfect. While 'The Next Shakespeare' is the first book of Wanda's I have read, it certainly won't be the last. I will be seeking out her other work and am looking forward to it. I highly recommend this - whatever your age!
As it is a short story it is all too easy to give too much away, so I won't go into the plot, but I will say that I enjoyed the characters. They were real, had genuine and authentic emotions and reactions and the interactions worked every time. Wanda's style is light, with appropriate touches of humour and the pace is perfect. While 'The Next Shakespeare' is the first book of Wanda's I have read, it certainly won't be the last. I will be seeking out her other work and am looking forward to it. I highly recommend this - whatever your age!
January 5, 2012
As a short story, The Next Shakespeare was a quick and enjoyable read. We meet Tristan, Astra and Chris briefly and get a glimpse into their lives. Just enough of a glimpse to satiate the reader, without too much information. It actually was kind of refreshing. Things get really interesting when Tristan wins an award that Chris has been coveting. What ensues is a sweet, short, and lesson filled story that I really liked.
At it's core this is a story about friendship. Chris is used to winning awards and being praised, so of course he is upset when Tristan takes his coveted award. I actually really disliked Chris as a character, but I see how he fits into the story. It is only by this event happening that Chris really takes a look at himself and reassesses where he's going in life. Right now his parents dictate his choices. Is that what he really wants for himself? Ernstberger manages to fit a very important life lesson about forging your own path into a short story.
The writing is very well done in The Next Shakespeare and, although it might seem a bit rushed, I also thought the ending was just perfect for the situation. Keep in mind that this was written, and published, as a short story. The characters are as vivid as they can be without pages upon pages of explanation into their lives, and I actually think it is perfect that way.
Long story short? I enjoyed this a lot. If you love short stories, or even just need a respite from 400 page books, this is the perfect read for you.
At it's core this is a story about friendship. Chris is used to winning awards and being praised, so of course he is upset when Tristan takes his coveted award. I actually really disliked Chris as a character, but I see how he fits into the story. It is only by this event happening that Chris really takes a look at himself and reassesses where he's going in life. Right now his parents dictate his choices. Is that what he really wants for himself? Ernstberger manages to fit a very important life lesson about forging your own path into a short story.
The writing is very well done in The Next Shakespeare and, although it might seem a bit rushed, I also thought the ending was just perfect for the situation. Keep in mind that this was written, and published, as a short story. The characters are as vivid as they can be without pages upon pages of explanation into their lives, and I actually think it is perfect that way.
Long story short? I enjoyed this a lot. If you love short stories, or even just need a respite from 400 page books, this is the perfect read for you.
January 5, 2012
More reviews on my blog!
The Next Shakespeare was a young adult short story filled with interesting characters and inspiring events. The story is told from the point of view of Astra and from the short time that I was with her, I could tell that she was very sassy and likable. She is the Switzerland between jealous, spoiled Chris and modest Tristan. I liked really Tristan for many reasons. He was the underdog and people looked down upon him because his mom worked at Quickie Mart and because he was going to community college. This made him the perfect person to cheer for and he didn't let me down. His poem was beautiful and showed that you really can't judge a book by it's cover.
I liked the character that Chris played. He was laughable in his jealousy at Tristan winning the poetry contest. What made him a nice character was that in the end he sucked it up and congratulated Tristan in his victory. In fact he realized that he could learn from Tristan and that if he was forever under his parents, he could never be happy no matter how many awards he had. The Next Shakespeare took me a short time to read, but reinforced some very important values. It did that while also being funny and enlightening. If you asked me, I'd say that it was the perfect framework for a good novel.
The Next Shakespeare was a young adult short story filled with interesting characters and inspiring events. The story is told from the point of view of Astra and from the short time that I was with her, I could tell that she was very sassy and likable. She is the Switzerland between jealous, spoiled Chris and modest Tristan. I liked really Tristan for many reasons. He was the underdog and people looked down upon him because his mom worked at Quickie Mart and because he was going to community college. This made him the perfect person to cheer for and he didn't let me down. His poem was beautiful and showed that you really can't judge a book by it's cover.
I liked the character that Chris played. He was laughable in his jealousy at Tristan winning the poetry contest. What made him a nice character was that in the end he sucked it up and congratulated Tristan in his victory. In fact he realized that he could learn from Tristan and that if he was forever under his parents, he could never be happy no matter how many awards he had. The Next Shakespeare took me a short time to read, but reinforced some very important values. It did that while also being funny and enlightening. If you asked me, I'd say that it was the perfect framework for a good novel.
August 2, 2011
This is a very interesting coming-of-age short story entailing greed and selfishness. Tristan has won an award he doesn’t want, Chris has won five awards except the one he really wants, and Astra is stuck in the middle of this war brought on by Chris, a greedy, selfish young man who can’t fathom how someone like Tristan, of all people, could have won The Next Shakespeare award.
I thought this was a very well written short story, though I wasn’t able to connect with the characters as much as I’d have liked to. I found them to be a little flat, but I think it’s near impossible to create round, enticing characters within twenty pages, so I commend Ernstberger on her ability to create a great story in such a short span of pages...
To read my full review (9/7):
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
I thought this was a very well written short story, though I wasn’t able to connect with the characters as much as I’d have liked to. I found them to be a little flat, but I think it’s near impossible to create round, enticing characters within twenty pages, so I commend Ernstberger on her ability to create a great story in such a short span of pages...
To read my full review (9/7):
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
August 22, 2011
The Next Shakespeare is very much about forging your own path and learning to accept defeat. In this story, Tristan unintentionally wins an award that Chris covets and despite receiving five scholastic awards of his own, Chris is not satisfied. He cannot fathom how “stupid” Tristan beat him at anything, but ends up learning something more important in the end. It’s an extremely cliché storyline and I wasn’t very impressed at all. The setting is not very well established and, although your mind can fill in the blanks, I would have liked to know more. I understand it’s a short story and there isn’t much room for development, but it seemed thrown together. I would recommend reading this if you have absolutely nothing else to do for twenty minutes, otherwise, forget it.
Reviewed by Brittany for Book Sake.
Reviewed by Brittany for Book Sake.
October 5, 2011
I was a little hestitant about the story itself because I wasn't too sure what it really was about. But, once the story got going it became fairly clear.
Astra's good friend Tristan has won an award for poetry. An award that Chris wanted to win. Chris is the next Einstein and eagerly devoures the awards he recieves. And he's a bit shocked when Tristan, a fellow student who can't afford unversity and isn't as talented as Chris believes he is, wins the award he really wanted to win. And that is were the story picks up.
I think the writing was very good. The characters had a good development and it was a fairly easy read. I really like the humor in it. It was cute.
I think my only problem would be the fact that the ending seemed a little rushed, but for a short story I really enjoyed it.
And it's clear that Wanda has talent and I can't wait to read more by her.
Astra's good friend Tristan has won an award for poetry. An award that Chris wanted to win. Chris is the next Einstein and eagerly devoures the awards he recieves. And he's a bit shocked when Tristan, a fellow student who can't afford unversity and isn't as talented as Chris believes he is, wins the award he really wanted to win. And that is were the story picks up.
I think the writing was very good. The characters had a good development and it was a fairly easy read. I really like the humor in it. It was cute.
I think my only problem would be the fact that the ending seemed a little rushed, but for a short story I really enjoyed it.
And it's clear that Wanda has talent and I can't wait to read more by her.
June 30, 2011
What I liked most about this short story is that Wanda Ernstberger used her 4000 words wisely. There was a message in this book for our lovely young adults, a lesson to be learned about friendship, and treating each other equally.
This book would be a great read on your way to school. It'll put some friends into perspective and maybe, just maybe, help you stand up to a bully or a snob.
The book was written in Astra's POV even though we practically learned nothing about her, other than who her parents are and that she was friends with both boys.
The book was written about Chris but I favored Tristan, a secondary character. He was a sweetheart who lived in a broken home, and it took him writing a poem about leaving his home for his mom to finally notice him.
This book would be a great read on your way to school. It'll put some friends into perspective and maybe, just maybe, help you stand up to a bully or a snob.
The book was written in Astra's POV even though we practically learned nothing about her, other than who her parents are and that she was friends with both boys.
The book was written about Chris but I favored Tristan, a secondary character. He was a sweetheart who lived in a broken home, and it took him writing a poem about leaving his home for his mom to finally notice him.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews