Romeo & Juliet

by Anna Claybourne (Adapted by), William Shakespeare

Romeo and Juliet are in lovebut their families are bitter enemies. Set in medieval Verona, a place of sword fights, secrets and magic potions, their tragic love story plays out to its desperate end.

Genres: Classics, Shakespeare, Historical Fiction

64 pages, Hardcover

First published March 31, 2006

About the author

Freelance children’s writer and editor, based in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Anna Claybourne writes children's information books on all kinds of topics: science experiments, ancient history, the human body, things to make, the environment, robots, evolution, art, fashion, Shakespeare and many more - as well as retellings of myths, legends and Shakespeare plays, and rhyming stories.

She studied English literature at university, but has always been interested in science, technology and art and design as well. She loves making and crafting, especially sewing, and her house is full of fabrics, craft materials, tools and books. Other interests and passions include camping, cats, outdoor swimming, news and politics, and music - she plays the trombone and has played in many different bands and orchestras, including performing live on a John Peel session in 2002 with Scottish band Ballboy.

Anna was born and grew up in Yorkshire, but has also lived in Canada as a student, Iceland as an au pair, and Costa Rica as a conservation volunteer, where she saw tarantulas, tapirs, monkeys, sloths, crocodiles and giant katydids. She now lives in Edinburgh with her two children and two cats, Skye and Socks.

Reviews

[Iulia_R · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5⭐️

[Slow Man · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick recap of the most famous love story of all time. Bad timing, bad luck and lack of communication are a few reasons that led to the death of Romeo and Juliet. I guess we will never grow tired of a tale of love like this one.

[Ian Pyo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The start this book was. It was a warm summer time and there was a big fight then the fight was over and there was an prince call Romeo and the king was looking for him so he find him the Romeo and his friend when to the palace and he saw Juliet and they fall in love.

[Ruthu · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a weird story, didn't make sense. No beginning or end.

[Jenna Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great retelling

[Heather Lisson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great starter to understand the basic plot of “Romeo and Juliet” in a non-intimidating way.

[Starie Yeah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romeo and Juliet is kind of harsh and very sad. I almost cried in school because I read it in school.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a condensed version of Shakespeare's famous play. It is written in simple, modern English and the plot is easy to understand. The emotion and true feel for the play is lost through this version, but it's an interesting introduction for younger children. I'm not sure that our girls were ready for the violence and plot twists, but they didn't seem too affected by it. Our oldest borrowed this book from her school library, so I read it, but I probably wouldn't have chosen this book to read to them myself.

[Dawnie Temple · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not one for reading Shakespeare. But found myself reading this with my Daughter. She is learning about Romeo and Juliet and didn't understand the original text. So i thought by finding a book that i knew she would understand and hoped that she could understand the story. I must say I'm looking forward to her book review very much from reading this book. Loved the picture that went with the story very well illustrated Love it.

[Soung Ah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it was a so sad story because Romeo and Juliet, who are the main characters died in the story. Their family hated each other, but Romeo and Juliet fell in love each other. That's why the main characters could not marry each other!! Before the main characters died, Juliet's cousin Tybalt and Romeo's friend died.