Crushing on a Capulet

Sixth graders Devin and Frankie try to save star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet when they’re magically transported into Shakespeare’s classic play.

When their teacher assigns Devin and Frankie—short for Francine—the lead roles in their class production of Romeo and Juliet, the two best friends aren’t thrilled. How are they supposed to say their lines when they don’t even sound like they were written in English?

Luckily, the library’s magic security gates come to their rescue again, and they leap into Shakespeare’s famous tragedy. Unfortunately, they land right in the middle of a sword fight between two warring families, the Montagues and the Capulets.

When they find out that Romeo Montague has fallen in love with Juliet Capulet, Devin and Frankie decide it’s up to them to make sure this unlikely couple lives happily ever after. But can they change the book’s tragic end and save the young lovers from their fate?

“The message that reading is important and can be fun comes through loud and clear,” writes School Library Journal about the Cracked Classics series. “The short chapters make this an ideal read-aloud and a treat for reluctant readers.”