Kissing Shakespeare

Gr 9 Up—Kidnapped after her opening-night performance in her high school production of The Taming of the Shrew, Miranda finds herself transported back to 1581. She was chosen by Stephen Langford, a fellow cast mate who turns out to be a time traveler visiting the current century. He has prophetic visions and his latest one informed him that William Shakespeare is dangerously close to joining the Jesuits, thus depriving the future of his influential plays and sonnets. Stephen is convinced that Miranda, with her acting skills and presumed promiscuity-after all, contemporary advertising and TV would lead a man from the past to think all modern-day girls are promiscuous-is the only one who can keep Shakespeare from the priesthood by seducing him. Reluctant at first, Miranda, who is the daughter of Shakespearean actors, agrees to his plan. What they don't bargain for is falling for each other. Mingle skillfully weaves historical realities of late-16th-century England with what little is known about Shakespeare's early life. Although it's difficult at times to believe that Miranda, despite her accomplished acting skills, could fool anyone into believing that she is a 16th-century young woman, this novel is definitely a cut above the typical teen romance. A delightful story about star-crossed, time-traveling lovers.—Ragan O'Malley, Saint Ann's School, Brooklyn, NY