Enter the Body

(Paperback)

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Enter the Body gives voice to a cast of the young women who die in Shakespeare's plays. Focusing on the stories of Juliet, Ophelia, and Cordelia, bestselling author of Blood Water Paint Joy McCullough brilliantly weaves retellings of Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and King Lear into a larger story about how young women can support each other and reclaim their stories in the aftermath of trauma. "At once tender, poetic and ferocious, Enter The Body breathes new life into the Bard's most tragic heroines. More than a tribute to Shakespeare, this kaleidoscopic, ambitious novel-in-verse gives Juliet, Ophelia, Cordelia, and Lavinia the chance to tell their own stories full of passion, justice, sisterhood, and love. Simply spectacular."-Michael L. Printz Award winnerLaura Ruby, author of Bone Gap In the room beneath a stage's trapdoor, Shakespeare's dead teenage girls compare their experiences and retell the stories of their lives, their loves, and their fates in their own words. Bestselling author Joy McCullough offers a brilliant testament tohow young women can support each other and reclaim their stories in the aftermath of trauma.

Reviews

At once tender, poetic and ferocious, Enter The Body breathes new life into the Bards most tragic heroines. More than a tribute to Shakespeare, this kaleidoscopic, ambitious novel-in-verse gives Juliet, Ophelia, Cordelia, and Lavinia the chance to tell their own stories full of passion, justice, sisterhood, and love. Simply spectacular.Two-Time National Book Award Finalist and Michael L. Printz Award WinnerLaura Ruby, author of Bone Gap

"Radically creative... This provocative book could inspire all kinds of fresh approaches to the plays, not to mention lots of engaging writing projects for students."Washington Post

Body turns Shakespeare on his head while honoring h"a radically creative book for young adults who are familiar with Shakespeares plays. McCullough resurrects the dead teenage girls Ophelia, Cordelia and Juliet and lets them speak in verse and to each other about their fates. (Lavinia from Titus Andronicus serves as a silent witness.) This provocative book could inspire all kinds of fresh approaches to the plays, not to mention lots of engaging writing projects for students.is talent as the girls retells their stories on their own terms....Truly outstanding.Booklist, starred review

"By innovatively mining feminist themes of autonomy, exploitation, and patriarchy, McCullough boldly reconceptualizes Shakespeares version of the female point of view for a new generation of Bard enthusiasts."The Horn Book, starred review

"Form as a mode of personal expression is conscious, deliberate, andstunningly effectivehere andelevates this novel above and beyond many run-of-the-mill Shakespeare retellings to a carefully constructed and emotionally resonant consideration of tragedy and autonomy.... This will be a revelation for teens seeking to claim their own narrative as a distinct and whole person outside of adult or societal input."BCCB, starred review

"A strong, powerful look at the bonds women share and the power telling stories has to unburden us all."SLC, starred review

"This entrancing, fiercely feminist examination of William Shakespeare's tragedies gives his female characters the opportunity to tell their own stories."Shelf Awareness, starred review

"Elevates and reenergizes the canon; its an absolute must-read regardless of readers knowledge or opinion of Shakespeare."SLJ, starred review

Author Bio

Joy McCullough writes books and plays from her home in the Seattle area, where she lives with her family. She studied theater at Northwestern University, fell in love with her husband atop a Guatemalan volcano, and now spends her days surrounded by books and kids and chocolate. Her debut novel, Blood Water Paint, was longlisted for National Book Award and was a finalist for the William C. Morris Debut Award. She is also the author of We Are the Ashes, We Are the Fire and the New York Times bestseller Champ and Major.