A Rose By any Other Name Would Smell as Sweet: Retelling Shakespeare for Teens.
Despite the 400 years since William Shakespeare actively wrote, his stories remain enthralling to literature lovers, mainstays to high-school curricula and relevant to the adolescent experience of every generation.
For teens and families looking to approach the bard from new perspectives, however, there’s plenty on offer at the library.
For a quick start, “That Way Madness Lies: 15 of William Shakespeare's Most Notable Works Reimagined,” edited by Dahlia Adler, is a collection of short works by young adult authors. These fifteen acclaimed YA writers put their modern spin on Shakespeare's celebrated classics.
Moving into novels, we find a striking theme in recent years: retelling the plays of Shakespeare in the glitz of the Roaring Twenties. The classic tragedy of teen love gone awry, “Romeo & Juliet,” has been told many times. Chloe Gong reimagines the tale in glamorous flapper-era 1926 Shanghai with a fantasy twist. “These Violent Delights” features the young heirs of rival gangs struggling with their responsibilities and their feelings for each other, as well as a river monster wreaking havoc on the city.
“Bright Ruined Things” by Samantha Cohoe also finds Shakespeare's characters living out their stories in the 1920s. This time, it's Miranda, renamed Mae, a teen who has lived her entire life lonely on an island controlled by the magic of the Prosper family. Befitting a story originally called “The Tempest,” the plot brims with intrigue, forbidden magic and family secrets.
The 1920s also provide the background to McKelle George’s “Speak Easy, Speak Love,” a classic story of young adults falling in love with witty and charming hilarity. The romances of “Much Ado About Nothing” play out on a Long Island estate during Prohibition. The title highlights George's clever wordplay from the outset, as the action revolves around attempts to save a struggling speakeasy.
While the last century may be an alluring era for Shakespeare retellings, stories just as profound can be set in the present day. “The Last True Poets of the Sea” by Julia Drake tells a unique love story inspired by the events from “Twelfth Night.” Viola is still on her voyage of self-discovery, but the plot features a more somber and introspective experience than the usual hijinks of the original play.
While retellings bring fresh perspectives, the original poems and plays will still delight many modern teens. The Shakespeare Center of Bloom's Literature database houses a treasure trove of content on all things Shakespeare in one convenient location. There is in-depth coverage, including the full searchable text, and classic performance videos of each of his plays. Those interested in poetry will find analysis of his sonnets and longer poems. And for that extra edge in the classroom, the extensive background essays, scholarly criticism articles and “How to Write About” essay topic are sure to impress any instructor. This digital resource, along with many others, can be found on our website at HCPLC.org.
Originally published in the October 2025 issue of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine.
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