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The Year Shakespeare Ruined My Life

by (author) Dani Jansen

Publisher
Second Story Press
Initial publish date
Sep 2020
Subjects
Theater & Musicals, LGBT, Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance
Categories
Set in Quebec
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781772601220
    Publish Date
    Sep 2020
    List Price
    $9.99

Library Ordering Options

Description

Alison Green, desperate Valedictorian-wannabe, agrees to produce her school’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. That’s her first big mistake. The second is accidentally saying yes to a date with her oldest friend, Jack, even though she’s crushing on Charlotte. Alison manages to stay positive, even when her best friend starts referring to the play as "Ye Olde Shakespearean Disaster." Alison must cope with the misadventures that befall the play if she’s going to survive the year. She’ll also have to grapple with what it means to be out and what she might be willing to give up for love.

About the author

Dani Jansen is a teacher and writer who lives in Montreal. She should probably be embarrassed to admit that she has performed as part of her school’s Glee Club for eight years. She should probably also be ashamed to tell people that she named her cats after punctuation symbols, Ampersand and Em-Dash, in case you're curious).

Dani Jansen's profile page

Awards

  • Winner, GCLS Literary Young Adult Award

Editorial Reviews

"Rebecca Auerbach provides near-perfect matches for the eclectic characters in this young adult audiobook.... She also provides fitting character portrayals, especially Alison's wide range of feelings as she experiences more and more stress over the school play. Teen listeners, especially theater fans, will enjoy this production."

AudioFile Review

In the words of the Bard himself, most wonderful.

Kirkus Reviews, June 2020

(D)ebut novelist Jansen crafts a relatable heroine whose anxious first-person narration carries the debut, while the diverse supporting cast rounds it out. Readers will root for Alison as she learns to collaborate, manage others’ expectations, accept failure, and, ultimately, to love.

Publisher's Weekly, September 1 2020