Hamlet is Not OK, but this book was more than okay. I loved this book and I will definitely recommend that my YA patrons read this asap!

I will start by saying I am an English major who read Hamlet for fun in ninth grade. I say that first because I didn't really like this book. Selby sounds like a latchkey kid whose parents pay very little attention to her until it's too late. The whole premise of she and her tutor getting sucked into the actual play of Hamlet sounded intriguing but did a face plant in terms of being interesting. Also, I felt like the Shakespearian dialogue interspersed throughout the story didn't match what I remember from the play and I have read it multiple times and seen it performed live. The story just lacked overall and I had to make myself finish it.

My thanks to Penguin ebooks and Netgalley for this book. My opinions are my own.

This book was HILARIOUS! I thought the whole plot and story idea were so good, and very original! I loved seeing Hamlet interact with modern day characters and vice versa, the way they were able to understand each other but also not really was just so funny! And I really enjoyed the way they fixed the stories too, it was very creative! Overall, amazing book, definitely a new favorite!!!

I really liked the story and the characters. Even though I didn’t relate to our mc’s problems I found it very important the mention of that ones.

I didn’t know a thing about Hamlet because I’ve never read it but I was impressed with the way I understand everything and somehow learn something about it.

It’s a quick and short read, for a younger audience.

Selby is in trouble for blowing off her homework, and ends up with a tutor who helps her get into Hamlet--literally. (This is not a spoiler, as it's part of the initial description that they wind up within the play.) I liked Selby, even if I didn't relate to her (I mean, how much could I relate to someone who hates reading? though I appreciated the distinction she makes between reading and stories): she's written very believably, and her voice and attitude come across strongly.

Also, the implausible plot is handled very plausibly, if that makes sense. With the caveat that I was reading this as a middle-aged person, not a teenager, and as one whose favorite Shakespeare play has always been Hamlet, so I know it very well, I absolutely enjoyed the book. There were a few plot twists that really got me, too! but I'll avoid the spoilers on that. Two thumbs up.

I’ve always loved to read. Unfortunately, Shelby doesn’t, and in fact, doesn’t seem to do any homework. She only likes to watch television so her parents hire her a tutor, a friend of her older brother’s. As Dan, Selby’s tutor correctly states, “I can learn anything and travel anywhere without leaving town. That is the magic of books. I can travel around the world, into space, back and forth in time. I can walk in a woman’s shoes in seventeenth century Paris or sit at the trial of Socrates in Ancient Greece. All through the power of reading.”

This book allows Shelby and Dan to literally travel to another time and place just by reading. While the idea is not entirely new, entering a fictional place by going through something, in this case a book, it was a unique take on the concept. The author weaves in actual quotes and plot points from the play, which is a great way to introduce younger readers to Shakespeare. This book was an easy read and points out the impact even old plays by Shakespeare have on books written after that time and how changing one scene or outcome could have a large impact. What would happen if Hamlet did not avenge his father’s death? Is Hamlet really feigning madness or is he being poisoned?

It’s not clear if Shelby has a disability. She tells her mom that she is different and “My brain doesn’t work the same way. Reading is hard for me. The words on the page don’t translate into my head the way they do for other people. I’m never going to read like the rest of you.” What an important message. Not everyone has the capability to read the same way, and certainly not Shakespeare’s works. But after Shelby reads the play out loud, with the help of Dan, and sees part of it enacted, she comes to truly understand it and Dan admits that Shelby understood the play better than he did due to her moral compass.

Obviously, the reader has to suspend any disbelief in the possibility of entering a fictional world. But that’s what books are all about, allowing one to enter a world they might never get to see, whether real or fictional. The biggest complaint was the level of writing. While I thought it was a young adult book, it felt more like a middle grade novel and some of the dialogue was simplistic. The biggest takeaway is what Dan said when talking to Shelby’s mom.

“Reading is important. But stories are even more important, because stories are the patterns that make humans tick”.

Let’s hope we can continue to read all stories, not just those that others find inoffensive. You never know what impact that story will have on the reader or future writers. The author said she wrote this book during COVID, when she had a lot of time. She dedicated this book to all the storytellers who bring us comfort in turbulent times.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Independent Publishers Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"Hamlet is Not OK" by R.A. Spratt is a delightful and unexpected journey into the world of Shakespeare's classic play, infused with humor and a touch of magic. If you are a fan of “Hamlet” as well as YA remixes of the play, then you will definitely enjoy this book, especially since you get a fresh perspective of Hamlet as he interacts with modern teenagers.

The book follows 15-year-old Selby, a reluctant reader struggling with her English studies and feeling disconnected from literature, particularly Shakespeare's "Hamlet." However, when Selby finds herself transported into the plot of the play alongside her tutor, Dan, she embarks on a hilarious and heartwarming adventure that challenges her perceptions of literature and life. This book will definitely be relatable for younger YA readers and maybe even MG readers as well, especially for those who struggled with reading Shakespeare. I am someone who was forced to read Shakespeare back in high school, which probably led to me disliking his plays even more than I normally would, so I found myself relating to Selby quite a lot throughout this book.

What I liked about the book was how it blended elements of Shakespeare's original text into the narrative, providing you with a unique opportunity to experience the Bard's work in a modern context. This might be a good book to pair with “Hamlet” in the middle/high school English classroom in order to get the students to enjoy the classic literature and better understand it. There were some plot holes and unrealistic moments, though, scattered throughout the books. For example, there were some scenes and dialogue that would fit better in fan fiction as they were sometimes a bit cringey as well as predictable. Younger readers might like this though, while older readers may have to push through these moments to get through the book. While the book is advertised as a YA book, I would think it works better for a MG audience, though I don’t believe MG often has Shakespeare in the curriculum, so that could be why this is a YA book, besides the ages of the characters.

While I didn’t particularly like the writing style, I do think "Hamlet is Not OK" succeeds in making Shakespeare accessible and interesting to younger readers. I think if I were a younger reader, maybe a freshman or sophomore in high school, I would have enjoyed this book more. I would rate this book a 3.5 (rounded down to 3) stars out of 5.

What an interesting premise.

A girl who is studying Hamlet finds herself in a real life version of the play.

This book is quirky, fun and I feel will benefit those who have to study Hamlet but just don't get Shakespearean English!

Once again thank you for opportunity to read this!

Thank you Netgalley, Independent Publishers Group, Penguin (AU YR) and R. A. Spratt for the ARC.

I have so much to say about this book, but I'll try to keep it short.

First of all, as an English teacher I was intrigued by the title and story. I love Hamlet. It's one of my favourites from Shakespeare. 💀
The main character is dyslexic and hates reading. She has to read Hamlet for school and enters the fictional world. This is so cool! As a book lover I dreamt a lot about doing that. I also love that she is dyslexic. It shows that reading a book isn't easy for everyone. For certain people it really is a challenge.
The book was an easy and short read. I missed some depth in the story though. I finished the book in one sitting and was very disappointed that it was so short.

I recommend this book to teens who want to read a short story and want to learn more about Hamlet.

And to the English teachers out there: Put this one on your book assignment lists! It's easy to read, educational and fun!

For someone who has not read Hamlet, I have immersed myself in this reinterpretation of this popular classic through Selby's eyes.
Unlike many juvenile books I've read, Selby, our protagonist, hates reading, it bores her, which wouldn't be very strange (for me it is), but given that her family is made up of reading lovers and she lives above a bookstore, this detail can make her the black sheep.
But this characteristic brings her to a tipping point when she doesn't do her homework for 6 months, which leads to her parents getting her a tutor.

Her assignment: read Hamlet.

But despite her procrastination, she begins to read it aloud, surprise! She is transported into the story.
Something we would all love, to be able to interact directly with our favorite characters.

Here is the first percentage of the story.
It's an entertaining story that is sure to give you a good time.

Thank you Netgalley for this advance copy.

#HamletisNotOK #NetGalley.

I loved this book. I found their dynamic to be amazing and kept me entertained throughout the novel. I think the story and the characters are so dynamic and well thought out that it created a great story for readers. I love the use of Hamlet references and putting a different spin on them.

I had a good time reading this book. It was definitely a lot of fun and quite enjoyable. The plot is super original, I loved the idea. And it was well-executed. The characters are rather fine, they are not as unique as the plot and I did not particularly like one of the guys, but they were still all right. Overall, I would recommend it to everyone looking for a fun time. And who love Shakespeare.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Hamlet is Not OK by RA Spratt is a delightfully fun red for younger readers and a wonderful way to look at classic literature. I am not the biggest fan of contemporary interpretations of Shakespeare in the academic sense, and as such, I love Spratts bright and refreshing take on it, crossing over the contemporary and the classic. Great humour and great fun , a read for all ages

Thank you to Netgalley, Independent Publishers Group, Penguin (AU YR) and RA Spratt for this fantastic ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

This was a really fun idea, but the execution was lacking for me. I see it's labeled as both YA and middle grade. I definitely thought it was more of the latter.

The overall concept had a lot of promise - I love the idea of characters being able to jump into books and fix things. It just didn't click for me as much as I would've liked it to. There were some fun moments though, such as the trip into Pride and Prejudice.

The story doesn't end on a cliffhanger, but I felt like the ending could be setting up a sequel. I probably won't read it if it comes along, but I would recommend it to the young people in my life.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

I really wanted to like this book, but in the end it just fell flat for me.

The concept of the book is really cool. Imagine a reverse Inkheart where you fall into the story you're reading (opposite of pulling characters and elements of the book out, which... also kind of happens here). Selby falls headfirst into Hamlet, a book she has to read for school.

And that's where the cool concept ended for me. Selby ends up attempting to change the plot of Hamlet, while she's repeatedly told that it's not actually possible. And, Hamlet (in his old Shakespearian way) is able to complete understand Selby no matter what she says. I did like that the actual lines from the play were used, but the continuity is a little wonky here.

And while that felt a bit off, the book itself was entertaining enough and will definitely appeal to an audience younger than myself.

I love reading Hamlet so it was definitely an interesting read to see it explored in this modern day twist, I wasn't sure at first but I did find it endearing overall.

"Hamlet is Not Ok" by R.A. Spratt is an absolute gem of a book that reimagines Shakespeare's classic through a modern lens. Spratt's witty writing style and clever adaptation breathe new life into the timeless tale of Hamlet, making it accessible and entertaining for readers of all ages. The characters are brilliantly crafted, each with their own quirks and complexities that add depth to the story. The humor is on point, providing moments of laugh-out-loud comedy amidst the drama. Spratt's unique take on Hamlet is a must-read for anyone who loves literature, comedy, or simply a good story. I Highly recommend!

If you're willing to suspend disbelief and refrain from performing a literary critique, Hamlet Is Not Okay is an enjoyable read...at least for this middle-aged high school English teacher.

I was immediately drawn to the title and premise of the book. A reluctant reader is transported into the plot of Hamlet and discovers the power of stories while facing moral dilemmas? Sign me up!

Having not taught Hamlet for about 15 years, I was thrilled by the amount of straight-up Shakespeare included in the text. I would have loved to have had this book to recommend to my most reluctant readers who struggled to connect with the language of the Bard. Our main character, Selby, possibly dyslexic, gets to experience all the main plot points of Hamlet first-hand while hearing the original text and...at times...trying to change the outcomes of the tragedy. Such a fun way for the modern YA audience to experience some Shakespeare!

I fear that a modern YA audience may find the communication between the main characters a bit lame. I appreciated the lack of strong language, though. Besides what is in sections of Hamlet, I believe there is one use of "crazy-ass," but that's about it.

The book also touches lightly on depression and suicide within the context of the play and Selby draws on what she has been taught in Health class to support the characters who have come to life in front of her. This could be an opportunity to start some discussion along these lines.

Were there some plot holes and points that I felt were highly unrealistic? Sure. Did they ruin the story for me? Nope. Not at all!

Thank you, NetGalley and Independent Publishers Group, for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

thanks to NetGalley for the eARC

⭐️=4.25 | 😘=1.5 | 🤬=1 | ⚔️=3 | 13+

summary: Selby hasn’t done her homework for six months and is now getting tutored about Hamlet by her brother’s friend and she has this power where when she reads books aloud she can actually go into them so she and her tutor get stuck in the play’s world (and Hamlet might get stuck in their world too)

thoughts: so so so funny. I read this in one sitting and laughed the whole time. you’ll absolutely appreciate this more as an English lit nerd, especially a Shakespeare nerd (obviously) and possibly even an Austenite (no spoilers!). hilarious. charming. witty. utterly ridiculous. entirely unserious. iconic. there’s a few unresolved bits—Dan’s arc with his dad wasn’t super tied up—but overall it’s just funny and quick and clever. giggles all around.

content note(s): suicidal thoughts and attempts canonical to Hamlet, significantly toned down; some of Hamlet’s misogyny-motivated monologues and violence, again very toned down; very mild Elizabethan racism

"Hamlet is Not OK" by R.A. Spratt is a decent read with a unique premise. The protagonist's struggles with mental health and family dynamics are portrayed with sensitivity and authenticity, adding depth to the story. Spratt's writing style is engaging, and the humor sprinkled throughout provides moments of levity. However, at times, the pacing feels uneven, and certain plot points could have been developed further. While enjoyable, it didn't fully resonate with me as much as I had hoped. Overall, it's a solid choice for readers interested in contemporary YA fiction.