10-year-old, Shakespeare-obsessed Angus is worried about his older brother. Liam is 17, sneaking out at night, and getting into all kinds of scary trouble. Sometimes he changes into a completely different person like a werewolf. Angus, tasked with creating a legacy project for school decides to do something about it. He draws up a storyboard for a version of his favorite play (Hamlet) where Hamlet turns into a werewolf whenever he gets ready. If Liam sees this play and recognizes how much werewolf hamlet hurts his friends and family, maybe Liam will also realize how much HE is hurting his friends and family. Unfortunately, Liam's teacher thinks werewolves and Hamlet are inappropriate for fifth grade. On top of all that, his family is having money troubles and a dangerous band of monsters the Four Closers lurk just around the corner, ready to pounce and steal the family house at any second. This adorable, thought-provoking, and often hilarious tale told through the eyes of an innocent child, is perfect for any child dealing with difficult life issues. It’s also a fantastic read to help kids learn empathy for children in situations different from their own. Bonus points for presenting Shakespeare to children in a palatable and exciting new way.

This was lovely. It was full of heart and family, with that mix of frustration and arguments and love and misplaced worry and huge, heavy concerns that aren't quite ever resolved (money problems, a sick pet, house foreclosure, addiction) seen through the eyes of a fifth grader. I loved also the way Hamlet was integrated, and how Angus explained why he thought of werewolves related to Hamlet and the interpretations he took of the play, and how that in turn related to his brother. It all made sense in the context of his real life and was incredibly genuine. Really really well done. I would recommend this book to people who enjoyed The Wednesday Wars for the same reasons.

Angus has quite the imagination and talent. I enjoyed the book. I was hoping though that there would be some sort of resolution for Angus and school and learning in comparison to his older siblings. But the situation with Liam and teen addiction is subtly handled and that families can hit hard times but find ways to stay together is done well.

Werewolf Hamlet is a chapter book for middle grade level readers. It's a little bit Shakespeare and a lot of heart. The story follows a 10 year old theater kid as his family goes through struggling situations. This book delicately handles difficult situations.

I enjoyed this book immensely. Angus is a brilliant narrator and the story is humorous and touching as it examines the relationships within the family as their lives change drastically. It is definitely a story that some kids can relate to and a book that will charm readers with its funny moments and Shakespearean quotes.

It was a good book. A good first novel for middle grade about a lot of teens subjects as growing up and living with older brother and sister in their 16s'/17s'.

A good moment reading it

This is a cute, middle-grade novel that combines humor, heart, and a touch of Shakespearean flair. The story follows 10-year-old Angus, a theater enthusiast with a penchant for quoting Shakespeare, as he navigates the complexities of family life and his evolving relationship with his older brother, Liam.

Angus is a wonderful character whose passion for drama shines through his ambitious idea to stage a Werewolf Hamlet for his fifth-grade legacy project. You can't help but root for him as he confronts the challenges in front of him.

The relationship between Angus and Liam is central to the story, capturing both sibling love and rivalry.

Thank you Net Galley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for a review.

Cute middle grade book featuring a theatrical 10-year-old protagonist who loves Shakespeare and Old Hollywood. However, I didn’t like the way the parents treated the older brother who was developing a drinking problem. I try not to criticize MG too hard because obviously, I’m not the target audience, but I felt like the whole Liam plotline could have been handled a lot better. The ending was less than satisfactory, though I was glad Angus got to perform Werewolf Hamlet.

Werewolf Hamlet is a touching, funny, and heartfelt middle-grade novel that balances family drama with a love of theater. Angus, the quirky 10-year-old protagonist, is impossible not to root for as he quotes Shakespeare and works on his 5th grade project: staging a werewolf version of Hamlet. The real heart of the story, though, is Angus's relationship with his troubled older brother Liam, whose unpredictable behavior feels as wild as a werewolf’s mood swings. The family dynamics are handled sensitively, making the story both relatable and full of emotion. It's definitely perfect for readers who enjoy books like Better Nate Than Ever that mix humor with deeper themes.

This is the adventurous story of a little kid Angus who quotes Shakespeare and has little to no idea why his seventeen year old older brother Liam is snarky all the time. He is struggling with the tension in his family regarding his parents, his older sister Hannah getting fed up with them all and a little sister who doesn’t understand anything yet.

He has this entire responsibility upon him to fix things as he can when his brother goes missing and has to stage his play “Werewolf Hamlet”. This plays a huge role in fixing the gap between him and his brother.

I find the notes in between (text messages between him and Liam) quite endearing and adorable!

The parents are little crazy and too busy which I can understand with four kids. But yes it gets a bit too much in the story now and then.

But yes all’s well that ends well!

The writing is good, fast paced with amazing character development.

Thank you, Charlesbridge Moves, for the ARC.