Ophelia By: Lisa Klein

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• Title: Ophelia
• Author: Lisa Klein
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
• Publication Date: October 31, 2006
• Pages: 328
• Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction
• Recommended Age: 13+
• First Read: 2012
• Source: Purchase
• Rating: 4.5 / 5.0 stars

In this re-telling of the classic Shakespeare play Hamlet, we get to hear Ophelia's side of the story as she grows up in the kingdom of Elsinore as Queen Gertrude's most trusted lady in waiting. Ophelia is rowdy, quick witted, and an overall rocking heroine because she tells people exactly what she thinks and doesn't sell herself short and I love that.

The author blends the original play seamlessly within the plot and creates an entire backstory for Ophelia that I appreciate very much because we get to know her as a young child before she "supposedly" went crazy. My favorite aspect of this novel is the perspective Klein takes on Ophelia's (and Hamlet's) madness and how, though it ended quite horribly for Ophelia in the original play, there might be a chance for her in this novel. 

I love Ophelia. She is an absolute spitfire for sixteenth century standards and ends up having a lot of people in the palm of her hand even though others don't realize that they are. She transforms from the almost absent character in Shakespeare's original to the girl that leaps from the pages of the book so that I can almost hear see her strolling along the river picking herbs and pining about Hamlet.

My favorite part is actually the plot Ophelia concocts to get her out of Elsinore before she gets killed and the author skillfully weaves the traditional state of her madness into something that actually benefits Ophelia. I won't say any more because I don't want to spoil the ending of the book, but it's genius.

I think I'll stop gushing now and just let you guys read the book for yourselves but this is definitely one of the best re-tellings, or should I say, re-imaginings of any classic work I've ever read. This novel is highly under appreciated and I hope that changes soon!