Joker

September 1, 2006
Gr 9 Up -Meet Matt, a 17-year-old Australian student whose once-stable life is crumbling. His parents have divorced, his mother has married disgusting Claude, and his best friend has just died. His buddies encourage him to -drop out - with them to avoid his problems, but his inner voice, called -Joker, - keeps pushing him toward avenging all the injustices overwhelming his life. This tale uses the basic elements of Shakespeare -s "Hamlet", but numerous details and the language place it solidly in the 21st century. Instead of monologues, Ranulfo provides lengthy descriptions of Joker -s antics as well as -conversations - between Joker and Matt. However, unlike the classic tale, Matt confronts Joker, overcomes the evil thoughts and behaviors that have nearly driven him to madness, and returns to his forgiving girlfriend. This novel has the potential to captivate young adults, and could easily lead to the exploration of Shakespeare -s tragedy. The text, divided into five acts that mirror the play, is fast paced, with chapters of one to three pages in length, many of them titled with references to "Hamlet". Nevertheless, the Australian slang may be puzzling to American readers. Most collections seeking a -jazzed-up - approach would be better served by the comic-book "Classics Illustrated: Hamlet" (Berkley, 1990) or by Lisa Fiedler -s "Dating Hamlet: Ophelia -s Story" (Holt, 2002)." -Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, LaSalle Academy, Providence, RI"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2006
"Maybe God is a monster." Matt, 17, tries to come to terms with evil in the world as he finds injustice and suffering everywhere--at home, where he is furious and jealous that his mom divorced his dad for Claude; and also in the wider world, where he sees the global poverty, war, and pollution. The " Hamlet" references scattered through the text and on the cover ("" Hamlet'" s been cracked") are fun: Matt lives in the Australian town of Elsinore; loves Leah; hangs out with his dropout friends, Roscoe and Guildo; argues with Joker, his irreverent alter ego; and "contemplates suicide" ("To be or not to be"). Readers will enjoy seeing bits of Shakespeare's story played out in a world of IM, beach parties, and street protests, but even those unfamiliar with the play will be caught up in the wry, first-person, present-tense take on the way things are now, as Matt searches for love, meaning, and faith in a harsh world. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)