Teach the torches to burn : a Romeo & Juliet remix

"Verona, Italy. Seventeen-year-old aspiring artist Romeo dreams of a quiet life with someone who loves him just as he is. But as the heir to the Montague family, he is expected to give up his "womanly" artistic pursuits and uphold the family honor—particularly in their centuries-old blood feud with a rival family, the Capulets. Worse still, he is also expected to marry a well-bred girl approved by his parents and produce heirs. But the more Romeo is forced to mingle with eligible maidens, the harder it is to keep his deepest secret: He only feels attracted to other boys. In an attempt to forget his troubles for just one night, Romeo joins his cousin in sneaking into a Capulet party. During a fateful encounter in the garden, he meets the kindest, most beautiful boy he's ever met, and is shocked to learn he's Valentine, the younger brother of one of his closest friends. He is even more shocked to discover that Valentine is just as enamored with Romeo as Romeo is with him. So begins a tender romance that the boys must hide from their families and friends, each of them longing for a world where they could be together without fear. And as the conflict between the Montagues and Capulets escalates out of control, Romeo and Valentine find themselves in danger of losing each other forever—if not by society's scorn, then by the edge of a blade" --

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Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... Hardwood Creek Library (Forest Lake)	TEEN FICTION ROE	Searching... Unknown
Searching... R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury)	TEEN FICTION ROE	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

In the Remixed Classics series, authors from marginalized backgrounds reinterpret classic works through their own cultural lens to subvert the overwhelming cishet, white, and male canon. Queer star-crossed love amid a centuries-old feud takes center stage in this Romeo & Juliet remix that knows sometimes, the best way is to make it gay.

Verona, Italy. Seventeen-year-old aspiring artist Romeo dreams of a quiet life with someone who loves him just as he is. But as the heir to the Montague family, he is expected to give up his "womanly" artistic pursuits and uphold the family honor--particularly in their centuries-old blood feud with a rival family, the Capulets. Worse still, he is also expected to marry a well-bred girl approved by his parents and produce heirs. But the more Romeo is forced to mingle with eligible maidens, the harder it is to keep his deepest secret: He only feels attracted to other boys.

In an attempt to forget his troubles for just one night, Romeo joins his cousin in sneaking into a Capulet party. During a fateful encounter in the garden, he meets the kindest, most beautiful boy he's ever met, and is shocked to learn he's Valentine, the younger brother of one of his closest friends. He is even more shocked to discover that Valentine is just as enamored with Romeo as Romeo is with him.

So begins a tender romance that the boys must hide from their families and friends, each of them longing for a world where they could be together without fear. And as the conflict between the Montagues and Capulets escalates out of control, Romeo and Valentine find themselves in danger of losing each other forever--if not by society's scorn, then by the edge of a blade.

The Remixed Classics Series
A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix by C.B. Lee
So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix by Bethany C. Morrow
Travelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix by Aminah Mae Safi
What Souls Are Made Of: A Wuthering Heights Remix by Tasha Suri
Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix by Anna-Marie McLemore
My Dear Henry: A Jekyll & Hyde Remix by Kalynn Bayron
Teach the Torches to Burn: A Romeo & Juliet Remix by Caleb Roehrig
Into the Bright Open: A Secret Garden Remix by Cherie Dimaline
Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa

Author Notes

Caleb Roehrig is a former actor and television producer who cannot seem to live in one place. Currently dividing his time between Chicago and Helsinki, he is an expert at writing on planes and recovering from jet lag. His young adult titles include Teach the Torches to Burn: A Romeo & Juliet Remix ; the acclaimed thrillers Last Seen Leaving , White Rabbit, Death Prefers Blondes , and The Fell of Dark; and The Poison Pen --a tie-in to the CW's popular Riverdale television series--and the Archie Horror original novel A Werewolf in Riverdale . Wherever he's living at the moment, he's there with his husband and an overabundance of books.

Reviews (2)

Kirkus Review

No matter which direction Romeo runs, the dreaded shadow of his family's expectations follows him, and the walls of Verona block his path to freedom. "Ancient animosities" between the Montagues and Capulets divide Verona. Seventeen-year-old Romeo, heir to the Montague fortune, frets more over his destiny--a loveless marriage and a forced choice between apprenticing with his silk merchant father or joining the army--than the increasing provocations of Tybalt Capulet. Secret romantic feelings push him ever further from his two best friends, cousin Benvolio and unrequited crush Mercutio, who don't understand why he refuses to pursue the women they introduce him to. But one night, at a masquerade at the Capulets' house, an unexpected encounter with a mysterious boy ignites Romeo's hope for a bright future. Vivid, poetic prose and snappy banter bring to life this reimagining of Romeo and Juliet as a drama of burgeoning adulthood, queer romance, and found family. Set in 14th-century Italy, the book presents both Romeo, who is awakening to his attraction for boys, and Juliet, who firmly has no interest in romance at all, with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Written in the first person from Romeo's perspective, the plot follows the original closely enough to build tension and an expectation of tragedy before veering toward its own satisfying resolution. The characters are predominantly white. A lush and romantic escape. (author's note) (Historical romance. 13-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Booklist Review

You know the pair--it's Romeo and Juliet. But not this time: it's Romeo and Valentine in this engaging reimagining of the Bard's immortal play. Here's the story: 17-year-old Romeo Montague's roguish cousin Benvolio persuades Romeo to crash a masked ball held by the Capulet family, sworn enemies of the Montagues. There, in a secluded courtyard, Romeo meets a young man named Valentine and is instantly smitten. Unfortunately, hot-headed, vicious Tybalt Capulet recognizes Romeo and gives chase. But Romeo and Valentine's romance is launched. Their bliss, however, is brief, for soon Tybalt launches two riots, the second turning deadly when Valentine steps between Tybalt and Romeo and is grievously wounded. In a blind rage, Romeo kills Tybalt and is forced into hiding, while the prince decrees that if Valentine lives, Romeo will be charged with the murder of Tybalt; if Valentine dies, Romeo's life will be spared but he will be sent into exile. Neither option seems to lend itself to a happy ending, but which will it be? Roehrig has done a splendid job of imaginatively revising Shakespeare's perhaps most frequently retold text, creating an often-suspenseful story populated by vividly realized characters. Best of all, however, is his beautiful dramatization of Romeo and Valentine's love for each other.

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Reviews (2)

Kirkus Review

Booklist Review

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