LibraryPoint Blog

We are all familiar with Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet. We also remember the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues. Finally, I’d be willing to bet that many of you know the Bard’s famous play was set in Verona, Italy. However, here are a few facts that might surprise you. Shakespeare’s telling was the culmination of several previous versions by various other authors. The original lovers were Giuletta Tolomei and Romeo Marescotti. There was, indeed, bad blood between the families, and the tale was set in Siena, not Verona. In a new telling, Anne Fortier’s Juliet alternates between a 20th-century pairing of Guiletta and Romeo and their 15th-century alter egos.

Julie Jacobs’ father perishes in an unexplained fire. Two years later, her mother dies in a suspicious auto accident. Fearing harm to toddler Julie and her twin sister Janice, their Aunt Rose whisks the children from Italy to the United States. Together with her live-in assistant Umberto, she raises the girls but for years avoids discussing anything related to the twins’ parents and their untimely demise.

Kerry Williamson is 15 years old and suddenly has been selected by three of the most popular girls in school to be a part of their group.  In Richard Peck's book Three Quarters Dead, we meet Tanya, McKenzie, and Natalie, the three girls who rule the school and are the meanest girls around.  Kerry is surprised by this sudden attention from these three who previously ignored her.  They sit with her at lunch, they include her in their shopping expeditions, and she is invited to their party preparation meetings.  Tanya is clearly the ring leader of the group.  She is in charge of all the activities and the wardrobe decisions.  While at lunch with Tanya, Kerry begins to notice that time seems to stand still and lunch goes on much longer than it has in the past although the clock has not stopped.  There are several significant occurrences like this that Kerry notices but she is so happy to be part of the group that she ignores any signs that things may be weird.

January 23, 2012, marks the beginning of the Chinese Year of the Dragon. In Chinese astrology, people born in the Year of the Dragon are believed to be passionate, intelligent, brave, and self-confident. Years featuring the dragon are supposed to be strong ones for business and finances.

In folklore and fantasy books, dragons steal the show with their power and intelligence. In Western stories, there are wicked dragons, such as Smaug in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. There is the rather famous Reluctant Dragon, by Kenneth Grahame, who is a little too kind and civilized to be slain and turned into the latest trophy on Saint George's castle wall. In Chinese legend, dragons are known for their power and ancient wisdom.  Their somewhat human children might be warriors or handsome royals or simply wise and witty in the way that dragons are. Real humans who go up against them had better have their wits about them. 

To read more about legendary Chinese dragons and how they are remembered in today's celebrations, check out our book list, Year of the Dragon.