Romeo and Juliet, Together (and Alive!) At Last

A parent would reach for this book when their child is beginning to navigate the social minefield of middle school crushes and the inevitable awkwardness of collaborative projects. It is a perfect choice for a child who feels self-conscious or anxious about public performance, as it uses humor to normalize the 'cringey' moments of early adolescence. The story follows a group of eighth graders who decide to stage a production of Romeo and Juliet to play matchmaker for two of their shy friends, Pete and Saltz. Avi captures the frantic, well-intentioned energy of middle schoolers with a light touch, focusing on themes of friendship, loyalty, and the realization that things rarely go according to plan. This is a gentle, secular, and purely entertaining read that helps demystify the pressure of romantic feelings by wrapping them in comedy. It is highly appropriate for the 8 to 12 age range, offering a mirror for their own social anxieties while proving that even a total disaster can be a triumph of friendship.