Review of "the Romeo and Juliet Code"

"The Romeo and Juliet Code"

by Phoebe Stone

My Rating:

Pub. Date: January 1st, 2011

Pages: 297

Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books

Source: Borrowed From Library

Edition: Hardcover

Synopsis: Felicity's glamorous parents have a secret. When they leave her with distant relatives in Maine, Felicity hopes they won't leave her long. Her new Uncle Gideon hides things. Her Aunt Miami is star-crossed. And Derek, a kid her age, refuses to leave his room.

But Felicity needs Derek's help. Gideon is getting coded letters from Felicity's parents, and she's sure they're in trouble. Can Felicity crack the code, heal the family and save her parents, all while surviving her first crush? It's a tall order, but - like THE SECRET GARDEN'S Mary Lennox before her - Felicity's up for the challenge.

Don't judge this book by its cover! "The Romeo and Juliet Code" is a historical fiction book about WWII. I really enjoyed this book, but I probably wouldn't have picked it up because it just looked like a cute romance. There was much more to this book than romance. Felicity, the main character, is struggling to understand the events going on around her. Her parents left her to live with an aunt, uncle, grandma, and "cousin" she had never met. She doesn't understand why her parents cannot be with her and what problems exist between the family to keep them apart for so long. Felicity must find a way to make Maine her new home while she waits for her parents to come back.

The characters in this book had unique personalities. I loved seeing how Felicity changed throughout the book. She continued to be inquisitive and bold, but she was able to handle difficult information in a more mature manner. Aunt Minnie and Uncle Gideon were fun to read about. I wish they were my aunt and uncle. They brought Felicity into their home and did there best to make her feel at home. Watching Felicity's relationship with Derek grow was also really enjoyable.

If your interested hasn't been piqued yet then I should mention that there is lot of mysteries to uncover throughout the book. What are with Felicity's parents? Why wont Uncle Gideon play the piano anymore? Why didn't the family communicate until recently?

"The Romeo and Juliet Code" is a great book. Even though I found the book to be a bit predictable, the other elements in the book outweighed the predictability of the plot. I really thought this book was a great balance of historical fiction, mystery, and a bit of a love story.