by Barbara Dee
Gemma was smiling at me mischievously. “But can I tell you something first?”
“Sure.”
“It’s something I’ve wanted to say for a long time. And it’s from my heart.”
“Okay,” I said, barely breathing.
She clutched her chest. “Matilda Monaghan,” Gemma said in a fluttery, actressy voice, “thanks for being my one true Romeo.”
“Thanks for being my this,” I said, handing her the heart-shaped paper napkin smeared with potato chip grease.
She kissed my cheek, and then, laughing, pulled me onto the dance floor.
Tessa’s Shakespearean Insults
“like a toad; ugly and venomous”—As You Like It, II.i.13
“[Whose] face is not worth sunburning”—Henry V, V.ii.147
“Thou hast no more brain than I have in mine elbows.”—Troilus and Cressida, II.i.44
“I do wish thou wert a dog, that I might love thee something.”—Timon of Athens, IV.iii.55–6
“I’ll beat thee, but I should infect my hands.”—Timon of Athens, IV.iii.364
“Vile worm, thou wast o’erlook’d even in thy birth.”—The Merry Wives of Windsor, V.v.83
“mad mustachio purple-hued malt-worm”—Henry IV, Part 1, II.i.75
“canker blossom”—A Midsummer Night’s Dream, III.ii.282
“puke-stocking”—Henry IV, Part 1, II.iv.70
“mildewed ear”—Hamlet, III.iv.64
“carcass fit for hounds”—Julius Caesar, II.1.174
“rat-catcher”—Romeo and Juliet, III.i.75
“foul undigested lump”—Henry VI, Part 2, V.i.157
“Thy head is as full of quarrels as an egg is full of meat.”—Romeo and Juliet, III.1.23–4
“Were I like thee, I’d throw away myself.”—Timon of Athens, IV.iii.219
“herd of boils and plagues”—Coriolanus, I.iv.31
“false caterpillars”—Henry VI, Part 2, IV.iv.37
“scurvy knaves”—Romeo and Juliet, II.iv.153, 162
“monstrous malefactor”—Antony and Cleopatra, II.v.53
Acknowledgments
I’m happy that we live in an age when an author can suggest a book like Star-Crossed, and get the warmest possible support from her publisher. Loud cheers for my terrific editor, Alyson Heller, and for Fiona Simpson and Mara Anastas. A fancy bow for Yan Gabriella’s gorgeous cut-paper cover art, and for Karin Paprocki for overseeing the design.
A bouquet of roses for my superlative agent, Jill Grinberg, whose unflagging enthusiasm for this book made it possible. Hats off to Katelyn Detweiler, Cheryl Pientka, and Denise St. Pierre for all of their nurturing and expertise.
Blown kisses to those who read and commented on earlier drafts: Sarah Weston, Robynne Yokota, Michelle Pena. Violet Beller, you’re my dream reader. I wish every author were lucky enough to have a Violet!
Group hug for my wonderful (and patient) family: Chris, Josh, Lizzy, Alex and Dani, Mom. Extra special thanks to Lizzy, for always brilliant editorial feedback and support, and to my husband, Chris, for being there for me in every word.
It’s insane to give a shout-out to William Shakespeare, but I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t. So to the Bard of Avon: Um, thanks. R&J is a really, really, REALLY good play.
BARBARA DEE is the author of Truth or Dare, The (Almost) Perfect Guide to Imperfect Boys, Trauma Queen, This Is Me From Now On, Solving Zoe (Bank Street Best Children’s Books), and Just Another Day in My Insanely Real Life (Publishers Weekly starred review).
Barbara is one of the founders and directors of the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival. She lives in Westchester County, New York, with her family, two naughty cats, and a rescue hound dog named Ripley. Read more about Barbara at BarbaraDeeBooks.com.
ALADDIN
SIMON & SCHUSTER, NEW YORK
Visit us at
SIMONANDSCHUSTER.COM/KIDS
authors.simonandschuster.com/Barbara-Dee
ALSO BY BARBARA DEE
Truth or Dare
The (Almost) Perfect Guide to Imperfect Boys
Trauma Queen
This Is Me From Now On
Solving Zoe
Just Another Day in My Insanely Real Life
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
ALADDIN
An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com
First Aladdin hardcover edition March 2017
Text copyright © 2017 by Barbara Dee
Jacket illustration copyright © 2017 by Yan Gabriella Peropat
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Jacket designed by Karin Paprocki
Interior designed by Mike Rosamilia
The text of this book was set in Minion Pro.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Dee, Barbara, author.
Title: Star-crossed / Barbara Dee.
Description: New York : Aladdin, 2017. | Summary: When Mattie is cast as Romeo in an eighth-grade play, she is confused to find herself increasingly attracted to Gemma, a new classmate who is playing Juliet.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016029743| ISBN 9781481478489 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781481478502 (eBook)
Subjects: | CYAC: Theater—Fiction. | Middle schools—Fiction. | Schools—Fiction. | Sexual orientation—Fiction. | Family life—Fiction. |
BISAC: JUVENILE FICTION / Social Issues / New Experience. | JUVENILE FICTION / Social Issues / Friendship. | JUVENILE FICTION / Performing Arts / General.
Classification: LCC PZ7.D35867 St 2017 | DDC [Fic]—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016029743