#star crossed Barbara dee

[the-dust-jacket]

LET'S PUT ON A SHOW: six novels about playing Shakespeare!

(Pictured: Romeo and Juliet Together (And Alive!) At Last; Foolish Hearts; King of Shadows; Star-Crossed; Hag-Seed; Station Eleven)

I love a good let's-put-on-a-show story, especially a Shakespearian one, and I feel like it's been ages since I've picked one up. If you've got recommendations please let me know!

#William Shakespeare #Happy Shakespeare Day #Romeo and Juliet Together and Alive At Last #Hag-Seed #Station Eleven #Foolish Hearts #King of Shadows #Star-Crossed #Barbara Dee #Susan Cooper #Emily St. John Mandel #Avi #Emma Mills #Margaret Atwood

[a-chaotic-being-that-reads]

Watch me get high over a 'hi' part 2

#Star crossed by Barbara Dee #Gemma and Mattie <3 #AHHHH

[middle-grade-book-reviews]

#bisexual fiction #realistic fiction #book review #middle grade books #young adult #middle grade #book reviews #barbara dee #romeo and juliet #star crossed lovers #pride

[murderoushagthesequel]

tag someone you want to get to know better

thanks for the tag @boydykewiki !

three ships: jegulus, rarijack, silverrosedagger

first ship: oh god i'm pretty sure it was drarry

last song: sunshine on my shoulders by john denver

last movie: the tutor 😭 it was AWFUL noah schnapp was the only good part

currently reading: nothing but i'm just about to start star crossed by barbara dee

currently watching: bob's burgers

last thing i wrote: my most recent posted microfic! cliffs

currently writing: gonna continue with my microfics and hopefully i'll be back to writing icotfs soon

tagging: @where-is-vivian, @underburningstars, @withtheoldstars, @deadly-moonlit-embarrassment, @fefifofae

#tag games #hag lore

[lgbtqreads]

Hello, Can you please recommend me middle grade books with a bi MC?

Sure, try Drum Roll, Please by Lisa Jenn Bigelow, Star Crossed by Barbara Dee, and The Trouble with Robots by Michelle Mohrweis. I'm not sure I know any with bi boys, but there's a prominent secondary character in Small Town Pride by Phil Stamper for sure.

#LGBTQReads #Middle Grade #MG #Bisexual Books

[lizziethereader]

I last read... 

‘Star-crossed’ by Barbara Dee 

what I wanted: ever since I saw this on tumblr, I thought it looked cute - who doesn’t want more f/f romance that plays out around a Shakespeare play? 

what I got: a lovely middle grade romance that could do with a liiiitle more exploration of some aspects 

what I thought: This was fun and Shakespeare nerdy and I’m glad it exists for kids to enjoy and learn from. I just wish some things had had a little more depth (kids can take it, I’m sure, and get even more out of the story). The main example is  that the story is told from the main character's perspective, yet when she makes a life-changing discovery, we hardly see her deal with it.  Still, it was a nice read and I rate it 3 out of 5 Shakespeare plays. 

#I last read #Ilr2022 #mine

[princessgemma12]

OKAY SO

i came across your blog

and your blog name seriously sounds like a fandom thing for star crossed by barbara dee-

is this a coincidence or-?

Great question! Storytime!!

When I was like... fuck I don't know. YOUNGER, not little-little but not quite a teen yet, somewhere in there--my parents bought an XBOX One as a nice splurge for Christmas or Easter, Idk which anymore.

Well we all set up our accounts but it was my turn to Name My User Profile I had a little issue... I couldn't use the name I'd REALLY wanted. So I played around with the keyboard a minute, trying to figure out something suitable but completely less awesome. And I found it...

PrincessGemma12.

And I'd secured my fate. The same Aesthetic my Xbox profile had? My blog has. No order, bright colors but dark insides. Minecraft and Zootycoon on the surface but dive a bit deeper, friend... Bioshock and Emily Wants to Play. Not literally in the case of my blog, but thematically, of course.

Soo... nope! Not a fandom name at all. Just a lucky hit with the old XBOX One username generator. Complete coincidence that it sounds like it's from ANY fandom.

Also, welcome to the abode! Please mind the pinned post, there's a list of my main tagging system for your convenience. Please filter out or at least be aware of the content you don't want. If you have questions about tags or anything else, my inbox is held open by a complicated Redstone system and is Always Open.

#Anon #anonymous #Ask #ask me anything

[architectnews]

Toluca Lake Mansion and Golf Course, LA

Toluca Lake Mansion and Golf Course, LA, Los Angeles Luxury Residence, Californian Property Photos, US Home

Toluca Lake Mansion in Los Angeles

May 20, 2022

Toluca Lake Mansion and Golf Course, LA

Hope’s full-time home in Toluca Lake has a one-hole golf course and is now on the market at $29 million

Location: Toluca Lake, Los Angeles, Southern California, USA

Source: TopTenRealEstateDeals

Bob Hope Estate With His Own Mini-Golf Course!

Bob Hope was not only the penultimate entertainer, he was also a passionate golfer. He loved golf so much that in one of his famous quotes he said, “Golf is my real profession. Entertainment is just a sideline. I tell jokes to pay my greens fees.” What was Hope’s full-time home in Toluca Lake has a one-hole golf course, designed by Hope himself, with two tee positions. That home has currently hit the market at $29 million.

Born in London in 1903 with a big name, Leslie Townes Hope, he emigrated to the U.S. with his parents at age four. His distinctive appearance with the well-recognized ski-jump nose came from reconstructive surgery after his face was crushed by a falling tree while helping his brother cut trees.

By age 20, he was on his career path starting in radio with his one-liners and quick, mostly self-deprecating jokes and it wasn’t long before he was on his way to Hollywood. Hope was the whole package that Hollywood demanded back in the day. Stars were expected, and were trained, to sing, dance and act by the studios. Hope arrived in Hollywood with something extra that set him apart: a rare timing ability for delivering comedy.

With increasing fame and the increasing wealth that followed, Hope was able to choose any home that met his fancy, from his UFO vacation house in Palm Springs to his permanent house with a mini-golf course in LA’s Toluca Lake neighborhood. Hope and wife, Dolores, built the house in 1939 as an English Traditional, which they made more contemporary in 1950.

Nestled on a beautifully landscaped five acres of mature evergreens, rose gardens, and the one-hole golf course with sand trap and driving greens, the 14,848-square-foot home includes eight bedrooms, eight baths, indoor pool and spa, billiard room, bar and chef’s kitchen. There is also a guest house, staff quarters, staff offices and large outdoor pool.

The private primary suite wing has two bedrooms, his-and-her baths and dressing rooms and a shared study. There is a home theater and a gym with a steam and infrared sauna, a four-car garage, motor court, extensive security system, security office, and three electric gate entrances.

An ancillary structure contains a tennis pavilion, commercial kitchen, security office, conference room and a walk-in fireproof safe. Over the years the home has played host to presidents and a large number of celebrities.

Bob Hope died in 2003. His longtime home in Toluca Lake is for sale at $29 million. Kevin Dees of The Agency in Beverly Hills holds the listing.

Photo credit: Simon Berlyn, courtesy of The Agency

Source: www.theagencyre.com

Toluca Lake Mansion and Golf Course, LA images / information received 200521

Location: Toluca Lake, Los Angeles, Southern California, United States of America

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Comments / photos for the Toluca Lake Mansion and Golf Course, LA Architecture page welcome

Selling Sunset

The post Toluca Lake Mansion and Golf Course, LA appeared first on e-architect.

#e-architect

[victoreli]

what if I had a crush on you and we were both girls playing Romeo and Juliet and we kissed for the first time on stage and I fainted

#wlw #gay #bi #lesbian #sapphic #gay yearning #star crossed Barbara dee #star crossed #Barbara dee #books #books and libraries

[canonlgbtqcharacters]

Matilda “Mattie” Monaghan from Star-Crossed is wlw

#wlw #books #star-crossed #barbara dee

[lakecountylibrary]

Pride Month Reads for Middle Grade

Middle schoolers need Pride Month too. Here are LCPL Assistant Librarian Meagan’s recommendations for great LGBTQ+ reads!

[ID: Pink background with illustrations of rainbow sunglasses, a person holding a pride flag, and a group of three people with a rainbow heart arranged around book covers for books reviewed below. Text reads Read with Pride. June is Pride Month. Celebrate it. Suggestions made by LCPL Youth Librarians. /ID]

Star-Crossed by Barbara Dee A.R Level – 4.3, 7 points Lexile – 630, 14 points

Mattie was not invited to a popular girl's Halloween party. Her well-meaning friends convinced her to sneak in anyway. When Mattie meets Gemma, a smart and pretty British girl, she must try to navigate and understand her new growing feelings for Gemma as they are cast in the lead roles of Romeo and Juliet.

With a hint of Romeo and Juliet in the storyline, this is a sweet and relatable story for middle school situations as Mattie struggles with getting over an ex-crush, not being invited to a popular girl's party, and her new growing feelings for her co-star Gemma.

Drama by Raina Telgemeier A.R Level – 2.3, 1 point Lexile – 320, 5 points

Eucalyptus Middle School is casting for the fall production: Moon over Mississippi. Callie adores drama and theater but prefers to be behind the scenes. A talented set designer, she is full of ideas for this production. As preparations are underway, a real drama unfolds, and Callie is swept off her feet by it. Will the show go on?

Callie's story is a fun story that will appeal to readers who enjoy theatre and developing friendships. Through her passion about set design, Callie meets two vibrant brothers, Justin and Jesse. She learns to be a supportive friend to them and helps the school put on the best production. The audience will love following along with the drama at Eucalyptus Middle School.

The Other Boy by M.G. Hennessey AR Level – 4.2, 6 points Lexile – 560, 12 points

Middle-schooler Shane Woods has it all—a great best friend, a supportive mother, and a natural talent for sports. Little does Shane know his life is about to be turned upside down when another student at his school reveals a secret about Shane the he thought he had escaped.

In this story about a boy in the process of transitioning, readers will find it heartbreaking that he is afraid to tell people his true self due to the hate people would give him. With strength and the right support group, Shane learns he can build the life he wants to live.

One True Way by Shannon Hitchcock AR Level: 4.0, 4 points Lexile: 560, 9 points

In 1977, Allie moves to a small town in the south, Daniel Boone Middle School, where she meets Sam. Sam is a well-liked school basketball star. Allie and Sam become fast friends, but that soon changes when Allie realizes she might feel more for Sam than just friendship.

Readers will appreciate Allie and Sam's bravery in coming out during the 1970s, a time when it was scary to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community.

See more of Meagan’s recs

#middle grade graphic novels #middle grade fiction #lgbtq reads #lgbtq pride #trans character #lesbian character #wlw character #pride month reads #graphic novels #historical fiction #contemporary fiction #one true way #shannon hitchcock #the othe rboy #m.g. hennessey #drama #raina telgemeier #star-crossed #barbara dee #books for theatre kids #YES recs #LCPL recs #meagansrecs

[erica-reviews-blog]

Erica’s Second Review: Star-Crossed by Barbara Dee

Hello! This week, I will be looking at Star-Crossed by Barbara Dee.

What Am I Reviewing?

Where I work, twice a year we are allowed to order five free books from the company. I have just started my new job at this company, and was very excited to learn that I joined just in time to participate in the recent book order! One of the books I decided on “purchasing” was Star-Crossed, a middle grade realistic fiction novel by much-loved author Barbara Dee. 

I picked up Star-Crossed because I had heard positive reviews about both the book and the author. The story follows Mattie as her eighth grade class puts on a performance of Romeo & Juliet. When Liam, the popular boy cast as Romeo, drops out of the play, Mattie is the only one who can step in and play the part. This means that Mattie must recite loving words to her secret crush, Gemma, under the gaze of the popular girls and her ex-crush, Elijah. Through Shakespeare’s words and the advice of her family and friends, Mattie learns to, as the back of the book says, “be the lead player in her own life.”  

What Works Well About It?

As mentioned, I picked up Star-Crossed because I had heard positive reviews about the book and author. I had not read a Barbara Dee book before Star-Crossed, but have since picked up another, Everything I Know About You.  

Mattie’s narration and the accompanying style works well for the book. It never feels as if the voice was trying to “keep up with the kids” -- the voice feels very natural to Mattie’s character. When Mattie gets nervous, for example, the voice becomes rambling. When is she excited, it becomes quick and heightened. As an older reader I picked up on this and enjoyed it, and I could see a young reader becoming urged to read on by this choice on the author’s part. 

The characters are also, for the most part, very well done. Mattie, as a narrator, serves well for the middle grade reader who is going through change and trying to form their identity. Gemma is not just a dream girl, but has an actual personality -- she is brave and funny but disregards the rules, showing that faults of her own. Liam makes for a realistic boy going through change that mirrors Mattie’s. Finally, Mattie’s close friends Lucy and Tessa, serve as great foils and sometimes, in Tessa’s case, fun comic relief. Even the adult characters, such as Mattie’s teacher, mother, and older sister, feel both real and well-rounded. Moments that highlight the characters’ growth, particularly Liam’s last rehearsal and Mattie’s writing her note to Gemma, really shine and stick with the reader. After reading, I wanted to go back and read these scenes again. The LGBTQA+ aspects of Mattie’s (and, less in the spotlight but still there, Gemma’s) growth is handled with care: this is not Mattie’s only story line, nor is it handled with kid-gloves. At one point, Mattie confides in her older sister, who says something to her like: “there’s a word for what you’re feeling. It’s bisexual.” The way that this was handled was not a big deal, but it was not pushed aside either. In these ways, characterization is clearly one of the author’s strong points. 

The love in this text for Shakespeare’s play is clear and appreciated. Star-Crossed shows young readers that Shakespeare doesn’t have to be confusing: it can be fun, funny, and even profound. The parallels in the book to Romeo & Juliet, such as Mattie and Gemma’s meeting at a Halloween party, warmed my former English major heart. And as a former English major, I deeply appreciated this aspect of the book.       

What Does Not Work Well About It?

One element that I feel that could have been better about Star-Crossed was the characterization of Willow, the class mean girl, and her group. Though the majority of characterization in Star-Crossed was very well done, Willow in particular felt a bit one-note mean girl. Though arguably the story was not about her, just one more moment of character growth for Willow could have gone a long way in my opinion. Similarly, Elijah fades into the background without much of an effect.

What Improvements Could Be Made?

If I were to suggest an improvement, it would be that discussed above: I would add just one more moment for the development of side characters like Willow and Elijah that seem to be one-note or fade off. Other than that, I would not change anything else about Star-Crossed.

My Overall Thoughts

Star-Crossed by Barbara Dee is a well-rounded middle grade novel about growing up with a big heart and appreciation for theater, specifically Shakespeare. I would absolutely recommend Star-Crossed to anyone who enjoys middle grade literature!

Thank you for reading! Come back soon for my next review, and send me a message if you would like to suggest a topic!

#book review #review #reviews #star-crossed #barbara dee

[quasar-concept]

『Good brother, kill as many enemies as you can. We can compare who killed the most on the way to the afterlife』

Feng Non

#star-crossed #barbara dee #purple book stack #purple books #cover love #bookworm #reading #book photography #book tag #bookblr #middle grade fiction #book babble

[vale-reads]

Just finished chapter 9 of Star-Crossed and i officially adore this book.

Mattie's crush on Gemma that she doesn't realise is a crush is pretty much exactly how I felt about girls I had crushes on at that age. That combined with the fact that I adore Romeo and Juliet and the way Mattie's drawn into it is just me exactly.

I know I'm not exactly the target audience anymore but reading this book I can forget that I'm an adult now, it really takes me back to bring in secondary school (though mostly the good parts and definitely not the really awful parts).

Tbh I kinda wanna cry a little because I really wish I had had this book when I was a kid and i know if I read it at 13 it'd probably be one of my favourite books.

...and I'm not even half way through yet.

#star crossed #barbara dee #i am in love woth this book #thank you barbara dee

[the-dust-jacket]

#Barbara Dee #Avi #Alex Gino #Raina Telgmeier #Drama #Romeo and Juliet Together (and alive!) At Last #george saunders #star crosse #Love That? Read This!

[lgbtqreads]

Sapphic f/f preferably middle grade

Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake

The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James by Ashley Herring Blake

Hazel Bly and the Deep Blue Sea by Ashley Herring Blake

Hurricane Child by Kacen Callender

Star Crossed by Barbara Dee

Redwood and Ponytail by K.A. Holt

In the Role of Brie Hutchens… by Nicole Melleby

Candidly Cline by Kathryn Ormsbee

#LGBTQReads #Middle Grade #wlw books