DAHLIA ADLER
author/blogger
that way madness lies:
15 of shakespeare's most notable works reimagined
(Flatiron Books/macmillan audio)
now available in paperback, ebook, and audio
​
​
​
Fifteen acclaimed YA writers put their modern spin on William Shakespeare’s celebrated classics! West Side Story. 10 Things I Hate About You. Kiss Me, Kate. Contemporary audiences have always craved reimaginings of Shakespeare’s most beloved works. Now, some of today’s best writers for teens take on the Bard in these 15 whip-smart and original retellings!
Contributors include Dahlia Adler (reimagining The Merchant of Venice), Kayla Ancrum (The Taming of the Shrew), Lily Anderson (As You Like It), Patrice Caldwell (Hamlet), Melissa Bashardoust (A Winter’s Tale), A.R. Capetta and Cory McCarthy (Much Ado About Nothing), Brittany Cavallaro (Sonnet 147), Joy McCullough (King Lear), Anna-Marie McLemore (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Samantha Mabry (Macbeth), Tochi Onyebuchi (Coriolanus), Mark Oshiro (Twelfth Night), Lindsay Smith (Julius Caesar), Kiersten White (Romeo and Juliet), and Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka (The Tempest).
Cover art: Jon Contino
Cover design: Keith Hayes
​
Originally published March 16, 2021
A Bank Street Best Young Adult Book of the Year
A BookPage Most Anticipated Book of 2021
​
"From comedy to tragedy to sonnet, from texts to storms to prom, this collection is a knockout.” —BuzzFeed.com
​
"Thoughtfully curated by Adler (His Hideous Heart), this sumptuous anthology reframes Shakespeare’s work, linking themes to contemporary concerns while bringing a critical eye to the originals’ cultural assumptions. With its range of narrative styles and diverse protagonists, this collection offers much to savor." ―Publishers Weekly
​
“Queer and diverse, this Shakespeare anthology takes 15 of the Bard’s most iconic works and builds an eclectic collection that successfully subverts the original white heteronormative canon. Built-in curriculum potential and excellent representation mean school libraries in particular will find this anthology a worthy purchase.” ―School Library Journal
“That Way Madness Lies is a must-read for theater kids ready to consider their favorite comedies and tragedies in a new way, as well as Shakespeare skeptics who might be more willing to warm up to William if his story of star crossed lovers involved an incredibly high stakes text chain.” ―Booklist
“Ranging from grim and gritty to starry-eyed and futuristic, these 15 stories retell the Bard’s works as they’ve rarely been presented before...a radical reimagining and avant-garde interpretation of Shakespeare.” ―Kirkus Reviews
"The majority of the stories stand capably on their own merits but will be enriched by familiarity with—or better yet, reading alongside—Shakespeare’s original plays and sonnets. Budding writers may even be inspired to put their own spins on the Bard of Avon’s timeless tales." ―Bookpage
​
"From a Twelfth Night–inspired prom tale to a Romeo and Juliet reimagining told entirely through texts, there’s a story for everyone in this compelling compilation."―BookBub
​
"Extraordinary, unique, and entertaining."―Midwest Book Review
“That Way Madness Lies is a spectacular, spell-binding Shakespearean collection that you will fall deeply in love with...Each tale is a gem in the glittering crown of this anthology, which is one of the best anthologies I’ve ever read.” —The Nerd Daily
“That Way Madness Lies is a stunning collection of laughs, heartbreak, and beauty. Both the authors and the source material shine in this wonderful book.” ―PaperbackParis.com
​
"If you can't get enough of individual Shakespeare retellings, That Way Madness Lies features 15 YA short-story retellings of many different Shakespeare plays, including The Taming of the Shrew and The Merchant of Venice. You won't want to miss many celebrated young-adult authors, including Anna-Marie McLemore and Mark Oshiro, offer their takes on classic tales."―Distractify
​
"A delightful listen for Shakespeare fans looking for a more contemporary approach."―AudioFile