Day’s YA: TWELFTH KNIGHT

TWELFTH KNIGHT by Alexene Farol Follmuth
9781250884893
5/28/2024
Tor Teen
Ages 13-18

E-galley available on Edelweiss and NetGalley

After long days of running the school as Vice President, stubborn and prickly Viola likes to unwind by playing a video game called Twelfth Knight. But knowing how terribly girls are treated in the gaming world, she chooses to log on as an anonymous boy to avoid the inevitable misogyny. Jack “Duke” Orsino is the school’s star football player (at least he was until he busted his ACL), school president, and a constant thorn in Vice President Viola’s side. With a lot of free time on his hands as he recovers from surgery, he discovers Twelfth Knight and is immediately sucked into the world. When Vi’s character and Duke’s character start battling together in the game, Vi pretends to be her brother, Bash, and the two become online friends. 

Meanwhile, in the real world, Duke is trying to get his girlfriend back, and Vi is trying to figure out why she seems to scare away all of her friends. The more she stands up for herself and demands respect, the more hated she becomes. When the two volunteer to help at MagiCon, they are thrown together again and begin to form a tenuous friendship, slowly getting to know each other more. As their friendship grows closer and evolves into something more, their online conversations turn to life and love, and soon Duke confesses to “Bash” that he has feelings for Vi. Eventually the truth catches up with Vi, and she must decide if it’s worth it to be vulnerable and let people see the real her. 

As someone who somehow managed to get through high school without reading much Shakespeare, my only prior exposure to the story retold here is through many, many rewatches of She’s the Man. But take my word for it that prior knowledge is not needed to thoroughly enjoy this retelling. Vi’s character development is incredibly relatable, and her relationship with Duke is the epitome of golden retriever boy meets black cat girl. Their grumpy/sunshine dynamic is the source of many humorous moments. I think this will particularly resonate with anyone who plays tabletop or video games, anyone who has had to navigate difficult high school friendships, and anyone who could use a good laugh. With a witty plot, a heartwarming slow burn romance, and a delightful cast of characters, this charming rendition of a Shakespeare classic is sure to steal the heart of all readers.

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If you’d like to hear Alexene talk about TWELFTH KNIGHT, you can watch the recording of our Spring 2024 Librarian Preview here!

Happy Reading!
<3 Emily

YA Resources:
Books for Teens 2024
Day’s YA Archives
Adult Books for Teens 2024