Werewolf Hamlet

by Kerry Madden-Lunsford

Humor, heart, and Shakespeare abound in this middle-grade novel about Angus, a 10-year-old theater fanatic, his struggling family, and his changing relationship with big brother Liam.

Perfect for fans of books that handle difficult subjects and family dynamics in a sensitive way, like Better Nate Than Ever and Rule of Threes.

10-year-old Angus is unique. He quotes Shakespeare and wants to stage a Werewolf Hamlet play for his 5th grade legacy project. Angus's 17-year-old brother, Liam, is like a werewolf now—Angus never knows if he'll be nice or mean or when he'll sneak out to get drunk or worse.

Meanwhile, tension continues to build for Liam's family in Los Angeles. Mom and Dad are going to default on the mortgage. Older sister Hannah is fed up and ready to move herself to Maine, and little sister Sidney doesn't really get what's happening. Then Liam goes missing, and Angus decides he has to find him.

A realistic, heartfelt look at the complexities of family relationships and struggles. Along with Angus's loveable charm, sense of humor, and desire to stage his original play, Werewolf Hamlet is sure to win its audience—on and off the page—over.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Shakespeare, Addiction, Childrens

Unknown Binding

First published February 18, 2025

Reviews

[Amina · Rating 4 out of 5]

✰ 3.75 stars ✰

“Is it possible to miss somebody who still lives in the same house with you?”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Once you get over the initial shock of Angus' mother throwing her shoes at him so he would have something to wear - she was frazzled and running late - oh, just read it! - Werewolf Hamlet is a heartfelt, sweet, & sincere ode to brothers, the theater & Shakespeare, and the streets of Los Angeles. 👏🏻👏🏻 Brimming with the yearning of a young eleven-year-old boy who only wants his fifth grade legacy to be one that captures not only his love for Hamlet but the brotherly bond that he has somehow lost along the way with his seventeen-year-old brother is both a touching reflection and a believable heartfelt portrayal of how a family struggles to cope with the changes of a son who is spiraling into chaos, while also grappling with their own financial problems, but still collectively combine their strength and courage and conviction that things will somehow have a way of working out. 🙏🏻🙏🏻

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ You cannot help but feel for 'Angus Gettlefinger, a fifth-grade boy minding his own business (mostly) and living his fifth-grade life, who would like his big brother, Liam, to start acting like a normal brother again—', because the person he has become, is not the brother he loves and adores. 🙅🏻‍♀️ He has changed, transformed with completely uncharacteristic behavior that the only explanation he can reassure himself with is that he is, in fact, a werewolf.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Paired with the theater aficionado that he was, his love for theatre and silent screen film stars of yesteryear - Chaplin and the like who popped in every now and then with their own expertise and advice - he was so dedicated and committed to trying to do his best to see reason to Liam's sudden shifts - his mood swings - his erratic behavior, not really understanding that he was spiraling because of his own descent into wild ways of 'constant sneaking out, smoking, drinking, truancy, and getting-fired' makes his family that more desperate to protect him even more. Their concern is palpable in the efforts they're trying to do to keep him on the right path. 😟

“I know the real Liam is in there. Let him out!
Where’s my brother? Give him back now!”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The little snippets interspersed throughout that shed light on their past relationship showed just how close they were that I teared up at times. I teared up, actually even more when he and his sisters were losing everything they love and still trying to be a family. 😥 Hannah and Sidney were believable sisters; even Liam showed the signs of a boy hidden under that changed behavior that was so sad to see - the teenage rebellion that was hellbent on being disobedient. My heart hurt when Liam went so out of control that Angus' own hostility to the 'beast from Planet Liam, but the mangy alien werewolf hasn’t proved to me he’s truly sorry.' 🥺

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The Shakespeare insults and barbs were clever! And funny! The writing was - not enthusiastic - but it felt alive in trying to capture how Angus' love for drama and his love for his brother was the driving force for pushing himself so hard to make Werewolf Hamlet a riveting success, more than just his legacy. 🥹 The author deftly interwove the Shakespeare allusions well enough that you could not tell if they were original or created; till the end, of course. Even the little moments when Angus spoke to himself, his imagination painting a better version of his reality, was so relatable. 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

“I feel the blood and the rage start to rise behind my eyes when I cry out, “‘Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t’!”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ I enjoyed the characters - his teachers, his enemies, his friends, Zoe & Conner - each of them brought a little something extra to enliven and enrich his life in a way that was typical to that of a ten-year-old, just living their fifth-grade life. Even Angus' family - though their life was complicated enough with more than enough burdens imaginable - they loved and cared for each other deeply. 🫂 Their beloved dog, Renfield was a star of his own; even when not on stage, he was the loyal friend that their family needed and cherished - a balm to their pains and the soothing touch to Angus' own frightened feelings that were captured convincingly so.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ As it was my first time reading this author, I did find it quite refreshing. A bit of an imbalance with how slightly too perfect the ending was - but, c'mon, they deserved some happiness - I still enjoyed my time with it. 💞💞 I was taken by the love for Los Angeles and its lush history of film and Angus' love for it. It was just very honest, if not theatrical in the way Angus on a whim would belie his emotions with a Shakespeare zeal, but it was sweet. And real. And I just felt a deep empathy for his pain over losing the memory of an older brother to something he had no control over, let alone his own brother being in control of his antics. To see that conflicted state through his young eyes was heartbreaking. 😟

“Liam said, “I just need you guys to trust me.”

But he looked like he was about to cry, and Mom and Dad looked like they were about to believe him and kill him at the same time.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ I did wish that some parts of focus on Liam's own story could have been explored in a more understanding sense. I mean, it was treated very lightly and not as seriously as it could have amounted to; or perhaps, since it is not from Angus' pov, we were not privy to what Liam and his parents were facing. Perhaps to keep the tone not as serious and emotional as it already was, but it still ended on a hopeful and positive note that paved the way for chance and a change for all. ❤️‍🩹

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The Three Cs were very wise; for anyone struggling with an addiction, or anyone who knows someone who is struggling, they were helpful and integral for the Gettlefinger family to come to terms that their son did need help.

“You didn’t cause it. You can’t control it. And you can’t cure it.

A friend said, “But we can learn to cope,” and another friend said, “And create.””

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ It was definitely a memorable middle-grade read for me. I'm always eternally grateful when writing fits the audience. Not to say that kids are not smart at that age - hey, I was a kid, too! 😅 - but, it just works well for the intended audience - that makes me appreciate it more. ✨

*Thank you to Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the adventurous story of a little kid Angus who quotes Shakespeare and has little to no idea why his seventeen year old older brother Liam is snarky all the time. He is struggling with the tension in his family regarding his parents, his older sister Hannah getting fed up with them all and a little sister who doesn’t understand anything yet.

He has this entire responsibility upon him to fix things as he can when his brother goes missing and has to stage his play “Werewolf Hamlet”. This plays a huge role in fixing the gap between him and his brother.

I find the notes in between (text messages between him and Liam) quite endearing and adorable!

The parents are little crazy and too busy which I can understand with four kids. But yes it gets a bit too much in the story now and then.

But yes all’s well that ends well!

The writing is good, fast paced with amazing character development.

Thank you, Charlesbridge Moves, for the ARC.

[MPF · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much for letting me read an ARC of this— I thought I knew what to expect but Werewolf Hamlet blew me away. I’m going to be thinking about this story for a long time, and can only imagine the positive, nurturing impact this will have on kids dealing with the issues tackled here: family members with a substance use disorder, financial difficulties, a sudden move, and the daily strife of 5th grade.

Angus’ voice gripped me from the start. It was an extremely engaging smooth read. I fell in love with the characters and how real they felt (and will absolutely be borrowing their vocab— the ‘tar feeling’ is so great). I loved the use of different media, from the little screenplays Angus writes of what he wishes his life would be like to the conversations-with-Liam at the end of every chapter. This story is kind, compassionate and honest about the difficult topics it tackles. It very unexpectedly moved me to tears multiple times— it’s a story of hope, compassion, trust and forgiveness. I was so glad Angus got his well-earned moment in the spotlight, and relieved that he might stop taking responsibility for ‘fixing’ or helping Liam find his way back to himself. This is the very best of middle grade fiction. Vivid, funny, and unforgettable, I will absolutely be recommending this to everyone!!

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

From a young age, Angus could quote Shakespeare and now even dreams about producing a Werewolf Hamlet play for his fifth-grade legacy project. But lately, he's been most concerned about his older brother, Liam and all the changes that he has been going through. Liam has been sneaking out at night, snapping at Angus for no reason, and becoming increasingly more difficult to interact with. In addition, Liam and his parents are frequently arguing. Their family has been facing financial difficulties lately too, leading to considerable tension regarding the next steps. His older sister, Hannah, is feeling frustrated and is considering moving to Maine, while their younger sister hasn't fully grasped the gravity of the situation.

Angus believes that if he can persuade Liam to come to his play, he will have the opportunity to show him how much he's changed and maybe he'll even be able to get his older brother back. Angus is a genuinely kind and caring boy who just wants his brother to be the one he knew. The one who taught him everything he knows about Houdini and how to make a superb Shakespeare insult. I certainly felt a lot of sympathy for how Angus was feeling.

Each chapter highlights a little conversation between Liam and Angus, it's a nice way of highlighting the closeness that they once shared. Along the way, Angus enlists the help of some of his fellow classmates. I quite enjoyed Conner, the new boy at school who desperately missed living in Alabama and who keeps saying that they're going to be going back real soon. This is a story about ultimately coming to the realization that we can't truly "fix" someone else. That sometimes we need to listen and hope that someone can find their own way back.

** A huge thank you to Blue Slip Media for the E- ARC in exchange for an honest review**

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't been reading many middle grade novels of late. That being said, my former writing instructor, Kerry, wrote a beautiful book about family, addiction, and the importance of art, especially in our darkest moments. There are elements of old Hollywood and the present-day Sunset Strip woven into the narrative. I loved the descriptions as the kids traveled the streets of the East Hollywood, Silverlake, and Echo Park. Then there are these sweet (and not so sweet) interludes with the two brothers sharing their sleepy thoughts and Shakespearean insults. Kerry has a gift for capturing the voice and angst of being a fifth grader. As someone who works in mental health, I appreciated the personal letter to readers at the end with important resources for those going through addiction with a loved one. "Werewolf Hamlet" does not shy away from the complexities of family and loving each other through tough times.

[Mora · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was lovely. it was full of heart and family, with that mix of frustration and arguments and love and misplaced worry and huge, heavy concerns that aren't quite ever resolved seen through the eyes of a fifth grader. i loved also the way hamlet was integrated, and how angus explained why he thought of werewolves related to hamlet and the interpretations he took of the play, and how that in turn related to his brother. it all made sense in the context of his real life and was incredibly genuine. really really well done. would recommend for people who enjoyed the wednesday wars for the same reason.

[Tim Cummings · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bold, beautiful, and important way to look at family addiction--through the eyes of a lovable 11-year-old who wants to put up a play called 'Werewolf Hamlet' for his 5th grade project. The notion of a person becoming a temporary, intermittent beast is how the young protagonist, Angus Jack Gettlefinger, manages to cope with what's happening to his older brother, Liam.

What I love most about Kerry Madden-Lunsford's middle-grade book is its seamless transitions between serious and quirky, funny and sad, hoping and hurting. The characters are all so genuine, so full of heart and yearning, and thankfully the book does not patronize its reader: rather than offer a pat, happy ending, the family instead begins to learn how to renege control, how to let go, how to live their own lives and still love one another, and the world around them, deeply.

[Dusty Folds · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was not what I was expecting and I loved it for that! Based on the cover image and the title, I was expecting it to be a werewolf version of Hamlet, and while that shows up in the novel, the book is about so much more. It centers on fifth grader Angus as he navigates his last year in elementary school while dealing with an older brother who has grown mysteriously distant and a family that is struggling with financial issues. The book also tackles issues of addiction, which I was not expecting. I was laughing and crying throughout the story.

There were some problems with the narration. Madden-Lunsford does a great job creating the young characters who appear on the page for a few minutes, but because Angus is our protagonist, his voice falters at times. Overall, though, I am so happy I read this book and feel a bit changed by it.

[Jen Nishi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the characterization and the family dynamics. I wish we knew more about Liam but as it’s not from his pov, I understand. I know some Shakespeare loving kids who would enjoy this book.

[Chrissy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The family at the center of Werewolf Hamlet is the star of the novel for me. They are all quirky, loveable, occasionally baffled by circumstances, but support each other in the only ways they can. Angus is an outcast in school, but is unapologetic about his hobbies and interests, which makes the flagging support of his older brother that much more hurtful. The werewolf trope is particularly apt for a teen whose actions, attitude and even outward appearance are changing, and not for the better in the eyes of his younger sibling. The part of the story I find less sensible is Hamlet. What with all the references to old Hollywood, Harry Houdini and even the different eras of music, I feel like the author could have found another piece of art to represent Angus and Liam's experiences. This book is chock-full of references, and most are of an age to be confusing to young readers, so adding in one of Shakespeare's most complicated works doesn't help the plot. However, the characters shine through, and the ending is hopeful, while remaining realistic about the difficult circumstances.

[Lizzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A moving, complex story with lots of humor and creativity. The characters are so lovable and it’s impossible not to love Angus. There’s also a great sense of time and place.

[Emily Deibert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Edelweiss and Charlesbridge Moves for the eARC of WEREWOLF HAMLET, out February 18th, 2025!

Angus is a wholly unique, funny, relatable protagonist who wants to do everything he can to help his older brother, who’s been spending more and more time staying out late and drinking, go back to his normal self. Inspired by his love of Shakespeare and classic cinema, Angus gets the idea to stage a 5th grade production of Hamlet—but with werewolves!—to show his brother how his behaviour has been affecting everyone around him. But not everyone is on board with the idea, and to complicate matters further, Angus’s family is at risk of being evicted from their LA home. Angus and his friends will have to work hard to make sure the play is a success—and maybe even save his older brother in the process.

I loved Angus’s quirky personality and how much he cared for everyone around him—from his brother, to his friends, to his adorable old dog. It was also really neat how the story combined regular prose with a screenplay format. This story was full of humour and heart and I know middle grade readers (and adult readers!) will love it.

[Alee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute, middle-grade novel that combines humor, heart, and a touch of Shakespearean flair. The story follows 10-year-old Angus, a theater enthusiast with a penchant for quoting Shakespeare, as he navigates the complexities of family life and his evolving relationship with his older brother, Liam.

Angus is a wonderful character whose passion for drama shines through his ambitious idea to stage a Werewolf Hamlet for his fifth-grade legacy project. You can't help but root for him as he confronts the challenges in front of him.

The relationship between Angus and Liam is central to the story, capturing both sibling love and rivalry. 

Thank you Net Galley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for a review.

[Sara Shacter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gorgeous book is impossible to put down. Angus is my new favorite middle grade character -- smart, funny, deeply kind, and utterly unique. (His love of early Hollywood stars and monster movies is charming.) I ached for him as he tried to "fix" his substance-dependent brother. Any young reader will want to follow Angus as he struggles with the challenges of fifth grade, his parents' financial travails, and the complexities of loving someone who doesn't always love himself.

[Antony Allard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angus is an engaging, adorable narrator. As the story unfolded I felt anxious that the ending would be bleak, but in fact, it felt very Shakespearean. Life continues. Ripeness is all. The readiness is all. Young kids endure the most challenging of circumstances and, boy, are the dream (and real) worlds of Angus facing challenges!? Any young reader facing similar problems or anxieties will surely be empowered and inspired by this tale. I felt like I was taken on a tour of Los Angeles seeing the city from a unique perspective and peeping into the private lives of family members in a series of crises. It's a complex novel - but, delightfully, it's also very funny both in linguistic playfulness and in set-piece sequences that would make hilarious scenes in a movie adaptation.

I loved the cast of secondary characters: Meemaw (and her wonderful final appearance), the Donut Lady, Menda the bus driver, Angus's friends Zora and Connor, the class "star" Maria Elena, Officer Bob... I got to know them all (and missed them all, especially Angus, when I closed the book after a three session binge-read over two days.)

Kerry Madden demonstrates considerable skill at revealing just enough of the adult world for adult readers to understand far more than Angus's developing brain. But Angus's playscripted revelations of conversations with his brother and insights into his imagination also keep the reader rooted in his perspective. As a reader I felt like I understood and empathised with Angus from beginning to end. But I also understood and empathised with the antagonists. Like many great books that helps you walk in other people's shoes the antagonists are not evil; they deserve understanding. As a dad, I felt for the dad who hovers helplessly on the fringes of our attention but in few brushstrokes is as vivid as Angus.

I laughed out loud regularly, teared up at least three times, and felt very satisfied (as a Shakespeare fan) that a middle grade novel could persuasively contain phrases like "you dankish rump-fed lewdster."!!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps younger YA! Angus, third child, a 5th grader, in the Gettlefinger family, older brother, Liam, and sister, Hannah. A younger sister, Sidney, who loves fairies, and within the family troubles, often doesn't understand. Angus tells the story and within it, ending some chapters, are recordings of what he may be imagining as conversations with his older brother Liam. They share a room, and Angus loses sleep many nights while Liam leaves, worrying if he'll return, and often returning very late smelling of drugs and alcohol. Angus has to live with making mistakes at school while teachers keep telling him what a great kid Liam was. Ugh, not ever fun for younger siblings.
The family, too, is in turmoil with financial problems, as , about to lose their apartment, will be moving into an even smaller one very soon. As young Sidney says, "The four closers are coming." And then, Liam disappears. While working on his school legacy project, the "werewolf" theme that Angus is sure will help Liam, Angus takes off from school to find him, and along comes two friends, a surprise with their own issues (like homesickness for a former state, and sometimes being perfect doesn't matter). They navigate all over the LA with famous homes of long-gone superstars, like Houdini, looking for Liam in where Angus knows are favorite places.
The book moves fast, interspersed with heavy sadness from the older parents to the youngest in the family. They do love each other, and their sweet dog, Renfield, too. The book cover even turns into a poster for Angus' play, with a few insults included! "Whack!" "Take that, ye werewolf!"
Thanks to Charlesbridge for my copy! I enjoyed this very much!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angus misses his brother, Liam. The brother who built a treehouse with Angus and Dad, who had toothpaste battles in their bedroom, who had sword fights in the backyard and watched old movies in the evenings. Now Liam sneaks out their bedroom window every night and returns a long time later slurring his words and smelling funny. In addition to missing Liam, Angus keeps seeing the letters from the bank stamped with big red letters that lead to his mom and dad whispering in their bedroom so the kids can’t hear them. Angus can’t solve his family’s money problems, but he comes up with an idea he thinks might bring his brother back to him. He’s hoping when Liam sees his fifth grade legacy project, Hamlet recast with werewolves, he’ll recognize himself and change his behavior so life can be normal again.

This book not only entertains, but also comforts readers who are dealing with family members who are grappling with issues of drug and alcohol abuse. It’s also about friendships, family, old time Hollywood actors, Houdini, Los Angeles, a loving dog and how addiction can affect an entire family . Readers will cheer Angus on as he persuades his principal and his teacher to allow his unusual fifth grade legacy project to continue. They’ll admire him for his courage as he and his two friends search LA for his missing brother. And they’ll feel his hope that Liam will once again be the big brother he used to be.

The back matter includes short biographies of the old Hollywood characters, Shakespear, quotes used in the story, an important letter to the readers about the author’s family and a list of organizations who can help if family members are struggling with addiction.

[George Crowder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up in the sixties, a steady diet of Andy of Mayberry, Leave It to Beaver, and Father Knows Best inculcated the belief that the typical family is happy and relatively tranquil, and its problems are resolved within thirty minutes (including commercials).

Years have eroded this mistaken notion, and in Kerry Madden’s fine novel, the Gettlefinger clan is a splendid case in point. They are sometimes happy, always entertaining, and the children (especially the protagonist, Angus) will carry many worries throughout childhood.

Angus’s problems are not easily solved, particularly his concerns about his older brother, Liam, a particularly well-wrought character with budding substance abuse and mental disorders, hints of mania, narcissism, grandiosity, and perhaps a touch of sociopathy. He’s manipulative, shirks responsibility, and seldom expresses remorse. As Angus eventually realizes, his brother’s problems are different, and in some ways, more troubling than those of a werewolf. This is an amusing, frequently funny book that deals with serious issues.

While this is targeted at the middle grade market, the issues and characters will appeal as well to adults, who may resonate with the abundant references to silent film characters and musicians of the last century which will be alien to most young people. With the exception of werewolves (and actually zombies are more au currant) this book is refreshingly free of references to contemporary phenomena such as social media, gaming, Ubering, and AI.

Highly recommended!

[Erin Buhr · Rating 4 out of 5]

WEREWOLF HAMLET 📚 is about a creative fifth grader, Angus, who is worried about his teenaged brother’s werewolf like habits while trying to convince his teacher to allow him to produce a werewolf version of Hamlet for his 5th grade legacy project. About halfway through, Angus’ brother goes missing and he tries to find him with his two friends.

I love the voice of Angus who is both a confident quoter of Shakespeare and an uncertain kid who forgets his shoes. Like all kids this age he is learning who he is and where his place is in his family and world. More than anything he loves his brother and that is the heart of this story.

I struggle a little with what age to recommend this for so I’m going to share some disclaimers and let you decide. The main character is 10 years old and in fifth grade. A big part of the story, however, is dealing with his teenage brother who has recently begun drinking, smoking and sneaking out of the house and the anxiety this causes Angus. There are some mentions of a relative with alcoholism. The family’s home is in danger of foreclosure which causes a lot of anxiety. I think the characters/author dealt with all of this well but younger middle grade readers might find some of it to be too much.

Overall, I really enjoyed this middle grade novel. It is creative, fun and full of heart.

[✧ Beanie Reads ✧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
3.5 stars rounded down

This book would likely be starred higher by other people, but me and the writing style just didn't fully mesh. But this is a hard-hitting book that made it so I kept feeling things even when the writing style didn't work for me. I found myself aching for Angus and his family. The splinters you were were realistic and raw.

Know going into this plot that it doesn't just end with everything magically fixed. It's, again, very real in that way. This story follows the unraveling of Angus's Werewolf Hamlet play, not so much the family getting through a hardship and coming out sparkling at the end.

Overall, I do recommend this book. It's not afraid to throw out punches that are tamed due to it being a middle grade book, but despite that, really make you feel for the family. But just know the writing style is particular, and you'll likely either love it or be meh toward it like me.

[MG · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an entertaining and endearing middle grade book. It was also sad in a realistic way and more mature than a lot of other children's books I've read. It handled some tough but real issues in a delicately realistic way. I liked the characters and the way the family functioned. It was hard to read at times but was also wholesome in a way. I liked the fact that there wasn't a cliffhanger, but everything wasn't tied up in a neat bow. I wouldn't mind reading more about the characters if there's ever a sequel.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

[LS Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a theater lover, Angus wants a twist on Hamlet. It's very creative. But it's also a way for him to cope with his brother's behavior. He and Liam have always been close and Angus wants that relationship back. This is a story about addiction, family dynamics involving big circumstances, and friendships. But there is also humor and Angus' ability to ask for help and stay committed to what he finds important. This is not a "happily every after" story, but it is hopeful.

[Corinne · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the characters act like real kids and have distinct interests, personalities and inside jokes--you can tell the author has kids. I appreciated the topic of a teen sibling who is experimenting with alcohol and staying out all night and generally going to pieces--it's not a common theme, and it's handled here without a huge tragic climax-just a kid who wants his hairy, loud, angry brother to go back to the brother he looks up to and wants to hang out with.

[Emily McKee]

This is an approximately 7 hour audiobook. I made it through 2.5.

I was interested in the Hamlet half of the title, rather than the Werewolf half. 5th grader Angus’s family is struggling financially, and his 17 year old brother is sneaking out, lying, and using drugs.

The writing is strong, but I just couldn’t handle Angus’s stress and trauma anymore. Hamlet is a tragedy, and I just didn’t like where this was going.

[Judith Teitelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kerry Madden-Lunsford’s “Werewolf Hamlet” is a tale overflowing with heart, compassion, and deep insights. Intended for YA, it fully enraptured this “adult.” The story realistically—at times painfully—captures the challenges of being 10 years old, 5th grade, siblings, parents, friendships, daily realities, addiction, creative expression, and individuality. All woven with much joy and humor.

[kayla michelle pisano ✮ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this cause I liked the title. Had no idea it’d be about substance abuse— handled very well. The whole book had a lot of tough and mature themes but handled realistically, and most importantly, through the eyes of a quirky 10 year old. I really liked this. Also, Werewolf Hamlet concept is sick.

[Manasa J · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book expressed all of my anxiety with my family into something beautiful, which made me realise what I was going through. I felt myself in each line of this book, and it showed me something fundamental I was missing in my life. I loved this book a lot!!

[Stan Yan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A surprisingly funny take on a serious topic of families living with substance abusers. I couldn't love this book and it's characters more, which made it a real rollercoaster ride for me of alternating hope and tragedy, wrapped in a love letter to old Hollywood.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF for Werewolf Hamlet. Just wasn't grabbing my attention.

[Kellee Moye · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an educator, I have over the years sadly heard about so many different tough situations that my students were dealing with: being unhoused, divorce, death in the family, mental health struggles, etc. Too often, middle grade books stay away from tough topics because they are “too mature,” but anyone who has worked with middle graders has wished at different times that there was the perfect book to give to students at a certain moment of time but couldn’t find it–this book is going to be the perfect book at one of those times.

What an interesting mix within this book: Shakespeare, classic movies & movie stars, Los Angeles, growing up, foreclosure, runaway, pet wellness, friendship, and more. It seems like a lot, but it just works in this book because all of it is what makes Angus and his story come to life. Parts were hard to read, such as descriptions of Angus’s brother spiraling into addiction; Angus and his friends making more choices to find his brother; Angus’s families financial struggles and eviction; Angus’s dogs illness; and Angus’s struggles at school, but the author does a great job with including enough for emotional response and plot/character development and keeping the story developmentally relevant.

Full review with educators' tools: https://www.unleashingreaders.com/28746