Blog Chain: Mash-ups and Re-tellings

Margie's topic: Pick a book or story and imagine it in a new genre. For example, what would Oliver Twist be like if it was a sci-fi novel. Would Fagin have been a robot? Do you prefer your new creation or the original?"

Okay, just for fun let's imagine Romeo and Juliet ...

as a YA Paranormal Romance. 

Sixteen-year-old Romeo Montague, a nice boy from a nice family is as intrigued as anybody else when the Capulet family moves in. Parents, daughter, cousins, aunts: they all have perfect bodies, loads of cash, and impeccable style. But when Romeo finds out about the rivalry between his father and Joe Capulet going all the way back to elementary school, he understands Juliet Capulet is off limits. 

The Capulets have a secret, a reason for returning to Huckleberry Falls after a decade away. Juliet is about to come of age, whatever that means. Romeo's best friend Mercutio overheard Joe Capulet whisper of taking her to the top of the highest waterfall for some strange ritual. For the boring old hick town of Huckleberry Falls, this sounds like opening night at a rock 'n roll concert, so of course he wouldn't miss it for the world. But what they expect to be entertainment turns to tragedy when Juliet's demented cousin hears Mercutio snickering and throws him over the Falls to a stony death. Juliet, glowing like a firefly, dives into the abyss after him, lifting his broken body as if it were weightless. Her tears fall on his face, and Mercutio awakens from death.

But Mercutio will never be the same. His wicked wit gone, he jumps at shadows and whispers to himself about angels and gods, turning him from Mr. Popular into the Huckle High resident freak, and Romeo into his always-angry protector. Romeo mourns the loss of his friend while having to defend him from the cruel kids in school who are only too happy to take revenge for all the cutting things Mercutio used to say. To make matters worse, Juliet keeps trying to edge her way into Romeo's life, inviting him back to the Falls and certain death at the hands of her kin. 

In his nightmares, he sees her, the angel of justice, meting out God's wrath upon him. Then the nightmares melt into dreams of soft ruby lips and the smell of honeysuckle in the mist. He's at the falls with her again, as at home in her arms as his own childhood bedroom. In horror, he awakes, shivering and wet at Huckleberry Falls. How many nights has he gone sleep-walking to the Falls? And why is Juliet's family staring at him as though he holds the key to their ascension?

Something has happened to him. He's glowing an eerie pale pink in the mist of the Falls. His memories unreliable at best, Romeo faces an impossible choice: betray his family's loyalty by helping their enemies gain ultimate power, or die at the hands of the fair Juliet.


Of course I'd prefer a YA Paranormal Romance to Shakespeare. His words were pretty, but I pretty much hate all his plots. :)

What do you think? Do you like mash-ups and re-tellings?

Check out Christine Fonseca's thoughts from yesterday and Demitria Lunetta's tomorrow.