Romeo And Juliet – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Romeo And Juliet

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book1996

81%

WISE Score

A 90s-era graphic novel shortcut to Shakespeare that helps the plot stick without the 'thee' and 'thou' headache.

Romeo And Juliet

book

1996

81%

WISE Score

A 90s-era graphic novel shortcut to Shakespeare that helps the plot stick without the 'thee' and 'thou' headache.

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Screenwise Verdict

If your kid is staring at a Shakespeare assignment like it’s written in ancient Hieroglyphics, this 1996 adaptation is a solid liferaft. It’s not the most 'modern' looking book on the shelf—the art definitely screams '90s school library'—but it gets the job done by translating the complexity into a narrative that actually moves.

It’s a functional tool for intentional parents who want to bridge the gap between 'I hate reading' and 'I understand the classics.' Just be ready for the fact that it doesn't shy away from the stabbings and the poison. It’s the real story, just with more pictures and fewer footnotes.

Age Fit

Best for ages 12 and up. Middle schoolers are in the prime 'intense emotion' phase where the melodrama of the plot actually resonates, and they are old enough to handle the tragic ending.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It's the ultimate tragedy. While it's a literary pillar, the core plot involves a double teen suicide and a bloody family feud. It's not 'wholesome' in the sunshine-and-rainbows sense, but it's emotionally honest about the intensity of adolescence.

Imaginative

Shakespeare's world-building and wordplay are unmatched. This specific 1996 adaptation uses a 'cartoon' format to help kids visualize a world that can often feel distant and abstract when just reading plain text.

Safe

It's a book, so there are no surprise jump scares or predatory algorithms. However, the themes are heavy: murder, suicide, and intense grief. The 'cartoon' format makes these visual, so it's less of a surprise than the original play.

Enriching

This is a foundational piece of Western literacy. The inclusion of essays on themes and characters turns this from a simple comic into a legitimate study tool that builds critical thinking and vocabulary.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Visual decoding helps kids who struggle with the dense, archaic language of the original play by providing clear situational context through the art.
Built-in study guides and essays mean this isn't just a fun read; it's a legitimate leg up for high school English prep.
Low-barrier entry to a story that most kids find intimidating, making the 'star-crossed lovers' trope actually understandable.
Pacing is tight compared to the five-act stage play, keeping the momentum high for reluctant readers.

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What to Watch For

The ending is still a double suicide, and the graphic novel format makes that final scene in the tomb much more literal and visual than just words on a page.
The 1996 art style can feel a bit 'educational clip-art' compared to modern manga or high-end graphic novels, which might trigger some 'this is for school' groans.
It simplifies the dialogue, which is great for comprehension but means the kid is missing out on the actual poetic rhythm of the original iambic pentameter.

Conversation Starters

"Do you think Romeo and Juliet were actually in love, or were they just obsessed with the drama of it all?"
"If they had cell phones and could have just texted 'hey, I'm faking my death,' would the ending have been different?"
"Why do you think the two families hated each other so much they were willing to let their kids die for it?"
"Does the 'cartoon' style make the sad parts easier to handle, or does it make them feel more real?"

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