Ronit & Jamil (edition 2017)

by Pamela L. Laskin (Author)

Members	Reviews	Popularity	Average rating	Mentions
73	3	364,075	(3.04)	2
Pamela L. Laskin's beautiful and lyrical novel in verse delivers a fresh and captivating retelling of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet that transports the star-crossed lovers to the modern-day Israel-Palestine conflict. Ronit, an Israeli girl, lives on one side of the fence. Jamil, a Palestinian boy, lives on the other side. Only miles apart but separated by generations of conflict--much more than just the concrete blockade between them. Their fathers, however, work in a distrusting but mutually beneficial business arrangement, a relationship that brings Ronit and Jamil together. And lightning strikes. The kind of lightning that transcends barrier fences, war, and hatred. The teenage lovers fall desperately into the throes of forbidden love, one that would create an irreparable rift between their families if it were discovered. But a love this big can only be kept secret for so long. Ronit and Jamil must face the fateful choice to save their lives or their loves, as it may not be possible to save both.… (more)

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Member:	rgruberexcel
Title:	Ronit & Jamil
Authors:	Pamela L. Laskin (Author)
Info:	Katherine Tegen Books (2017), 192 pages
Collections:	Your library
Rating:
Tags:	grade 8, realistic fiction, verse, palestinian, israeli, romeo and juliet

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Ronit & Jamil by Pamela L. Laskin

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I don't know. I thought the bad ratings were maybe high expectations unmet, but now that I read it, I see the problems.
It's all so unrealistic. Yes, there's insta-love, but just the situation doesn't feel right. I think this could have been better in a more traditional format, rather than prose.
I don't know. Overall, I'm just unimpressed. It's a great concept, I just think the product was lacking. (

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hexenlibrarian | May 19, 2020 |

The premise of this book was amazing! A modern day re-telling of Romeo and Juliet with a Palestinian Boy and an Israeli girl falling for each other in Israel. It's written in verse and intended for teens, but honestly this whole book just fell short for me. The poetry was clunky rather than fluid, they were using cell phones to communicate, and honestly it was more about their differences than their love. I feel like this book was aimed to get teenagers to learn about the conflicts in Israel, but it didn't do anything for the heart of the story, the romance, the Romeo and Juliet vibe. Great concept, just sad it fell short of the mark. If you really want to check it out though it is a SUPER quick read and can be gotten through in an hour. (

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ecataldi | Dec 22, 2017 |

Every high school student reading ROMEO & JULIET, or any teacher, or any lover of young adult books in verse, should read Pamela L. Laskin's moving RONIT & JAMIL, a retelling of the classic with Ronit as a young Israeli and Jami as a Palestinian. In lyrical, confessional verses told in alternating voices for most of this short novel, (their father's voices come in at the end as a counterpoint, but I vastly preferred the young lovers voices), the challenge of falling in love across cultural, religious-- and political divides is evoked. Checkpoints, bombings, and fences/walls of modern Israel are included as the two teens struggle to come to terms with their past, present and future. I was profoundly moved by their stories, which interwoven, at times, lines from Shakespeare's original as well as from modern Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish and others. Laskin does not take sides between Israeli and Palestinian, but rather presents both sides within the questioning human heart. (

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cabockwrites | Mar 13, 2017 |

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Sydney Taylor Book Award (Mass Import -- Pending Differentiation)

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Tayshas High School Reading List (2018)

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Pamela L. Laskin's beautiful and lyrical novel in verse delivers a fresh and captivating retelling of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet that transports the star-crossed lovers to the modern-day Israel-Palestine conflict. Ronit, an Israeli girl, lives on one side of the fence. Jamil, a Palestinian boy, lives on the other side. Only miles apart but separated by generations of conflict--much more than just the concrete blockade between them. Their fathers, however, work in a distrusting but mutually beneficial business arrangement, a relationship that brings Ronit and Jamil together. And lightning strikes. The kind of lightning that transcends barrier fences, war, and hatred. The teenage lovers fall desperately into the throes of forbidden love, one that would create an irreparable rift between their families if it were discovered. But a love this big can only be kept secret for so long. Ronit and Jamil must face the fateful choice to save their lives or their loves, as it may not be possible to save both.

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