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SHAKESPEARE

★ Basic information of the book

Author：Shakespeare

Retold：Karen Holmes

Series Editor：Andy Hopkins and Jocelyn Potter

Publishing and distributed by Person Education Limited

Word level：Intermediate (1700 words)

Classification：Classics British English

Number of Pages：60

This novel was composed of three great plays of Shakespeare－Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, King Lear. William Shakespeare was the most famous writer of plays in the English language. He wrote amusing plays with happy ending and historical plays, and the third type were serious and sad plays, like the three stories in this book.

Romeo and Juliet told the story of two important Lords of Verona. However, two families were long at feud with each other. In this play, hate had more power over people's lives than love. This lover came from different families became the sacrifice of the war. Finally, both of two Lords regretted and overcame their prejudice against each other. Yet, it was too late to save the lover's lives. Like the prince said,"this dark and cloudy end has brought a sad story."

Greedy for power is on the way to destroy one's life and reputation. Lord Macbeth, the great leader of Scottish army, and Lord Banquo, also an army leader, were friends. One day, they passed by three witches' front door. The witches predicted that Macbeth would be a king and Banquo's children and grandchildren would also become kings. "Perhaps these witches were telling truth, and perhaps they wanted to cause trouble and death." Then, gentle and kind Macbeth turned out to be an evil man. He had killed his king and Banquo, however, he couldn't escape his fate－killed by Banquo's son. I though the three witches were important to the story as a test of people's honesty and integrity.

King Lear, king of British, wanted to separate his Kingdom into three parts. He said he will give the best part to the daughter who loved him most. Nevertheless, his great age made him foolish. He didn't understand the characters of his three daughters. He only looked the surface of things and threw his youngest out. Yet, after he didn't govern his kingdom, the other two daughters became unfriendly and behaved coldly to him. Later, he was in exile. Though the king and his daughter whose loyalty to the king never wavered died, the bad ones also paid their price.

Shakespeare wrote these plays nearly 400 years ago. They have been still so popular because people's hearts vibrated to his works.

THE DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRL

★ Basic information of the book

Author Anne Frank

Retold：Cherry Gilchrist

Series Editor：Andy Hopkins and Jocelyn Potter

Publishing and distributed by Person Education Limited

Word level：Intermediate (1700 words)

Classification：Contemporary British English

Number of Pages：52

Everything was possible during the period of war. It was 1942, the time of the Second War, in Holland. All the Jews were frightened for their lives when Germans invaded the country.

This diary recorded about two families' lives in hiding. Through Ann's diary, I could know how they lived, what they ate and what they talked about. However, like Anne said," although I tell you a lot about our lives, you still know very little about us." For example, we wouldn't realize how frightened they were during the air raids. Even couldn't imagine how horrible the massacre was.

"The life in The Secret Annexe has reminded us that we are Jews, and that we must live like prisoners. We must forget our personal feelings and be brave and strong." I really admired her courage and optimism to face the tragic situation. It's sorrowful when the little girl asked," who has made us suffer like this?" She wanted her voice to be heard and work for all human beings.

What made me even sadder was that the Germans found them and took Anne to a concentration with her sister. She died there in 1945. The war and racial discrimination cost too many innocent lives.

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