Gr 9 Up-This solid entry in the series begins with a brief biography of Shakespeare, a discussion of the play's sources, and a list of characters. The body of the book consists of a fairly lengthy summary and analysis written by Bloom and 10 critical essays, reprinted from other scholarly sources, analyzing various aspects of the play. A number of these essays address popular research topics such as Shakespeare and adolescence; the characters of Friar Lawrence, Mercutio, and the Nurse; and the Capulets' role in their daughter's death. There is a good annotated bibliography, although most of the sources listed would only be available in academic libraries. Because this play is so frequently taught at the high school level, this guide would be a useful addition to most collections.-Kathleen E. Gruver, Burlington County Library, Westampton, NJ Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.