a critical juncture when the car breaks down, and Romiette and Julio are abducted by the Devil Dogs. Ben and Destiny go to the Cappelle's home and explain what has happened to Romiette's parents, Lady and Cornell. Lady asks Malaka where the teens are, but Malaka denies knowing where they are. She eventually reveals their location when questioned by the police. Romiette and Julio turn out to be stranded at the bottom of a boat in London Woods Lake. When lightning strikes, they are separated. Having fallen into the lake, unable to swim, Romiette blacks out and experiences once again her recurring dream. When Julio finds her floating face down, he pulls her to land and finds she is not breathing. As Julio tries to wake her, Romiette recognizes the unknown male voice in her dream as Julio's voice. Reception In a mixed review for The New York Times, Simon Rodberg wrote: "Pick a hot-button issue, and you can bet that Sharon M. Draper's Romiette and Julio gives it at least a passing mention. School safety. Immigration. Internet stalkers. Even recycling." and "The two main characters are likable but bland, and in a book so concerned with contemporary ethical instruction, their gender roles come far too directly from the 16th century." Rolling Stone, however, included it on a list of the 40 best young adult novels, and at review website Teen Reads, Cassia Van Arsdale writes that "Draper writes as if she's on the phone with a long lost friend, with informality, intimacy and ease. Both Romi and Julio are so likable I really wanted them to get together, which is always important in a romance." In their review, Kirkus Reviews wrote: "The parallels to Shakespeare’s play are often self-conscious and belabored, drawn at odd moments in the story. Still, a straightforward, uncluttered narrative will hook readers into the well-paced plot and sympathetic characters; loose ends are tied more neatly than a package, prettying up the ending by putting a happily-ever-after spin on the lovers’ fates." References Sources Further reading 1999 American novels Novels based on plays Modern adaptations of works by William Shakespeare American young adult novels African-American young adult novels Works based on Romeo and Juliet Novels set in Cincinnati Interracial romance novels African-American novels Novels based on works by William Shakespeare Atheneum Books books Novels by Sharon Draper