New Boy by Tracy Chevalier

 In 2017, Hogarth Publishing asked a series of authors to rewrite Shakespeare's plays into modern retellings.  This book is one of that series and is Tracy Chevalier's retelling of Othello.

She sets this retelling in a private school in Washington, D.C.  The characters are all sixth graders who will be off to a new school next year and who are experimenting with love and with being the powerful students at their current school.  

Dee is the most popular girl and considered the prettiest.  She is a people pleaser and the teachers favor her since she can be relied on.  Her best friend is Mimi who suffers from migraines and is considered a bit strange.  Blanca is determined to break into their friendship and is the most interested in boys and sex, a loud, pushy girl.  

Casper is the most popular boy.  He is off and on with Blanca although many think he should be with Dee.  But Dee and Casper are just friends.  Ian is the schoolyard bully who delights in pushing around the others, stealing lunch money and dealing out blows.

Into this mix comes Osei.  He is a diplomat's son and this is his fourth school in six years.  He knows how to be the new boy and he knows that he needs an ally.  Dee steps forward and the two quickly form a friendship that soon turns into a romance.  Dee thinks Osei is fascinating, the only black person she has met, who has lived in many places and knows so many things she doesn't.  Being with him also gives her an avenue for rebellion and a way to break free of the good girl label she has come to resent.

Ian is outraged that Dee would choose Osei.  He is determined to break the two up and soon thinks of a way to come between them and make Osei question whether Dee is really who she seems to be or if this is just an elaborate joke on him.  As the day progresses, Osei goes from quiet and fascinating to sullen and violent as he tries to determine what is truth.  

Readers will be fascinated with this retelling of Othello.  Many know Tracy Chevalier for her historical novels, the most famous of which is Girl With A Pearl Earring.  This novel is a master author at her best, writing outside her normal field and telling a story that goes from romance to tragedy all within one day.  This novel is recommended for readers of literary fiction.