Twelfth Knight

Gr 9 Up–Being student VP to Jack “Duke” Orsino’s student body president is frustrating. Add in a recent fallout with her tabletop group, and Vi Reyes’s only safe haven is her MMORPG Twelfth Knight, where she plays as a male character. However, Vi’s sacred gaming space is changed when a football injury benches Jack for the season. He is introduced to Twelfth Knight and unknowingly begins late nights gaming with Vi. There’s just one problem; Vi’s pretending to be her brother Bash online. While the pair build a virtual friendship, Vi grapples with telling Jack the truth, especially when their real-world interactions begin to spark feelings. Follmuth’s sophomore YA novel is as lively as it is charming. The modernization of Shakespeare’s work perfectly showcases teens grappling with anger over life circumstances. Vi is no stranger to inequality, and her gruff, guarded demeanor will resonate with many readers. Jack’s search for positivity, coinciding with the potential loss of his future, hits the reality that life is more than just a game; it’s about the people who stand with you. As Vi and Jack’s relationship develops, both learn to appreciate the other while ultimately finding that having conviction, sensitivity, and steadfastness isn’t bad if one cultivates and communicates with the people they love. Jack is Black, and Vi is contextually cued as Latinx.