Avalon High Paperback – July 3, 2007

I don't usually do reviews but this book was awesome. I couldn't put it down. I was literally up until 4am reading it even though I had to be at work at 9am. I love the plot and how the author relates it back to the historical Arthurian figures but she also throws some twist in there that make it modern. I would love to see what she could do with Greco-roman mythology. But back to my point. Not only was the plot awesome but the writing was at the same level. I loved Ellie's sarcasm and how the character didn't completely ignore the coincides within the plot but didn't blindly follow along either. It was a great balance and a great book.

Avalon high was awesome! Will, (insert girly sigh here), was positively dreamy;) I have seen Avalon High the movie many times and the book, though different from the feature, is just as interesting and captivating as the movie. Meg Cabot illustrates a unique story sure to please even the harshest critics and entertain the most restless readers, regardless of their lack of insight into medieval times or the knights of the round table. Whatever your previous knowledge of King Arthur may be, (for me that would be nothing), Avalon high is a book that will steal your breath away...... and maybe even your heart, too<3

Elaine Harrison looks forward to the chance to forge a new identity when she tranfers high schools during her medievalist-parents' sabbatical. Little does she know that she will be returning to an old identity, as Elaine the Lily Maid of Astolat, when she meets up with a cast of Arthurian figures she comes to suspect are reincarnated from 5th-century Britain: Merlin has become a busybody teacher Mr. Morton, Lancelot the dashing blonde football player Lance, Guinevere his best friend's sweetheart, and so on. Can such a transformation be true? Elaine's musings are expressed with characteristic high school skepticism. Not.A charming and reasonably well researched Arthurian novel for adolescents, "Avalon High" shows us what happens when King Arthur goes to high school. Recommended both for its engaging and readable adolescent narrator and for the clever, surprising, and upbeat conclusion.

I am so similar to Ellie, which is why I think that I loved this book so much when I first read it, and still love it years later. Meg does an absolutely amazing job tying the Arthurian legend elements in and introducing them, keeping all the legends bits from overwhelming the story itself. Tiny spoiler, you will want to slap Mr. Morton and wish that the brotherhood put someone else in charge.

Ok, ok, I know it's 2025 and I'm wayyyy past the age range for this book, but was this really the book that inspired some people's love for King Arthur?I don't know what I expected, but it sure wasn't teenage girl falls in love with boy who already has a girlfriend and then ends up with him anyway.I get that this is for middleschoolers (at least, I'm pretty sure that's the target range?), but seriously?! Elaine was kind of the worst. At her best, she was a pick-me. She acted like being tall and brunette made you an outcast. Oh, but to be short and blonde made you popular and adored. I get that this was written in 2006, but come on! At her worst, she was wishing a taken man would date her instead. And the worst part was that it worked! Her feelings were justified because his girlfriend was cheating on him. This just seems like a weird message to give to young, impressionable minds, but maybe that's just me.Aside from that, I enjoyed some of it (mostly the end). I liked the plot twist, especially since those unfamiliar with the King Arthur lore may not have come to that conclusion before it was revealed. I also liked Marco. This is a judgment free zone, alright? At least he spiced things up a bit when he was on page.With that said, I planned on giving this to my niece after I finished reading, but I honestly don't think she'd enjoy it. Maybe this was good in 2006, but times have definitely changed.

The movie and the book do not match up. The book is better (as usual) but the story was heavily changed in the made for TV movie.

The story has twists, great characters, depth and insight. A satisfying read for an adult, illuminating for younger readers. DO NOT watch the movie! They changed the entire motivation of the book. An embarrassment. Wish Cabot would write more about these characters or a similar book.

I am not a student of the Arthur legend. I have seen "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" a few times. That was not helpful, for this book. If you have a decent grasp on the legend and those characters, you will grab on to the plot of Avalon High. If not, you may find yourself tapping into Knights of the Round Table background info on Wikipedia.I liked these characters a lot. I loved the boy meets girl storyline. YA readers may really love it. Then again, the world of these high school juniors and seniors, where cell service is spotty and texting has not yet been invented, may feel a little quaint and olde tyme-y.