Avalon High

In the literature hierarchy, teenage novels are at the bottom, right next to Harlequin romance books. Author Meg Cabot delivers her best guilty pleasure with `Avalon High.'

Chick lit, generally romance/humor books targeted for women, (like `The Lifetime Channel,' but in book form) is suspected to be the blame for `chick lit lite:' Chick lit's spawn for teenage girls.

Cabot's sticking to what she does best and gives her a rabid teen following: weaving together humor, romance and fantasy.

The plots of Cabot's other books include a princess in "The Princess Diaries," a ghost whisperer in "Mediator" and a girl who saves the president in "All American Girl." She compensates for her farfetched plots by putting in main characters who could be your (entirely normal) best friends.

That's the key that keeps "Avalon High" real. There is Elaine: runner, the new girl and...lady of shalott?

You probably know the basis of the "King Arthur" legends. Or at least the better parts, like the Arthur/Lancelot/

Guenevere love triangle, which crosses over into the new take.

With the twists borrowed from the legends, there's something new. Though the twist ends leaves much to be desired, it still is in Cabot's true style of life, only better.

So if "The Lifetime Channel" and "WE: Woman's Entertainment" are both showing the same "My mother is stalking me: The Jane Doe story," and you're craving some fluff that will make you laugh, "Avalon High" will provide more than enough.

Wow! This book was phenominal! It was just so... awesome. Here's a summary by the way, that I borrowed : Elaine Harrison is a new student at Avalon High. The school seems pretty normal until Elaine digs deeper into the secrets of the school. Are the students at Avalon High really reincarnations of King Arthur and his friends? If so, is disaster coming to Avalon High? And worse, what if there's nothing Elaine, the Lady of Shalott, can do to stop it?

I seriously reccomend this book to teens, tweens, and women 20-30. It was a fantastic book! I just... loved it!

It all starts when Elaine (Ellie) Harrison's parents go on sabbactical and move to Annapolis. Ellie isn't exactly pleased but since the house that her family is renting comes with a pool. So, the entire summer she decides to float on this one raft and read a book. Till one day she goes running in a nearby park where she literally runs into A. William Wagner. Who turns out to be this really hot Model A student. I mean senior class president, quarterback, valedictorian, all-around good guy, and (unfortunatly) dating the prettiest girl in school, Jennifer. School then begins, and Ellie is paried up with Lance (Will's best friend and star guard of the football team), for a school project. Will then suddenly shows up at Ellie's house and then the two become friends. Even though Will and Ellie's friendship streghtens, hearts are broken, and they're all in danger.

As the story unfolds, Ellie's life begins to look like the legend of King Arthur including a betrayal, a dog, and a sword.

If you like Meg Cabot's books and a cute comedy, read this book!

Okay, the whole Medieval theme and King Arthur and such? Very cool. Nice idea, Ms. Cabot. Unfortunately you didn't exactly let the burning torch run its course. You kind of snuffed it in the dirt a little early as we can tell by "Avalon High".

Ellie is another typical Meg heroine who thinks she looks like a freak and acts like one too, but alas there is a handsome boy afoot who thinks otherwise! What a surprise! Ellie soon begins to find the similarities between her new school and an ancient legend. Oh my, WHAT COULD IT BE, WE WONDER.

While "Avalon High" is creative, it falls flat. The plot lacks the substance it had the potential for and the book ends up being filled with rambles by a girl who is in love with a boy but won't do squat about it.

The characters are listless, and the "bad guy" proves to be a bigger dork than a potential killer. The love triangle stated in the book's summary is put to rest by a quarrel at sea that appears to be out of a bad teen movie filled with beautiful people who don't know what else to do with their parent's money except to go sun bathing.

I don't mean to be negative. Okay, yes I do.

It was good. But it could have been better. It's like a movie that sets itself up for a sequel, and I'm sure that's exactly what we will be seeing on the bookshelves a few years from now.

First off, I would like to congratulate the author, Meg Cabot, for another marvelous novel, which I enjoyed thoroughly. Even as an avid reader I can put a good book down, though this one, I could not. It was enthralling, captivating and difficult to put down. She took a old tale/myth and added a certain twist to it that was new and different. It took every teenaged girls normal life and made it extraordinary, happenings almost all of the female population would love. I have longed for a not so normal life for a while and in Avalon High I was thrown into the story and I was part of the action. Her twist to the legend of King Arthur is unexpected, though for the analytical readers, they may find the clues to what leads ahead, like the title and the character's names.

I haven't read a good captivating book in a while, not since Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince came out. Though it was an excellent book and I could not put it down, as an example of how good it was, I had an 2 month long essay to hand in on Monday after I received the book on Friday. I spent all Friday reading the book, though I had told myself that I needed to work on my essay that night. I could not, once I started the book, I needed to find out what the ending was. It was completely unexpected, but once into it, you can look back for the clues that lead you to that point and it does make sense.

The story starts with Elaine Harrison, who everyone calls Ellie, is the main character who moves to a different state to suit her parents research on the medieval times. She runs into a guy who she falls in love with, literally run into. Since she was at a running track. And the story unfolds from there. She is mistaken for someone in the past, when she is not that person. The guy A. Will Wagner is in danger as well as Ellie. And like many books, it has a happy ending. The heroine gets the guy. In this case, he's almost perfect. He's quarterback, as well as school president, a senior, good looking and he's nice. He cares about everyone, he doesn't let his team mates make fun of the "geeks."

Wonderful story, I can't wait to read her other novels!!! All in all, I give it a Canadian five stars on five, eh! Thank you for letting me review this book.

Hope my review helps you out...Really good book...my friends loved it also.

OMG! I'm in love with this book! Official favorite book! The perfect combination of a high school romance with the measured amount of history, and a main character many people can easily adapt to. You NEED to read this book!

I gave it 5 stars because everything about it drew me in entirely. I thought Meg Cabot did a wonderful job with giving voices to the characters. The whole storyline was fascinating and Ellis really seemed real to me. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy book, particularly young adults.

Avalon High is an amazingly written book. Cabot mixes the past with the present and makes the best out of it. I read this book when I was about 8 years old. It was exciting and enjoyable. I would definitely read it again!

****** SPOILERS! ****** SPOILERS! ****** SPOILERS! ******

I read summaries of Avalon High and the story sounded original and interesting. And it IS, however, there are some parts that were just ANNOYING. Such as when Ellie's heart kept flipping over. I'm surprised she didn't barf it out whenever she saw Will. Towards the second half of the book you feel like strangling Ellie because she's in so much denial of the whole King Arthur situation "It can't be true" "Total wack" "I don't believe it. Expect..." There were SEVERAL pages dedicated to her doubting all of the coincidences and what her teacher had to say.

On the plus side there were mysteries that kept it a page turner, but the sad thing is that when they were revealed...they just weren't surprising. It was like "Okay...".

I truly don't understand why a girl like Ellie is tied into this all. Cabot didn't develop a unique personality, at least one that is clearly projected towards others. She was just witnessing the events.

I would stick around for the first half of the novel because the chain of events that lead to the ending is a disapointment. That whole scene with Marco threatening Will and Ellie was hastily done. It felt like a wannabe writer from Fanfiction.net put it together.

Overall, the book was..........OK, filled with Cabot's usual stoic hottie, heart flippings, and "Um. Okay"s. It's nothing special to give it a second glance. Back to Borders you go!

Although I love Meg Cabot, this book was certainly not her best. It too closely mirrored the Camelot story and this made it too predictable.

I would still read this book, though, because, even if you know the story, Meg Cabot's novels are NEVER to be missed!!

I was surprised that I really liked this book. Being familiar with Cabot's Princess Diaries, I thought I would give this bit of fantasy a try. I was pleasantly surprised by the way Cabot weaves Arthurian legend with modern teen angst. While some parts were predictable, other parts were surprisingly fresh and new. I would definitely read more by this author.

This is one of my favorite Meg Cabot books. Since I am was not familiar with the King Arthur story, I not only feel like I read a book that I loved, but also got a bit of education out of it. Now I am interested to find out some more about medieval history. All in all, the book is pretty much a good combination of some action from the Mediator series, some of the romance and laughs from the Princess Diaries, and some of the history from her Nicola and the Rogue types of books. What an excellent combination!!!!! A definite must-read for fans of Meg Cabot!!! I am hoping for a sequel!!!

I'm an adult & have enjoyed the Princess Diary books my daughters read, also the All-American Girl books and Teen Idol. This one, I thought, did not work. I gave it 3 stars because Cabot is an entertaining writer and the funny moments that are her trademark were present.

The reader, at least this reader, is tipped off by the book jacket copy to the Arthur legend connection and understands how things will play out long before the characters do. The character of Will was very inconsistent. If he's really that great, why was he dating the vacuous Jennifer? If he's thoughtful and sensitive, why does he not pick up on many things that are going on? I just didn't buy it.

Also, this is a minor point, but there is no tuition for those accepted to the Naval Academy. This is the kind of detail that a researcher like Ellie or her parents would never overlook.

This book was an excellent romance for young adults. The storyline is similar to other Cabot books, but I did love the connection to Arthur's court. If you're looking for a tough read, go somewhere else. But if you're looking for an easy-read with a light-hearted story line, go no further!

I never liked or cared for the King Arthur tale , but this book has awakened in a new liking of this tale. I love the characters and the comparisons between the characters .I couldn't put it down , it was everything romance, action , adventure, wacky situations .I highly recommend!

I really enjoyed this book. The plot was unique and the characters(in particular, Will and Ellie)were so realistic. I found myself relating to Ellie better than characters in Cabots other works I've read, namely Mia in "The Princess Diaries" and Samantha in "All American Girl". This book has a steady pace, with drama unfolding at every page. You may have a hard time putting this book down, as did I!

I have been reading EVERYTHING by Meg Cabot ever since the start of her frist Princess Diaries book (when it first came out on paperback).

I'm in the middle of this book, right now, and I just LOVE her imagination and style of how she writes. She is my idol!!!

I've met Meg in June of 2006, and she's SUPER nice!

When she had read from "Queen Of Babble" she had inspired me MORE to be an author! I thank her for that!

I'll be as cool as Meg!

God bless you, Meg Cabot! Keep up the good work! :)

I watched the Disney movie & shortly after I found out about the book! I read it within 3 days and i absoleutly loved it! It was great how everything played out, I especially liked the characters of will # ellie

LOVED THIS BOOK! I was somewhat apprehensive to read her new book because I didn't want the let down her last book, All American Girl: Ready or Not. I have read all of her books and was discourraged at her last book, totally not the author I loved. But this book revived my love for her writing and hope there is a sequel to this gripping storyline. Deffinately suggest reading this one!

Avalon High was indubitably the worst piece of literature my eyes have ever graced. As a college professor, I cannot believe that Meg Cabot would make everyone scream "AH, IT BURNS MY EYES" after reading this monstrosity of a novel. It is a story that goes like any other. Boy meets girl, boy stalks girl at her own pool, parents lend boy brothers swimsuit and it all fits into place. Reading this book made me wish that I would never opened a book again. Only after I reread Harry Potter three times, It made me realize that reading is not a complete failure of a hobby. Also, the price of the novel,$16.99, is outrageously high. She should pay the readers $[...] to read this. In Harvard, we teach only excellence and believe that this book should never have been written.