Book Review #19: Troy High

Title: Troy High
Author: Shana Norris
Format: Paperback
Series: None
Publisher: Amulet Books
Publish Date: August 1, 2010

Summary:


"Homer’s Iliad, the classic tale of love and revenge, is shrewdly retold for teens in Troy High.


Narrated by Cassie, a shy outsider at Troy High, the story follows the Trojans and Spartans as they declare war on the football field. After the beautiful Elena—who used to be the captain of the Spartan cheerleaders—transfers to Troy High and falls madly in love with Cassie’s brother Perry, the Spartans vow that the annual homecoming game will never be forgotten. Off the football field, an escalating prank war fuels tensions between the schools.


The stakes are raised when Cassie is forced to choose between the boy she loves (a Spartan) and loyalty to her family and school. Troy High will seduce readers with its cast of mythic proportions."

Book Cover: 3.5/5
The cover gives a face to the character Elena; the girl that changed schools and started going to Troy. But when I see this girl on the cover I see a snobby, mean and careless cheerleader; the total opposite from Elena. Yeah, she isn't an angel, but I wouldn't consider her mean or a bully either. The cover looks good, but I feel that it doesn't match her personality well!

Characters-

Favorite:
Hunter, Cassie's older brother is my favorite character throughout this story. He plays on Troy's football team just like Perry (Cassie's other older brother), and it's his senior year. While Perry teases his little sister, even making fun of her in public, Hunter always stands up for Cassie, making sure she's ok and takes care of her. Whenever I think of a perfect older brother Hunter would come to my mind, he just has a soft spot for his baby sister!:D

Least:
A lot of people did many mean and rude things to one another, so I can't just pick one person I don't like. The constant, harassment they gave each other for attending another school, or for hanging out with someone from that school. I know it was all part of the story, which I really liked to be honest, but it's hard to just pick one; since different people were jerks during different times of the book.

Storyline:
Before you start this book, make sure you know that the narrator is NOT Elena, it's Cassie (a band geek, who's two older brothers play football for their high school); it's a mistake I made and it threw me off!(:

Cassie and her two older brothers (Hunter, a senior, and Perry, a junior) attend Troy, unlike Cassie's best friend and his brother (Greg and Lucas) who go to Lacede, the rival school. As the Cassie and Greg's sophomore year begins, every one's pumped for Homecoming, both the dance and the game.

But due to budget cuts some of the Lacede Spartans have to switch schools and attend Troy instead; one of them being Elena (Lucas's soon to be ex-girlfriend). When Perry and Elena decide to go out, that's when everything starts. Lucas wants revenge, and the only way to get that is win the Homecoming game, and possibly play some pranks until then.

On the other end Cassie has feelings for her best friend, could a Spartan ever be with a Trojan? Or is their love forbidden?

Ending Opinion: 4/5
I really enjoyed this book, I read the whole thing in just one day, none stop. The storyline was pretty predictable, but that's only because it's a modern retell of a classical story. If you haven't bought and read this book yourself, you NEED to get a copy and start turning pages!