Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence
Moderate: Gun violence
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gun violence
Minor: Bullying, Death, Infidelity, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment
Avalon High was one of my favourite childhood books so when I saw the audiobook available from my library I thought, why not? I was in a nostalgic mood and this seemed like a good choice. I'm sorry to report that I swiftly switched over to my physical copy, but it was better than having to listen to Will sound like Ash Ketchum from the Pokémon series. Listen, I love Pokémon, I love Ash but he's a 10 year-old boy. The crush that 11 year-old me had on Will was dying a swift and agonising death the longer I persisted with the audiobook. The rest of the narration was fine so if you have no idea what Ash Ketchum's voice sounds like then maybe you'll fare better than I did. I will say, Mr Morton's "British" accent was questionable, but as a Brit, I can't claim to do a good American accent so I think that's fair game.
Reading the physical book was better but I found the story just lacked that sparkly, special feeling that led me to reread the book countless times when I was younger. This, I imagine, can be attributed to age; I'm in my twenties now so of course I'd find the romance between two teenagers far less riveting than when I was 11. I also found it hard to believe when Ellie proclaimed she was in love with Will SUPER early on when she barely knew him, and I could have seriously done without the constant commentary of her being a too-tall, tomboyish nerd who was soooo unsuited to Will. These are things that my younger self would have eaten up but they don't do much for me now.
The Arthurian aspect I still think is quite cool. Yes the plot is a little on the nose, fairly predictable, but that's the nature of the genre so fair enough. It adds an element of adventure and fantasy which I remember really loving when I was 11, and it was a fun way to solidify the story of King Arthur which my dad had been teaching me through Very Serious books and documentaries.
All that to say, I'm no longer the target audience for this book so I'm not surprised that I don't love it the way I used to. It still has a special place in my heart and I'd still recommend it to young readers, but perhaps childhood nostalgia should be left alone so that it isn't ruined by Ash Ketchum soundalikes!
11 year-old me's rating: 5 stars, undoubtedly
My rating now: 3 stars (a cute, nostalgic read, but not for me now)
Edit: I was just reviewing my reading notes on this book and I have one more thing to mention. Will makes the comment "Unless you're Native American, I don't think you can go around telling other people to go back to their country," and I'm actually really glad to have reread this in my twenties because now I can understand the true gravity behind this comment.
Reading the physical book was better but I found the story just lacked that sparkly, special feeling that led me to reread the book countless times when I was younger. This, I imagine, can be attributed to age; I'm in my twenties now so of course I'd find the romance between two teenagers far less riveting than when I was 11. I also found it hard to believe when Ellie proclaimed she was in love with Will SUPER early on when she barely knew him, and I could have seriously done without the constant commentary of her being a too-tall, tomboyish nerd who was soooo unsuited to Will. These are things that my younger self would have eaten up but they don't do much for me now.
The Arthurian aspect I still think is quite cool. Yes the plot is a little on the nose, fairly predictable, but that's the nature of the genre so fair enough. It adds an element of adventure and fantasy which I remember really loving when I was 11, and it was a fun way to solidify the story of King Arthur which my dad had been teaching me through Very Serious books and documentaries.
All that to say, I'm no longer the target audience for this book so I'm not surprised that I don't love it the way I used to. It still has a special place in my heart and I'd still recommend it to young readers, but perhaps childhood nostalgia should be left alone so that it isn't ruined by Ash Ketchum soundalikes!
11 year-old me's rating: 5 stars, undoubtedly
My rating now: 3 stars (a cute, nostalgic read, but not for me now)
Edit: I was just reviewing my reading notes on this book and I have one more thing to mention. Will makes the comment "Unless you're Native American, I don't think you can go around telling other people to go back to their country," and I'm actually really glad to have reread this in my twenties because now I can understand the true gravity behind this comment.
4/24/24 - This is the only book of my old reads where I am tempted to raise the rating. I loved this book in middle school. There are way worse books in my read pile with 5 stars. Is it realistically kinda mid? Yeah. Do I love it anyway? Yep.
The idea of story - 5
Writting - 5
Events are really predictible - 4
Romantic - 4
Final rate: 4
Comment: I give this book only 4 just because I wanted more romantic in the book :) Ok, Will is romantic and so on....but I like books with more details in romantic actions :)
However, I really recommend it!
Writting - 5
Events are really predictible - 4
Romantic - 4
Final rate: 4
Comment: I give this book only 4 just because I wanted more romantic in the book :) Ok, Will is romantic and so on....but I like books with more details in romantic actions :)
However, I really recommend it!
I didn't think this one was too bad. It had a different kind of plot to it. It was young adult, so it was a little over the top and immature at times, but that's how it goes in this genre. It wasn't a book that I was able to relate to very much, but it was different. I love Meg Cabot's adult novels, so this wasn't very exciting for me. I didn't think it was terrible though. Convenient things happened to make it all go according to plan, but again.. that's the genre. Just a little far-fetched, but that's why it's fiction. Anything can happen, right?
Not one of her best, that's for sure. I did enjoy the similarities to King Arthur's tales and the bit of a twist at the end. Cabot just has better things to offer than this one.
Not one of her best, that's for sure. I did enjoy the similarities to King Arthur's tales and the bit of a twist at the end. Cabot just has better things to offer than this one.
I have to admit I'm addicted to Meg Cabot books. But.... Seriously? I watched the Disney channel movie of this and when it said it was adapted from a book by Meg Cabot I knew I had to read it. It is quite disturbing that I liked the Disney version more than the book. Really? Really Meg Cabot?
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Karena kemaren dapet pinjaman Meg Cabot banyak, dan ni termasuk teenlit, jadi termasuk bacaan ringan untuk weekend, jadi baca yang ini dulu :)..
Elaine Harrison atau Ellie, orangtuanya dua2nya professor, seorang medievalist (ahli2 yang mempelajari sejarah jaman pertengahan), harus sering berpindah2 sekolah, karena orang tuanya sering mendapat sabatikal (atau liburan) untuk membuat buku2. Ellie masuk ke SMA Avalon, dan bertemu dengan A.William Wagner, kapten tim footbal di Avalon, sekaligus presiden siswa senior di Avalon. Sbelumnya, mereka pernah bertemu di Taman setempat, bahkan Will sempat mememrgoki Ellie sedang asyik mengapung di kolam, dan ikut berenang dengannya.
Ellie adalah orang praktis, pragmatis, makanya dia terpana pas dia tahu kalau dia menarik perhatian pada Will. Hello, Ellie tidak percaya pada Love at the first sight, tapi itulah kenyataanya yang terjadi padanya, perasaannya pada Will yang tiba2, serta ucapan Will yang bilang kalau mereka pernah bertemu sebelumnya, padahal jelas2 mereka tidak saling kenal sebelumnya. Namun bukan berarti perjalanan Ellie untuk merebut hati Will mudah. Karena Will sudah punya pacar, Jennifer Gold, kapten cheersleader di Avalon. Sampai suatu hal yang gawat terjadi...
Yup, tanpa sengaja, Ellie memergoki Jen, berselingkuh dengan Lance, sahabat karib Will. Jan berusaha menutup2inya, agar Will tidak tahu. Tapi, Marco, saudara tiri Will tidak berpikir demikian. Saat mereka sedang berlayar di laut lepas, Marco memberitahu Will, bahwa Jen dan Lance berselingkuh di belakangnya. Ellie membenci Marco karenanya, dan sempat mengkhawatirkan keadaan Will, namun anehnya Will malah biasa saja, dan terus2an mengatakan bahwa dia pernah mengalami hal ini sebelumnya.
Bukan hanya itu saja, Mr Morton, guru Sejarah Dunia di SMA Avalon, bersikap aneh. Dia terlihat ketakutan, dan berulang2 mengucapkan "semuanya sudah terlambat." Ellie mendesak Mr Morton, apa yang sedang terjadi, dan menemukan fakta yang menakjubkan sekaligus menakutkan, tentang keterkaitan SMA Avalon dan Legenda Raja Arthur. Ellie yang menyadari hubungan antar keduanya, mendesak Mr Morton untuk tidak menyerah, bahwa mungkin Will dalam bahaya... Namun tidak peduli apa yang dilakukan Ellie, Ellie takut dia sudah terlambat menyelamatkan Will...
Overall, ceritanya cukup bagus, dan walau idenya sendiri bisa diilang ga fresh, tapi apapun yang berhubungan dengan mitologi dan legenda selalu menarik perhatianku.
Kali ini Meg Cabot mengambil Legenda Raja Arthur sebagai fondasi cerita SMA Avalon ini. Dan beberapa nama karakter di buku ini memang mengambil karakter2 Legenda Raja Arthur, like :
Ellie : Elaine of Astolat, Lady of Shalott, cewe yang naksir Lancelot, tapi budir karena Lancelot memilih Guinevere, atau begitulah yang Ellie dikira awalnya di buku ini...(yang ternyata bukan, trus siapa dong? baca bukunya aja ;) )
William : Arthur, udah nebak kalo ni cowo udah pasti Arthur, walau nama depannya disingkat cuma A doang, dan personalitinya memang mirip Arthur, dengan aura kepemimpinannya. Agak terlalu baik, tapi maybe memang he is born to be leader..
Jennifer : Guinevere, permaisuri raja Arthur, yang selingkuh dengan Lancelot, dan di buku ini dia selingkuh dengan Lance, teman baik Will
Lance : Lancelot, ksatria terbaik raja Arthur, sekaligus sahabat san Raja, dan sama dengan legendanya, Lance akhirnya mengkhianati Will, selingkuh dengan pacar sahabatnya
Marco : Mordred, saudara sedarah (ada yang bilang anak) Arthur,laki2 yang membunuh Arthur di masanya, dan sesuai legenda, keberadaan Marco = Bahaya bagi Will
Morton : Merlin, seperti halnya Merlin di Legenda Arthur, sebagai penasihat Arthur, tapi di buku ini ga begitu kelihatan perannya, walau terakhir2 dia jadi orang penting...
Beberapa event di buku ini memang dibuat mirip2 dengan Legenda Raja Arthur dulu. Ada beberapa hal yang agak maksa, tapi ga mengurangi keasyikan membaca. Ellienya agak2 annoying, tapi Meg Cabot selalu bisa bikin kita malah sayang sama tokoh yang annoying ini ^^. Beberapa fakta tentang Raja Arthur yang ditambahkan di cerita ini cukup lah bisa menambah sedikit pengetahuan, dan adanya puisi The Lady of Shallot juga menambah nilai plus.
Tiga setengah bintang :
Dua buat ceritanya (yang emang biasa aja, ga pake mikir ribet2)
Satu buat ide mitologi Raja Arthurnya
Setengah buat puisinya :))
Recommended buat yang doyan baca teenlit dan fansnya Meg Cabot, atau yang suka legenda raja Arthur, juga bisa mencoba baca yang ini,walau ga bisa berharap sesuatu yang lebih ya :)
Elaine Harrison atau Ellie, orangtuanya dua2nya professor, seorang medievalist (ahli2 yang mempelajari sejarah jaman pertengahan), harus sering berpindah2 sekolah, karena orang tuanya sering mendapat sabatikal (atau liburan) untuk membuat buku2. Ellie masuk ke SMA Avalon, dan bertemu dengan A.William Wagner, kapten tim footbal di Avalon, sekaligus presiden siswa senior di Avalon. Sbelumnya, mereka pernah bertemu di Taman setempat, bahkan Will sempat mememrgoki Ellie sedang asyik mengapung di kolam, dan ikut berenang dengannya.
Ellie adalah orang praktis, pragmatis, makanya dia terpana pas dia tahu kalau dia menarik perhatian pada Will. Hello, Ellie tidak percaya pada Love at the first sight, tapi itulah kenyataanya yang terjadi padanya, perasaannya pada Will yang tiba2, serta ucapan Will yang bilang kalau mereka pernah bertemu sebelumnya, padahal jelas2 mereka tidak saling kenal sebelumnya. Namun bukan berarti perjalanan Ellie untuk merebut hati Will mudah. Karena Will sudah punya pacar, Jennifer Gold, kapten cheersleader di Avalon. Sampai suatu hal yang gawat terjadi...
Yup, tanpa sengaja, Ellie memergoki Jen, berselingkuh dengan Lance, sahabat karib Will. Jan berusaha menutup2inya, agar Will tidak tahu. Tapi, Marco, saudara tiri Will tidak berpikir demikian. Saat mereka sedang berlayar di laut lepas, Marco memberitahu Will, bahwa Jen dan Lance berselingkuh di belakangnya. Ellie membenci Marco karenanya, dan sempat mengkhawatirkan keadaan Will, namun anehnya Will malah biasa saja, dan terus2an mengatakan bahwa dia pernah mengalami hal ini sebelumnya.
Bukan hanya itu saja, Mr Morton, guru Sejarah Dunia di SMA Avalon, bersikap aneh. Dia terlihat ketakutan, dan berulang2 mengucapkan "semuanya sudah terlambat." Ellie mendesak Mr Morton, apa yang sedang terjadi, dan menemukan fakta yang menakjubkan sekaligus menakutkan, tentang keterkaitan SMA Avalon dan Legenda Raja Arthur. Ellie yang menyadari hubungan antar keduanya, mendesak Mr Morton untuk tidak menyerah, bahwa mungkin Will dalam bahaya... Namun tidak peduli apa yang dilakukan Ellie, Ellie takut dia sudah terlambat menyelamatkan Will...
Overall, ceritanya cukup bagus, dan walau idenya sendiri bisa diilang ga fresh, tapi apapun yang berhubungan dengan mitologi dan legenda selalu menarik perhatianku.
Kali ini Meg Cabot mengambil Legenda Raja Arthur sebagai fondasi cerita SMA Avalon ini. Dan beberapa nama karakter di buku ini memang mengambil karakter2 Legenda Raja Arthur, like :
Ellie : Elaine of Astolat, Lady of Shalott, cewe yang naksir Lancelot, tapi budir karena Lancelot memilih Guinevere, atau begitulah yang Ellie dikira awalnya di buku ini...(yang ternyata bukan, trus siapa dong? baca bukunya aja ;) )
William : Arthur, udah nebak kalo ni cowo udah pasti Arthur, walau nama depannya disingkat cuma A doang, dan personalitinya memang mirip Arthur, dengan aura kepemimpinannya. Agak terlalu baik, tapi maybe memang he is born to be leader..
Jennifer : Guinevere, permaisuri raja Arthur, yang selingkuh dengan Lancelot, dan di buku ini dia selingkuh dengan Lance, teman baik Will
Lance : Lancelot, ksatria terbaik raja Arthur, sekaligus sahabat san Raja, dan sama dengan legendanya, Lance akhirnya mengkhianati Will, selingkuh dengan pacar sahabatnya
Marco : Mordred, saudara sedarah (ada yang bilang anak) Arthur,laki2 yang membunuh Arthur di masanya, dan sesuai legenda, keberadaan Marco = Bahaya bagi Will
Morton : Merlin, seperti halnya Merlin di Legenda Arthur, sebagai penasihat Arthur, tapi di buku ini ga begitu kelihatan perannya, walau terakhir2 dia jadi orang penting...
Beberapa event di buku ini memang dibuat mirip2 dengan Legenda Raja Arthur dulu. Ada beberapa hal yang agak maksa, tapi ga mengurangi keasyikan membaca. Ellienya agak2 annoying, tapi Meg Cabot selalu bisa bikin kita malah sayang sama tokoh yang annoying ini ^^. Beberapa fakta tentang Raja Arthur yang ditambahkan di cerita ini cukup lah bisa menambah sedikit pengetahuan, dan adanya puisi The Lady of Shallot juga menambah nilai plus.
Tiga setengah bintang :
Dua buat ceritanya (yang emang biasa aja, ga pake mikir ribet2)
Satu buat ide mitologi Raja Arthurnya
Setengah buat puisinya :))
Recommended buat yang doyan baca teenlit dan fansnya Meg Cabot, atau yang suka legenda raja Arthur, juga bisa mencoba baca yang ini,walau ga bisa berharap sesuatu yang lebih ya :)
I should have written a review much sooner, only to explain how much I love this book. I have always enjoyed the King Arthur mythology (I am a huge fan of the cheesy-but-cute BBC series Merlin), but this new, modern setting of the basic plot of the myths was perfect. Each creative re-imagining is so clever and fun. I love this story so much. If you enjoy this adaptation, DO NOT watch the Disney channel movie adaptation, it does not do the story justice. I highly recommend this story to anyone, because it is fantastic.