About the Author

Meg Cabot's many books for both adults and teens have included numerous #1 New York Times bestsellers, with more than twenty-five million copies sold worldwide. Her Princess Diaries series was made into two hit films by Disney, with a third movie coming soon. Meg currently lives in Key West, Florida, with her husband and various cats.

Reviews

Gr 7-10-Meg Cabot's Avalon High (HarperCollins, 2006) will be a surefire hit with the author's fans. Ellie's parents, medievalist college professors, are on sabbatical and have moved the family from Minnesota to Annapolis, MD, for the school year. Ellie is named after a character in Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem, "The Lady of Shalott." The teen accepts the move and, when she meets Will Wagner and his friends while running in the park with her father, there is an instant connection that changes their lives forever. Will goes to her school, and Ellie's new friends from the girl's track team fill her in on Will and his girlfriend. Ellie doesn't think she has a chance with Will, who is the senior class president and football quarterback, but he soon begins to confide in her and they develop a close friendship. When connections to the world of King Arthur start cropping up and Ellie is warned that Will's life is in danger, she must put all of the pieces together and save her new friend. Each chapter begins with a stanza of poetry from Tennyson's poem, adding to the tension. Listeners will thrill at the exciting "happily ever after" ending, replete with a sinister storm and a sword fight. They may even be enticed to seek out other books about King Arthur and life in Camelot. Actress Debra Wiseman does a splendid job of reading the book with youthful exuberance. She hits all of the right notes, giving each character a realistic personality. This blend of romance, fantasy, and history will keep listeners entranced to the very end.-Jo-Ann Carhart, East Islip Public Library, NY Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Cabot (the Princess Diaries) brings the Arthurian legend to modern times in this clever novel. Ellie's parents are medieval studies professors on sabbatical in Annapolis, where Avalon High's senior class president tells her he feels a strange connection to her. Will seems like a golden boy, but Ellie soon hears strange rumors: Will's father had his best friend killed and married the man's wife, leaving Will with a troubled stepbrother. Plus, Ellie discovers Will's girlfriend cheating on him with his best friend. Readers will enjoy making the connections to the real Arthurian legend, puzzling out-as Ellie does-that girlfriend Jennifer is sort of like Guinevere, and Will's best friend, Lance, Lancelot. It will likely come as no surprise to readers when Ellie learns that Will's first name is really Arthur. But could it be true, as one teacher (and the Order of the Bear to which he belongs) believes, that Will is King Arthur reborn, destined to "lead the modern-day world out of the Dark Ages and into a new age of enlightenment"-unless his brother kills him? Ellie cannot deny the similarities in their stories, but she refuses to believe she is Elaine of Astolat (aka the Lady of Shalott), who killed herself over Lancelot. If that's the case, she thinks, why is she crushing on Will? Readers will be swept up in the fantasy framework (and likely be willing to accept some delectably outrageous plotting, such as when Will learns that his stepmother is actually his true mom). There is plenty of suspense here to hold their attention, as they, like Ellie, try to fit together all the pieces. Ages 12-up. (Jan.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.