Book 7: Troy High
Troy High, Shana Norris
Summary:
Norris’ Troy High provides
a retelling of the Trojan War but set in a modern high school. We view the
story through the eyes of Cassie Prince, a student at Troy High, sister of
Perry and Hunter, star players on the football team. Troy High’s greatest rival
is Lacede High, home of the Spartans, where Cassie’s best friend Greg is a
student. Greg is the younger brother of Lucas, the quarterback for Lacede and
boyfriend of Elena Argos. Elena is a famous local beauty, and the recent school
redistricting means that at the beginning of the novel she is about to become a
student at Troy.
One key component in the story is that Elena is thinking
about breaking up with Lucas before she even meets Perry. This highlights that
Perry did not steal Elena, as
discussed in The Illiad. Although
Elena’s choice is influenced by Perry’s presence – and she does not officially
break up with Lucas early enough – she wants to before she even meets him. However,
almost as soon as she meets Perry she starts to date him, and then the high
school version of the battle of Troy takes places. A series of pranks make the
situation escalate, making Cassie and Greg’s friendship increasingly difficult
while they are called to support their siblings and their schools.
It all leads up to the big football game between the
schools. A few weeks before, Cassie has a dream where her eldest brother Hunter
is seriously injured during the game. With Hunter out of commission, the
Spartans win. Then, after the game, a float rigged to explode by the Spartans
destroys the Trojan gym. The Spartans have officially won, and the war is over.
As the book ends, Hunter’s fate remains unclear – a serious shoulder injury
needing surgery could mean the death of his career if the surgery does not go
as planned. Other than that, though, everything is peaceful again. Perry and
Elena are happy in their high school romance, and Cassie and Greg embark on
their own.
