Reviews

I'd give it a 3.5 if I could. It was neat to read while teaching the Iliad and Odyssey. However, I think the scope was a bit much for a book that was less than 200 pages. I liked digging into Helen and Cassandra's characters a bit more, but it was rather rushed.

ecetufan's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

i liked some of the emotional moments but other than that the story felt really rushed (bc you cant fit 10 years into 190 pages without missing some of the most important details) . i really liked helena's pov and the insight we got of her. but cassandra's part was just talking about what was going on in the battlefield there were times i forgot it was her pov. i wanted more insight from cassandra!!!@ maybe i just had high expectations after the silence of the girls idk. it still wasnt that bad and would be fun to read if you dont know much abt the story. also apparently this is a middle grade book??? yea thay explains some things

saralynnburnett's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

Vomit. Unfortunately I have to teach this book to 7th graders this upcoming school year and I'm NOT a fan! I don't know if it's because I really don't appreciate Greek mythology and all that or if it really is the book but it was told from Helen and Cassandra's point of views (which I suppose is a nice change of pace from the usual Trojan war battle book) and the plot encompassed a decade or two which forced it to speed along so quickly (in just 190 pages) that it left no room for character development or any of the things that make most books worth reading. It really read as more of a summary, and not a very good one at that. Additionally, I'm now frightened of teaching this book to my male students because there was entirely too much 'lovey dovey' stuff (short tunics, muscular thighs, golden haired god-like men) and no 'boy stuff' until the last ten pages when someone finally gets dragged behind a chariot and by that point you're so bored by the book you practically cheer.

Why am I giving it two stars? In the hopes that in teaching it it will grow on me but somehow I doubt it.

overlookingcovers's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

No, I just can't. Ugh. I got this book from my local bookstore (Thank god, it only cost 50 cents.)I gave this book a review of 2/5 stars. The only thing that kept this book from receiving a 1, was because at some points of the story drew me in. The reasons why i didn't like this book was because things were left UNANSWERED. The author would talk about how someone ended up dead but not told by whom. Believe me, i reread parts trying to figure out who killed who. It only happened about 1 time towards the end of the book but still it drove me crazy. Also, the book wasn't very descriptive. I wanted to know what everything looks like and the landscape. But no! Next, i am a grammar Nazi and if you are like me, THIS BOOK ISN'T FOR YOU! OMG! I had such a hard time contrasting who was being compared because there were NO COMMAS. Lastly, the thing that drove me the most insane. I couldn't tell who was talking or when the girl would snap out of her visions. I thought she was still in her dream when she called Helen a whore, but when i reread it a few times, she said it right in front of Helen. That was a first impression.

Me: Hey you! Yeah you right there! You're a whore!
Them: ...
Me: Lets be friends!
Them: OK! Lets forget that you called me a whore the first time you saw me!

Thats basically what the books about. Just say yourself the time and effort. Don't get this book but if you really want to get the book, go to a used bookstore because its not worth all the money it would cost you.

lynnietakalele's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

I couldn't help but finish this book practically in one dose. While it didn't have the creative interpretation that the Cooney book did, it was still a great read with a fast-moving plot and characters to grow close to. I like what the author did, taking a story we know and wondering how the characters felt and then getting to make a lot of it up on her own. A simple, good read.

skys1301's review

Go to review page

3.0

I had to read this book for school. It was entertaining enough for me to not be bored the entire time however it did not make me want to pick up another book by this author.

More...