Starcrossed    by Josephine Angelini Order:  USA  Can Harper, 2011 (2011) Hardcover, e-Book Read an Excerpt      Reviewed by Ricki Marking-Camuto What if the myths that surround the Trojan War were real? That is the premise for Josephine Angelini's wonderfully imaginative and original Starcrossed. Angelini breathes new life into old stories, setting them on the picturesque island of Nantucket. Helen has spent her whole life trying not to stand out, which is rather hard because she is beautiful, athletic, and smart. But for her, being anything but average is terrifying, doubling her over with debilitating cramps. The start of her junior year, though, everything changes when a new family moves to Nantucket. The Delos family is adored by everyone else on the island, but whenever Helen comes too close to any of them, especially the handsome Lucas, she finds herself falling into a fit of rage – and begins seeing dreadful ghost girls who cry and moan, while reciting a litany of names. She soon learns that these ghost girls are the Fates and that the Delos family are Scions, descendants of gods and demigods who fought in the Trojan War. Helen is one, too – one who has been hidden from the rest for reasons the others can only guess at. Angelini's world-building is so perfect, it is amazing this is a debut. While the premise may seem farfetched, Angelini makes it believable, and every time something implausible comes up, Angelini finds a way to make it possible. Her characters are all fully fleshed-out and so multifaceted that they seem real. And the plot never drags, twisting and turning with each chapter, leading up to an ending that will have readers eagerly awaiting the sequel, Dreamless. Hopefully Starcrossed is just the beginning of what Josephine Angelini can do. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Teens books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews