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Stories from East High #1
Battle of the Bands
East High is putting on its first-ever Battle of the Bands! Troy and his basketball buddies are looking forward to living out their rock-star fantasies, and Sharpay has formed her very own girl group. But while Troy and Sharpay prepare to step into the spotlight, Gabriella and Ryan are left in the shadows. Gabriella keeps herself busy by tutoring Ryan, who needs help with algebra. Still, she can't help wondering why Troy wouldn't want to join forces with her for the Battle of the Bands. Didn't the two of them make a great team at the musical? Maybe it's time for Gabriella to take the stage on her own...
142 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2007
24 people are currently reading
602 people want to read
About the author
Walt Disney Company
40.6k books2,906 followersNote: The decision was made to consolidate all Disney publications under the name Walt Disney Company. This profile is for Walt Disney, the characters he created, and the company he founded. Any questions, please ask in the Librarian's Group.
Walter Elias “Walt” Disney (December 5, 1901 – December 15, 1966) was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist. Disney is famous for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. As the co-founder (with his brother Roy O. Disney) of Walt Disney Productions, Disney became one of the best-known motion picture producers in the world. The corporation he co-founded, now known as The Walt Disney Company, today has annual revenues of approximately U.S. $35 billion.
Disney is particularly noted for being a film producer and a popular showman, as well as an innovator in animation and theme park design. He and his staff created some of the world's most famous fictional characters including Mickey Mouse, a character for which Disney himself was the original voice. He has been awarded four honorary Academy Awards and has won twenty-two competitive Academy Awards out of fifty-nine nominations, including a record four in one year, giving him more awards and nominations than any other individual. He also won seven Emmy Awards. He is the namesake for Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resort theme parks in the United States, as well as the international resorts Tokyo Disney, Disneyland Paris, and Disneyland Hong Kong.
Disney died of lung cancer in Burbank, California, on December 15, 1966. The following year, construction began on Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. His brother Roy Disney inaugurated the Magic Kingdom on October 1, 1971.
The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) (commonly referred to as Disney) is the largest media and entertainment conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by brothers Walt Disney and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, the company was reincorporated as Walt Disney Productions in 1929. Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into live-action film production, television, and travel. Taking on its current name in 1986, The Walt Disney Company expanded its existing operations and also started divisions focused upon theatre, radio, publishing, and online media. In addition, it has created new divisions of the company in order to market more mature content than it typically associates with its flagship family-oriented brands.
The company is best known for the products of its film studio, the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, today one of the largest and best-known studios in Hollywood. Disney also owns and operates the ABC broadcast television network; cable television networks such as Disney Channel, ESPN, and ABC Family; publishing, merchandising, and theatre divisions; and owns and licenses 11 theme parks around the world. On January 23, 2006, it was announced that Disney would purchase Pixar in an all-stock transaction worth $7.4 billion. The deal was finalized on May 5. On December 31, 2009, Disney Company acquired the Marvel Entertainment, Inc. for $4.24 billion. The company has been a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average since May 6, 1991. An early and well-known cartoon creation of the company, Mickey Mouse, is the official mascot of The Walt Disney Company.
--from Wikipedia
Walter Elias “Walt” Disney (December 5, 1901 – December 15, 1966) was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist. Disney is famous for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. As the co-founder (with his brother Roy O. Disney) of Walt Disney Productions, Disney became one of the best-known motion picture producers in the world. The corporation he co-founded, now known as The Walt Disney Company, today has annual revenues of approximately U.S. $35 billion.
Disney is particularly noted for being a film producer and a popular showman, as well as an innovator in animation and theme park design. He and his staff created some of the world's most famous fictional characters including Mickey Mouse, a character for which Disney himself was the original voice. He has been awarded four honorary Academy Awards and has won twenty-two competitive Academy Awards out of fifty-nine nominations, including a record four in one year, giving him more awards and nominations than any other individual. He also won seven Emmy Awards. He is the namesake for Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resort theme parks in the United States, as well as the international resorts Tokyo Disney, Disneyland Paris, and Disneyland Hong Kong.
Disney died of lung cancer in Burbank, California, on December 15, 1966. The following year, construction began on Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. His brother Roy Disney inaugurated the Magic Kingdom on October 1, 1971.
The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) (commonly referred to as Disney) is the largest media and entertainment conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by brothers Walt Disney and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, the company was reincorporated as Walt Disney Productions in 1929. Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into live-action film production, television, and travel. Taking on its current name in 1986, The Walt Disney Company expanded its existing operations and also started divisions focused upon theatre, radio, publishing, and online media. In addition, it has created new divisions of the company in order to market more mature content than it typically associates with its flagship family-oriented brands.
The company is best known for the products of its film studio, the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, today one of the largest and best-known studios in Hollywood. Disney also owns and operates the ABC broadcast television network; cable television networks such as Disney Channel, ESPN, and ABC Family; publishing, merchandising, and theatre divisions; and owns and licenses 11 theme parks around the world. On January 23, 2006, it was announced that Disney would purchase Pixar in an all-stock transaction worth $7.4 billion. The deal was finalized on May 5. On December 31, 2009, Disney Company acquired the Marvel Entertainment, Inc. for $4.24 billion. The company has been a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average since May 6, 1991. An early and well-known cartoon creation of the company, Mickey Mouse, is the official mascot of The Walt Disney Company.
--from Wikipedia
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
August 9, 2020
This original story based on the series of DCOMs is fun, fun, and more fun.
September 7, 2025
Alright, anyone who knows me knows that I'm a bit of a fan of Zac Efron, and therefore High School Musical (2006). To celebrate turning 30 recently I threw a glorious Zac Efron musical day, and my friend got me a boxset that collects the first four Stories from East High. I finally got around to reading Battle of the Bands, and speaking as a huge fan of the films, this book is not good. The characterisation is real hit and miss, with Troy particularly ringing hollow. There are a couple of lines of dialogue that sound believable from the characters, and Chad is admittedly written quite well, but overall this is not a good book. Understandably I'm probably not the demographic for this, and sure I wasn't exactly expecting original songs, but I was hoping that this would at least be somewhat tolerable. It's not a promising start of something new.
1.5/5
1.5/5
December 28, 2014
At least the characters were true to the film. Otherwise, not my thing haha
December 19, 2023
The vibes were immaculate. The shenanigans ridiculous. Oh the cheese.
March 29, 2025
As a kid, I enjoyed the HSM movie. Still not quite sure what my mam as thinking with gifting me the book.
Either way, I read it, didn't hate it, but would never really think about it again.
Either way, I read it, didn't hate it, but would never really think about it again.
August 7, 2018
Disney solo tuvo en la cabeza lo siguiente: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEM2k... . Claramente este libro fue lanzado para explotar y exprimir un poco mas la franquicia.
Diálogos escuetos, personajes chatos, historia simple... pero por otra parte; qué me puedo esperar??? , no esta dirigida a un publico de mi edad, quizás lo hubiese disfrutado mas unos cuantos años atrás.
Voy a darle una estrella por cada vez que me hizo reir
Diálogos escuetos, personajes chatos, historia simple... pero por otra parte; qué me puedo esperar??? , no esta dirigida a un publico de mi edad, quizás lo hubiese disfrutado mas unos cuantos años atrás.
Voy a darle una estrella por cada vez que me hizo reir
September 17, 2007
>>> East High is putting on its first-ever Battle of the Bands! Troy and his basketball buddies are looking forward to living out their rock-star fantasies, and Sharpay has formed her very own girl group. So.. what do you think happen to Gabriella and Ryan? They've been left behind.. So, what happened in the end? Maybe Gab hav to take the stage without Troy by her side..........
March 26, 2017
I know that I read this series in elementary school, but all I really remember about it is that Gabriella sang "These Boots Were Made For Walking" in the Battle of the Bands.0 And at some point, there was a dance where Sharpay was dressed as Scarlett O'Hara, and Zeke recognized her costume and said, "Frankly, my dear, it is my favorite movie."
August 21, 2008
Again. The best!
July 1, 2024
Battle of the Bands is such a cute, nostalgic short story. It takes place after HSM 1 and before HSM 2. East High is putting on its first-ever battle of the bands. Troy and his basketball friends decided to form a rockstar band, allowing them to spend more time together. Gabriella felt left out when Troy didn’t even consider asking her to join his band while Ryan is dejected as Sharpay opted for a girls’ group.
When Gabriella started tutoring Ryan in Algebra, the loneliness turned them into friends. They appreciate and encourage each other. Ryan started choreographing Troy’s band as they needed his help and respected his effort. On the other hand, Ms. Darbus ordered Gabriella to go solo with Kelsi’s help.
It is simple yet an amazing read. Each character stayed true to their self, friendship, and competition yet supportive of each other, Sharpay getting a reality check with Ryan, Taylor’s powerful voice, Chad, Zeke, and Jason – it’s light, funny and nostalgic above all.
When Gabriella started tutoring Ryan in Algebra, the loneliness turned them into friends. They appreciate and encourage each other. Ryan started choreographing Troy’s band as they needed his help and respected his effort. On the other hand, Ms. Darbus ordered Gabriella to go solo with Kelsi’s help.
It is simple yet an amazing read. Each character stayed true to their self, friendship, and competition yet supportive of each other, Sharpay getting a reality check with Ryan, Taylor’s powerful voice, Chad, Zeke, and Jason – it’s light, funny and nostalgic above all.
August 23, 2020
There's a Battle of the Bands Competition happening in a few weeks in East High, and the proceeds will go for the new tennis court. Troy and his basketball teammates are making a band, but they're practicing and still planning for the name of their group. Sharpay started her own group with her girl friends to perform an old pop song. Gabriella did her success in her previous play where she was a part of but is shy to join the competition, so she tries to do her best to participate while tutoring for Ryan. And Ryan spies on what Troy, Sharpay and Gabriella are up to.
And when the big day comes closer, there are a few plot twists, but the show must go on. As stated in my rating, the story is pretty okay with its original story based from the popular Disney Channel Original Movie.
And when the big day comes closer, there are a few plot twists, but the show must go on. As stated in my rating, the story is pretty okay with its original story based from the popular Disney Channel Original Movie.
April 4, 2024
i was obsessed with this series as a kid. i lived and breathed high school musical, so i remember actively looking up when each book in this series would be released and i’d make my mom drive me to barnes & noble to get it. that being said, lol this being set between 1 and 2 makes zero sense because why did chad have such an issue dancing in 2 if ryan literally teaches him to dance (albeit with a guitar) here ?? lol. the logic is missing, but whatever, as an extension of the movies, it’s still fun, harmless, and perfect for kids (and re-confirms that chad is still the worst character in the franchise).
July 20, 2023
O filme consegue ser muito melhor que o livro! Consegue ter mais pormenores e consegue ligar realmente o espectador às personagens!
Contudo, no livro também se percebe muita coisa em relação à sua história!
Mas a minha opinião não muda o filme sobrepõe-se ao livro
Contudo, no livro também se percebe muita coisa em relação à sua história!
Mas a minha opinião não muda o filme sobrepõe-se ao livro
October 22, 2024
If i read this in 2007, when I bought this and the next one in America, I would probably love this. Now I think this was okay, not bad, but also nog really good. But because I read this, I want to watch the movies again ;)
February 18, 2026
Drama. Singing. Dance-offs. Teenage angst with glitter on top.
Reading this feels like stepping into a musical where everyone’s dramatic, slightly clueless, and way too passionate about basketball games. Cute, cheesy, and impossible not to smile at… even when you roll your eyes.
Reading this feels like stepping into a musical where everyone’s dramatic, slightly clueless, and way too passionate about basketball games. Cute, cheesy, and impossible not to smile at… even when you roll your eyes.
February 11, 2021
Woh great book with simple language 🤩I am a huge fan of high school musical .......looking forward to another book
November 21, 2021
This wasn't that bad
October 19, 2022
It's interesting that in this story Ryan gets involved teaching others choreography, which is what he also did when High School Musical 2 would premiere a few months after this book came out.
Read
December 27, 2022Læste den dog på dansk:)
February 12, 2023
I love the HSM movies and this book captures the characters perfectly 5/5
June 2, 2023
It was a quick, fun read.
September 5, 2023
this book was actually so funny
January 26, 2024
Jeg kantet flere ganger
September 28, 2024
ryan evans sneaking around in a disguise like a drug dealer of dance moves was everything i’ve ever needed
April 18, 2025
This was just ok compared to other Disney books I read . Some characters weren’t written quite as well as others.
August 1, 2025
cute and nostalgic
March 3, 2017
Ame infinitamente este libro, no se porque no lo leí antes, fue genial poder volver a este mundo y descubrir una historia que no pudimos ver en la película, debo decir que algunas escenas se me hicieron súper cómicas y muy al estilo de High School, Sin duda mis partes favoritas fueron las de Sharpay, es tan diva y cómica que es imposible no amarla, al terminar quede con ansias de más y una tristeza en mi corazón por esa infancia olvidada.
February 10, 2023
The first movie did not get an amazing review from me. I felt that most of the movie seemed to take place on the longest day ever, and it never shows Gabriella giving Troy her address. Yet he inexplicably knows where she lives and the movie is supposed to take a bit of a school year. Sharpay, is shown as the antagonist and as this girl who wants the leading female role in the school play, but is rarely seen throughout the movie. It’s not mentioned right away that her and Ryan are brothers till the end of the movie, leaving the viewer to think for most of it that they’re boyfriend and girlfriend.
However, movie two is good in my opinion, being the best in the whole series. One of the movies (can’t remember which) has Sharpay singing to Troy this borderline inappropriate song that seems to have... let's just say sexual activity metaphors in it. Oy. Way to go, Disney. :-P
Since I liked the second movie, I have some of the books. I’m assuming that the books in this series are not canon. On pg 17, it’s revealed that this takes place after the first movie.. On pg 35, it says Prom hasn’t happened yet...so... this takes place somewhere between the first and end of the third movie?
At the start of it, the Principal tells them at an assembly that there will be a Battle of the Bands to raise funds for a new tennis court. Sharpay wants to start a band with Alicia and Charlotte. Ryan is disappointed because it’s a girl band and he’s left out. Chad wants to start a band with his basketball team mates, which makes Gabriella feel left out. Eventually, Gabriella is chosen to be Ryan’s tutor in Algebra.
On pg 62, I noticed there were a lot of parallels (I think that’s the right word) to this story; similarities/different situations with similar outcomes when it comes to Ryan and Gabriella.
On pg 12, the start of ch 2, it says that Troy and his team bounded onto the court while slapping each other high fives. I have no memories of friends high-fiving each other back then. It was 2007. You either fist-bumped or waved. Several places in the book had high-fiving as well... not sure why. High-fiving became somewhat of a patronizing or an ‘I’ll just be nice thing, but I don’t really wanna be your friend’ move somewhere between ‘03 or ‘04. Maybe Disney was trying to bring it back to what it was. *shrugs*
On pg 62, it says that Troy winked at Ryan. Granted, the context is not flirtatious, but guys didn’t do this in my High School. Admittedly, some of the flamboyant ones did, but definitely not any of our basketball team players.
My take:
Upon finishing the book, I had a spontaneous orgasm that shook my entire house because this book is so good! ...Okay. That didn't happen; but it was a little better than the first movie, which isn’t what I figured would happen. Eh. It loses three stars for something not being very believable toward the end. 2 stars.
However, movie two is good in my opinion, being the best in the whole series. One of the movies (can’t remember which) has Sharpay singing to Troy this borderline inappropriate song that seems to have... let's just say sexual activity metaphors in it. Oy. Way to go, Disney. :-P
Since I liked the second movie, I have some of the books. I’m assuming that the books in this series are not canon. On pg 17, it’s revealed that this takes place after the first movie.. On pg 35, it says Prom hasn’t happened yet...so... this takes place somewhere between the first and end of the third movie?
At the start of it, the Principal tells them at an assembly that there will be a Battle of the Bands to raise funds for a new tennis court. Sharpay wants to start a band with Alicia and Charlotte. Ryan is disappointed because it’s a girl band and he’s left out. Chad wants to start a band with his basketball team mates, which makes Gabriella feel left out. Eventually, Gabriella is chosen to be Ryan’s tutor in Algebra.
On pg 62, I noticed there were a lot of parallels (I think that’s the right word) to this story; similarities/different situations with similar outcomes when it comes to Ryan and Gabriella.
On pg 12, the start of ch 2, it says that Troy and his team bounded onto the court while slapping each other high fives. I have no memories of friends high-fiving each other back then. It was 2007. You either fist-bumped or waved. Several places in the book had high-fiving as well... not sure why. High-fiving became somewhat of a patronizing or an ‘I’ll just be nice thing, but I don’t really wanna be your friend’ move somewhere between ‘03 or ‘04. Maybe Disney was trying to bring it back to what it was. *shrugs*
On pg 62, it says that Troy winked at Ryan. Granted, the context is not flirtatious, but guys didn’t do this in my High School. Admittedly, some of the flamboyant ones did, but definitely not any of our basketball team players.
My take:
Upon finishing the book, I had a spontaneous orgasm that shook my entire house because this book is so good! ...Okay. That didn't happen; but it was a little better than the first movie, which isn’t what I figured would happen. Eh. It loses three stars for something not being very believable toward the end. 2 stars.
February 24, 2017
Nostalgia.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews