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25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing book!!, January 14, 2008
This review is from: Pandora Gets Jealous (Pandora (Hardback)) (Hardcover)
I was completely blown away by how incredilbly good this book was. I know this is a bold statement, but I would compare it with the best of Gregory Maguire (Wicked, Son of a Witch, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister). It combines Greek myth, history, modern refrences, adventure and a laugh out loud sense of humor.
When your father is an immortal Titan, your mother is a personal assistant to Zeus (and she is quite a beauty), your uncle holds the weight of the world on his shoulders and you are a demi-god, you would think that life would be a breeze. But not so for 13-year-old Pandora Atheneus Andromaeche Helena (but you can call her Pandy). Pandy has a lot to live up to. The other maidens at school are always picking on her because she is somewhat plain looking and has an overbite and freckles. Her grades are less than perfect and her best friend is a relative of Medusa. Poor Pandy always feels like a dissapointment to her god-like parents and she wants nothing more than to make them proud of her and she wants to show the rest of her class that she is special. Which is why she brings a box containg all the evil and misery of the world to school for a class project. She's sure she will get an alpha on this project and make everyone proud.
Unfortunately, the box is accidentally opened and the evils are released into the air in colorful puffs of smoke. This will not make her father happy. The rest of the gods and goddesses are even less happy about her mistake. She is summoned to a council to receive her punishment, which is to recapture what she has released onto humanity, and she doesn't have much time to do it. It's a big task for a little girl but she will never be alone in her quest. She has friends in very high places. So she sets off on her journey to capture the first evil, jealousy.
Pandora's story is loaded with adventure and hilarity. For example, we find out that the reason Zues' wife Hera dislikes Pandy has something to do with cookies, Hermes actually had the first cell phone and the goddess Demeter promises to help rid the world of "cooties". I laughed out loud and was at the edge of my seat. Also, if you are not familiar with Greek myhtolgy and terms, not to worry. There is a handy glossary in the back of the book with definitions and correct pronunciations.
Pandora Gets Jealous is a book not to be missed, and will be enjoyed by all ages. The next book in the series is Pandora Gets Vain, and I eagerly await it's release. It looks like I have another favorite series!
[...]
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Witty, Rich in Detail and Just Plain Fun!, December 27, 2007
This review is from: Pandora Gets Jealous (Pandora (Hardback)) (Hardcover)
What a wonderful book for any tween-teen that loves mythology! It's also great for those adults who also love the "Classics". Carolyn Hennesy weaves a tale based on Greek characters that is nothing short of fantastic. Pandora Atheneus Andromaeche Helena --"Pandy" attends Goddess School and must complete a project. She accidentally opens that famed box and all heck breaks loose! Rich in vocabulary and detail, this book is sure to be a classic on it's own. I really recommend it to teachers that are studying Greek mythology. It's a captivating chapter book to read aloud to the class or assign for extra credit. By the way, any book that comes with it's own glossary has to be fascinating! I'm so glad this is just the first in a very promising series.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Courtesy of Teens Read Too, April 3, 2008
This review is from: Pandora Gets Jealous (Pandora (Hardback)) (Hardcover)
In the times of ancient Greece, humans worshipped the Gods of Olympus. But there came a time when Zeus grew angry that humans weren't as reverent of the gods as they should be. And so, he took fire from the earth as punishment, plunging the earth into darkness. The Titan, Prometheus, took pity on man. He stole the fire from Mt. Olympus and returned it to earth. For his actions, Prometheus suffered many punishments. One of them was a box that Prometheus was condemned to care for. Inside the box the gods had placed evils and plagues that should never be unleashed on the earth or they would cause unbearable anguish. Along with the plagues, Athena placed one gift; Hope. The box was sealed and Prometheus took it into his care. "Prometheus was tormented and troubled. And then he married. And then he had a daughter. And then...she turned thirteen."
Pandora Atheneus Andromaeche Helena, "Pandy" to her friends, is the only daughter of the Titan, Prometheus. She has just turned thirteen and is officially a "maiden" now. The problem is, her life is so boring. While there are people all over Greece doing wonderful, heroic things, Pandy and her friends Iole and Alcie are still in school. To make matters worse, a big project is due. Pandy must find a way to show the presence of the gods in everyday life. She knows she has to come up with something amazing this year. And then, Pandy finds a box that belongs to her father; the one that he has been entrusted with. It couldn't hurt to borrow it for just a little while, right?
After Pandy's project, the box opens, unleashing all of the evils into the world. Pandy manages to close the box before the last item escapes. Hope is left, trapped in the box. Now Zeus has told Pandy that she must find each plague and return it to the box. It is a task she must complete without the help of her father. To make matters worse, Hera has it in for Pandy. None of the gods would dare defy Hera to help Pandy, would they? So, Pandy sets out, her two best friends at her side, to rescue mankind from the doom that has engulfed it. Her first task is to find Jealousy, and return it to the box. Pandy has a time limit in which to rid the world of these evils. Is there any way a maiden can accomplish such a daunting task?
PANDORA GETS JEALOUS is a funny, entertaining look at a familiar Greek tale. The characters are very modern and down-to-earth, including the gods who bicker like siblings. The first book in a series, PANDORA GETS JEALOUS introduces readers to a character and an adventure that they are sure to look forward to for many books to come!
Reviewed by: JodiG.
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