Persephone the Phony (Goddess Girls) [Paperback]

Joan Holub (Author), Suzanne Williams (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 6, 2010 | Age Range: 8 and up | Series: Goddess Girls (Book 2) | Lexile Measure: 690L (What's this?)

As PERSEPHONE's mom encourages her to do, she often "goes along to get along" instead of doing what she really wants. But when she meets Mount Olympus Academy bad-boy Hades, she finally feels she has found someone with whom she can be herself. He's the first person who actually listens to her, and she finds herself liking him, despite the fact that the other goddessgirls think he's bad news. But if he makes her feel so special -- and she's so comfortable hanging around him -- can he really be all that bad?

Authors Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams put a modern spin on classic myths with the Goddess Girls series. Follow the ins and outs of divine social life at Mount Olympus Academy, where the most privileged godboys and goddessgirls in the Greek pantheon hone their mythical skills.

Editorial Reviews

Review

On top of Mount Olympus, the authors intertwine an enchanting mythological world with middle-school woes compounded by life as a deity or blessed mortal. The books should be popular with fans of girly, light fantasy. -- School Library Journal

About the Author

Joan Holub is the author of over 125 books for young readers, including Groundhog Weather School, Vincent van Gogh Sunflowers and Swirly Stars, Zero the Hero, Who Was Marco Polo?, Bed Bats & Beyond, and the Doll Hospital chapter book series. Of the four goddessgirls, she's probably most like Athena because she loves to brainstorm new ideas for books. But she's very glad her dad was never the principal of her school! Visit her at joanholub.com

Suzanne Williams is the author of over 30 books for young readers, including Library Lil, Mommy Doesn't Know My Name, My Dog Never Says Please, and the Princess Power and Fairy Blossoms series. Her husband says she's the Goddess of Annoying Questions. (Most having to do with why her computer misbehaves.) That makes her kind of like Pandora except that Pandora never had to deal with computers. Suzanne lives near Seattle in Washington state. Visit her at suzanne-williams.com

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Product Details

• Age Range: 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin; Original edition (April 6, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416982728
• ISBN-13: 978-1416982722
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 6.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #112,460 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars PersePHONY and her devilish crush on Hades will keep readers on the edge of their seats! April 10, 2010

By D. Fowler TOP 50 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Less than a month into school at MOA, the illustrious Mount Olympus Academy that is, most of the godboys and goddessgirls had formed friendships, except of course those like Hades who couldn't even buy one. Guys from the Underworld just didn't seem to be on anyone's "wanna be my pal" list. Aphrodite, Artemis, Athena, and Persephone were all going to put on their "winged sandals" and head to the Immortal Marketplace, otherwise known as the mall. They all were psyched and ready to go. Well, at least three of them were. PersePHONY, who "lacked the guts to say how she really felt about even the smallest things," would probably rather walk Artemis's gnarly dogs than go there, but she was going. Can you spell P-H-O-N-Y?

One thing led to another and before you know it an out-of-control ball of yarn, go figure, landed Persephone in a cemetery, the last place she'd expect to meet a hot godboy . . . named Hades. Just as they were getting acquainted, her mother Demeter, a "chariot mom" supreme, swooped down yelling, "Stay away from my daughter, godboy!" Persephone was almost thirteen-years-old and was no child, but even her friends were against her on this one. Even Athena the Brain agreed that Hades was "trouble with a capital T!" He wasn't. He just wasn't. Persephone tried again to see him by shape-shifting into a dove, only to be ratted out by her busybody friends. There was only one thing to do . . . she had to figure out when Charon's boat was leaving. Little did she know, she was in for one HOT adventure she wouldn't forget any time soon!

The reader will find a full dollop of Greek mythology 101 in these pages and will be dying to find out more about Hades and the rest of the godboys and goddessgirls at Mount Olympus Academy. I enjoyed getting to learn a bit more about this crowd of youngsters and certainly wasn't disappointed. This book had just the right amount of drama, humor, and of course, just the right amount of extra-ordinary goings on at MOA to satisfy my interest in this mystical mythical tale. Needless to say, I ended up being quite charmed by Persephone, even if she was a tad devilish. After reading this one I can truly attest to the fact that both young and old goddessgirls are going to LOVE this series!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great new series for young girls February 13, 2011

By Lori Katz

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

There is a lovely new series of books about the Greek goddesses as young girls entitled Goddess Girls. My review of ATHENA THE BRAIN is below. Please note although I haven't read this book I can tell you that in my school library this book is checked out constantly. I have multiple copies now and the word of mouth recommendations by the students themselves is amazing. Someone asks for it every day. I am so thrilled that Joan Holub is writing more Goddess Girls books. Having young girls excited about a new series is exciting for me.

The first one is Athena the Brain and it is adorable. Athena is living on earth being raised by mortals until she is summoned to Mount Olympus by her dad, Zeus. It is time for her to attend the academy and so she bids her best friend farewell and heads off to Olympus. There she meets Persephone, Aphrodite and Artemis ( each will have their own book) as well as Zeus, Poseidon, Pandora and more. Filled with mythology and creative earthy inventions (Athena invents olives in a science fair) this book is perfect as a prequel to The Lightning Thief series and for younger kids.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Persephone the Phony May 18, 2010

By Jenny, Wondrous Reads

Format:Paperback

Persephone the Phony is my favourite of the first two books, as I liked Persephone slightly more than Athena, and this one even had a little sprinkling of romance, with none other than bad boy Hades! Well, he's not bad really, everyone just thinks he is. Instead, he's a sweet, thoughtful guy with an interest in Persephone, and a kick-ass black stallion that he rides around on. Life's great if you're a God of the Underworld, eh?

I really like how these books incorporate Greek mythology into the everyday trials and tribulations of growing up. It's such a cool way to learn about history, and I wish there had been something like this when I had to snooze my way through boring lessons in primary school. Although each story seems quite short to me, I think they're just the right length for tweens, and would be a great pick for reluctant readers.

I'm looking forward to reading the other 2 books in the series later in the year, and then I think I'll move on to Percy Jackson. These Greek types are cool!