Summary
Who cut off Medusa's head? Who was raised by a she-bear? Who tamed Pegasus? And whatever happened to that Golden Fleece?
It takes a demigod to know the answers, and Percy Jackson can fill you in on all the daring deeds of Perseus, Atalanta, Bellerophon, and the rest of the major Greek heroes. Told in the funny, irreverent style listeners have come to expect from Percy (I've had some bad experiences in my time, but the heroes I'm going to tell you about were the original old-school hard-luck cases. They boldly screwed up where no one had screwed up before. . . .), this story collection will become the new must-have classic for Rick Riordan's legions of devoted fans--and for anyone who needs a hero.
Author Notes
Rick Riordan was born on June 5, 1964, in San Antonio, Texas. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a double major in English and history, he taught in public and private middle schools for many years.
He writes several children's series including Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Kane Chronicles, and The Heroes of Olympus, Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, and The Trials of Apollo. He also writes the Tres Navarre mystery series for adults. He has won Edgar, Anthony, and Shamus Awards for his mystery novels. .
(Bowker Author Biography)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-8-Having dished out the goods on the gods in Percy Jackson's Greek Gods (Disney-Hyperion, 2014), Percy now turns his attention to his fellow demigods. With typical snark, he describes the exploits and pitfalls of 12 of ancient Greece's best (or, at least, most notorious) heroes. Familiar characters including Daedalus and Theseus are joined by lesser-known names such as Cyrene and Bellerophon, and readers are sure to chuckle at chapter headings such as "Phaethon Fails Driver's Ed" and "Hercules Does Twelve Stupid Things." The chapters vary greatly in length, with Orpheus taking up just 17 pages, while Hercules's labors span nearly 100. Though the majority of the heroes featured are male, four fearless females also have a chance to shine. There are frequent pop culture references spanning everything from Frozen to Call of Duty, as well as occasional shout-outs to Percy's companions from his own adventures. This hefty tome is sure to be popular with Riordan's many fans, though readers looking for a more scholarly take on ancient lore may want to search elsewhere. Rocco's painterly illustrations lend an air of gravitas to Percy's banter, and while the tone of the book is light, the accompanying maps and index are suitably detailed. VERDICT Though it will no doubt eventually feel dated, this companion to Riordan's most popular works is a definite purchase for most libraries.-Misti Tidman, Licking County Library, Newark, OH © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
The demigod son of Poseidon offers his take on 12 figures from Greek myth in this irreverent and informative follow-up to Percy Jackson's Greek Gods (2014). Jokey contemporary references appear in quick succession ("We know you have a lot of options when choosing a directional wind, and we appreciate your business," Zephyrus, god of the west wind, tells Psyche); Rocco takes a comparatively old-school approach with his moody portraits of Hercules, Atalanta, and others. Percy's existing fans and newcomers will be equally delighted. It's worth it just to watch Riordan/Percy squirm through the myths' ickier details, such as Pasiphaë's seduction of a bull: "This is a good time for all of us to put down the book again, run around in circles screaming, `Ewww!' and wash our eyes out with Visine." Ages 8-12. Agent: Nancy Gallt, Nancy Gallt Literary Agency. (Aug.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Ostensibly coerced by his publisher (with "a year's supply of free pepperoni pizza, plus all the blue jelly beans I could eat") to write another volume (Percy Jackson's Greek Gods), Percy Jackson narrates this compilation of Greek hero myths. While not for scholarly readers, his jokey and colloquial voice keeps the immense, hefty, and lavishly illustrated tome from being overly grand. Reading list, websites. Ind. (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
In a similarly hefty companion to Percy Jackson's Greek Gods (2014), the most voluble of Poseidon's many sons dishes on a dozen more ancient relatives and fellow demigods. Riordan averts his young yarn spinner's eyes from the sex but not the stupidity, violence, malice, or bad choices that drive so many of the old tales. He leavens full, refreshingly tart accounts of the ups and downs of such higher-profile heroes as Theseus, Orpheus, Hercules, and Jason with the lesser-known but often equally awesome exploits of such butt-kicking ladies as Atalanta, Otrera (the first Amazon), and lion-wrestling Cyrene. In thought-provoking contrast, Psyche comes off as no less heroic, even though her story is less about general slaughter than the tough "Iron Housewives quests" Aphrodite forces her to undertake to rescue her beloved Eros. Furthermore, along with snarky chapter heads ("Phaethon Fails Driver's Ed"), the contemporary labor includes references to Jay-Z, Apple Maps, god-to-god texting, and the likenot to mention the way the narrator makes fun of hard-to-pronounce names and points up such character flaws as ADHD (Theseus) and anger management issues (Hercules). The breezy treatment effectively blows off at least some of the dust obscuring the timeless themes in each hero's career. In Rocco's melodramatically murky illustrations, men and women alike display rippling thews and plenty of skin as they battle ravening monsters. Tales that "lay out your options for painful and interesting ways to die." And to live. (maps, index) (Mythology. 10-14) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
A colorful and quite enormous companion volume to Percy Jackson's Greek Gods (2014), this inviting book retells the stories of 12 notable figures from Greek mythology, such as Cyrene, Jason, Orpheus, Perseus, Psyche, and Theseus. Riordan casts a wide net in choosing his heroes, and the inclusion of four women in this traditionally male-dominated category broadens the book's appeal as well as its scope. Chapter titles like Phaethon Fails Driver's Ed, Whatever It Is, Bellerophon Didn't Do It, and Atalanta vs. Three Pieces of Fruit: The Ultimate Death Match capture the irreverent tone of the narrative, which is often amusing as well as informative. Written in the voice of Percy Jackson, these ancient stories sound fresh and vital. Rocco contributes many beautifully composed and dramatic paintings, from full-page action scenes to vertical side panels to small portraits at chapter headings. Like its predecessor, this large, handsome tome may be physically heavy, but it will fly off library shelves.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2015 Booklist
