Medusa the Mean (Goddess Girls, #8)

by Joan Holub and Social Development Consultant Suzanne Williams

Medusa is the ultimate mean girl in this series that blends modern drama with ancient myths.

Well researched and true to the original myths, each volume in the Goddess Girls series addresses contemporary issues, like friendships and relationships, from a classically accurate-and entertaining-perspective.

In Medusa the Mean, Medusa is sick and tired of being the only mortal at Mount Olympus Academy. Not only is she surrounded by beautiful, powerful, immortal classmates, but she also has snakes for hair and a reputation for being mean. Immortality, she thinks, will solve everything. So when she finds out about a necklace that promises just that, she's sure it will help her get the two things she covets most: to be as popular as the four Goddess Girls and to have her supercrush, Poseidon, finally notice her. But when the necklace brings about popularity in the totally wrong way, things go from bad to worse. Can Medusa overcome her "meanie" status and prove that there's more to her that meets the eye?

• ISBN10: 0606263489
• ISBN13: 9780606263481
• Publish Date: 3 April 2012
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 20 July 2022
• Imprint: Turtleback Books
• Edition: Bound for Schools & Libraries ed.
• Format: Hardcover (Library Binding)
• Pages: 240
• Language: English

Reviews

[celinenyx]

Medusa the Mean is the eighth book in the Goddess Girls series, and the second book in the series I have read. In the first few books the more popular goddess girls are the main characters – Athena, Artemis, Aphrodite and Persephone. Later in the series other characters get some spotlight time too.

I was very much excited to be reading about Medusa. She always seems so mean and evil, so it was great to see inside her head for a while. Medusa the Mean really upped my appreciation for Medusa. In spirit she’s just a scared girl that wants to be accepted for who she is. The authors really handled Medusa’s story beautifully; I was impressed how they found a good balance between Medusa’s bitchy-ness and her more vulnerable inner monologue.

Having read the first book, Athena the Brain and the eighth book, Medusa the Mean, close to each other, it was easier for me to spot the differences between the books and the evolution of the series in general. The most obvious difference is the length – Medusa the Mean is significantly longer. This is also felt within the story, as the storyline in Medusa the Mean uses more built-up and time to develop than the slightly random adventures displayed in Athena the Brain. Medusa’s book is lot more coherent and follows the more classic plot structure. In Athena there is a lot of creative use of myths and little word jokes. There is quite a bit less of that in Medusa, even though there is still more than enough mythology to keep the story interesting.

Medusa the Mean is a solid addition to the Goddess Girls series that fans of the series will eat up. It’s lovely to get an insight into the life of Medusa. Recommended for anyone looking for a fun, light, and clever MG read.