marmoset737's review
4.0
Medusa Jones is teased for her snakey hair and the rumors that she can turn people into stone. This is a great choice for programs on bullying - I read a chapter of it to a group of 4th and 5th graders because this month the school I'm working at has an anti-bullying program going on and the kids ate it up. It's very similar to the Percy Jackson series in that it looks at Greek mythological characters with a contemporary twist. It's also not at all condescending or pandering in how it approaches the subject of bullying - Medusa and her friend's responses to, and how they ultimately with the bullies, are realistic and entertaining.
abigailbat's review
3.0
In this sweet, funny chapter book, Medusa Jones asks her parents (just like she does every day) if she can turn the Champions into stone. As always, they say no. The Champions (Perseus, Cassandra, and Theseus) are the popular clique at her school... and they live to torture the "freaks". They tease Medusa mercilessly for having snakes for hair. They also tease her best friends Chiron (centaur) and Mino (minotaur), but Medusa is their favorite. Medusa is completely fed up with their taunts, but there's nothing she can do about it... until one day a chance comes for her to prove herself to them. But this is no formula bullying story... just wait for the surprise ending...
A great transitional chapter book... think Percy Jackson but for the younger crowd. Medusa's a spunky, likeable heroine (and her snakes are cuuuuute!). The illustrations are a perfect compliment to the story. I'd recommend this to fans of Clementine, Ruby Lu, etc. and anyone interested in Greek mythology. Grades 2-4.
A great transitional chapter book... think Percy Jackson but for the younger crowd. Medusa's a spunky, likeable heroine (and her snakes are cuuuuute!). The illustrations are a perfect compliment to the story. I'd recommend this to fans of Clementine, Ruby Lu, etc. and anyone interested in Greek mythology. Grades 2-4.
pkadams's review
3.0
The audience for this book is rather small -- young readers who have in-depth knowledge of gorgons, Greek pantheon, and ancient mythology. Collins imagines a world where Medusa with her unkempt snake hair is a child and attending school with the other creatures from Greek mythology (the children of the gods and goddesses) as well as Chiron and even her puppy the 3-headed Cerberus. As you can imagine Medusa is part of the "odd" crowd and that poses problems for her in her status-conscious school. Her mother insists that she can't turn anyone into granite. That rule makes most of the Champions (aka the cool kids) doubt that she can actually do it.
williamsdebbied's review
3.0
Cute, funny story featuring some familiar mythological characters. Medusa, Chiron, and Mino don't quite fit in and get bullied by popular champions Perseus, Theseus, and Cassandra. When they all go on a field trip together, things might just go from bad to worse.
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