The Mark of Athena

The Mark of Athena, by Rick Riordan (Disney Hyperion, 2012)

This book is third in the "Heroes of Olympus" series.

The 3rd in a series of 3 so far, The Mark of Athena demonstrates the combining of two books into one perfectly.  The first two, The Lost Hero and Son of Neptune, are joined at last in the amazing 3rd book.  You could probably read this book before the other two, but you would be lost in some parts of the story.  If you think this is the end of the series, you're wrong, but it will answer a lot of your questions.  The reunion of Annabeth and Percy; confusion between Hazel, Frank, and Leo; and many other things will occur.  Annabeth's own little quest, and figuring out what happened to Nico will occur in the story as well as trying to stop Gaea from awakening.  While traveling to the original Rome on the Argo II, you will hear about old enemies, new friends, monsters, gods, and all sorts of other amazingly described occurrences.  Narrated by 4 of the 7, you will have much fun reading this book.

Shakespeare's Secret

Shakespeare’s Secret, by Elise Broach (Square Fish/Macmillan, 2005)

This book begins as Hero Netherfield moves to a new home to find that the house her family just moved into has a mysterious history. When Hero’s mom asks her to return some hedge clippers to her new neighbor, Hero gets more than she bargained for. When Mrs. Roth tells Hero about the Murphy diamond, she begins to figure out a mystery no one has figured out for a long time. Where did the necklace that the diamond was from come from, besides being in the Murphy’s family history? Where did the diamond disappear to? Hero is determined to find out. So when she gets help from the so-called cutest boy in her taunt-filled school, and she finds something unexpected in her search for the necklace’s origin, everything gets just a little more interesting.

 Read this book filled with stunning secrets and be amazed at what Elise Broach can do to a story: fill it with detail, suspense, description, and so much wonder that it makes you wonder if she’s going to make a series of a book that doesn’t really need it she has so much of this stuff in it. A great read especially for Shakespeare lovers but still is good for other readers too.

The Lighning Thief

The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan (Hyperion, 2005)

This book begins as Percy Jackson is on a field trip. He had been having something bad happen at every other school he’s ever been to. So when Mrs. Dodds suddenly becomes a weird monster and Mr. Brunner throws him a sword, he doesn’t know what to do. And things get worse from there. Grover and Mr. Brunner are talking about Percy behind his back. Then, when Percy and his mom go on a trip to Montauk, everything changes. During a storm Grover shows up, there’s some big monster chasing him, his mom is disintegrated by a … Minotaur? Percy is wondering whether all those Greek myths are true when he comes to a strange camp and suddenly must go on a quest to find Zeus’ thunderbolt, which has been stolen.

A great read by Rick Riordan, with description like nobody’s business. A book that should be for all ages, and the rest of the series too.

The Son of Neptune

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan. (Hyperion 2011)

This book is the second of three in the "Heroes of Olympus" series.

 Percy Jackson awakes to find himself with no memory of his past life. Percy fights his way past monsters who never seem to die. When he meets a crazy old woman named June, he doesn’t know what to expect. And when he finds himself in a place he’s never seen before, crazy old June turns into Juno, a goddess. Everything changes from there. Roman this, Roman that. None of it seems familiar, as Percy only really remembers Greek. Percy is not-so-welcomed into the Roman legion, and becomes friends with Hazel and Frank, who eventually go on a quest with him, under order of Mars, the Roman form of Ares, the god of war. The three are on a mission to stop Alcyoneus, the eldest giant, before the Feast of Fortuna. Percy, Hazel, and Frank must battle through monsters, more monsters, flashbacks (in Hazel’s case), memory loss (in Percy’s case), wishing his father were someone else (in Frank’s case), love (a little), family, old friends (sort of) and many other things on this adventure by Rick Riordan. Filled with details, description, and everything else a person might want in a good book.

The Old Willis Place

The Old Willis Place by Mary Downing Hahn (Clarion, 2007)

This book is about 2 kids who live alone near an abandoned mansion who meet the new caretaker of the grounds and one of the kids, Diana, tried to make friends with the daughter, but must stretch the truth of earlier life. When the girls go through the old Willis home, Diana is scared that Mrs. Willis will be in the parlor and Lissa tries to prove her wrong, but the ghost is able to leave the place where she died. Mrs. Willis begins to chase all of the kids, including Georgie, Diana’s little brother. And in order to save themselves, they must save Mrs. Willis as well.

 This story is among the best books Mary Downing Hahn has ever written. Her excellence with description shine, and her ghost story is rather spooky. I would recommend it to almost anyone who likes a good ghost story.

The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall

The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall by Mary Downing Hahn (Sandpiper, 2010)

This story is about an orphaned girl named Florence who is taken in by relatives she never knew about.  Florence arrives at her new home to find out she looks almost exactly like her dead cousin.  Aunt dislikes her immediately, and Uncle is very distant.  Her other cousin, James, is apparently too sick to leave her room.  Florence begins to hear noises, and soon her dead cousin Sophia appears to her – as a ghost.  Sophia begins to influence Florence to do mean things to people, including taking away James’ ghost-warding charm so Sophia can see James.  Sophia wants to recreate her death, and have someone else die to return her to life.  And she wants Florence to help her.  On Sophia’s death-day, she tries to repeat her death but have James die instead.

            I liked this book a lot.  Great details, very imaginative.  The only thing I don’t really like is how scared Florence was of Sophia.  I understand a bit, like James, but Florence was a little overdone.  Everything else was great.  I definitely recommend this book.

Wait Till Helen Comes

Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn (HarperCollins, 1987)

Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn is a ghost story about two kids and their mom who move in with their new stepdad and his daughter, Heather. Michael and Molly detest Heater, and she detests them. Heather loves trying to get Molly and Michael in trouble, and twists the truth without telling a white lie. Heather is determined to get revenge on them for their mom marrying her dad when they move into the old church that will become their home. Heather finds an old tombstone separate from the others, and soon seemingly finds the ghost of Helen. Heather then taunts Molly and Michael that Helen will come and make their lives unhappy. Soon strange things happen, and the blame goes to Molly and Michael. Molly, who sees Helen but no one believes her, must save Heather and form a bond to pull the family together. This book was excellent. The details and description were amazing, and the spookiness of it all really pulled it all together. I would definitely recommend it.