If you haven't yet discovered The Goddess Girls Series, allow me to introduce you. This wonderful set of books is all about mixing classic mythology with modern day girls and guys. Trust me, it's a ton of fun to read! Although these books are slated for Middle Graders, I see no reason why older aged readers wouldn't like them as well. After all, I'm almost 30, and I love them still!

In this particular installment, we get to see a lot further into Medusa's past and why she earned the title "Queen of Mean". The thing is, Medusa isn't really all that bad! Sadly she's just been told her whole life that she isn't special, and that she shouldn't try. Now here is why I love Medusa as a character. Despite everything else, this girl has dreams! She works hard for them and I see her as a way to teach young readers that if you work hard for something, chances are you can achieve it.

What's really sweet about Medusa the Mean is that you get to see her blossom. Making new friends, realizing that sometimes you have to trust others, and even finally seeing how her "supercrush" really is on the inside. The story line in this book is so fun! It's quick moving, there are silly jokes, and the way that the characters interact is perfect. I loved the fact that in this book Medusa is no longer just the "mean girl" character. She really comes into her own, and it's fabulous!

Long story short, this is a great series and Medusa the Mean is no exception to that rule! If you have a young reader at home, put this book into their hands. These work great as standalone novels, or you can go back to beginning and let them experience the whole series. Either way, these are sure to be a hit in your home!
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At Mount Olympus Academy, Medusa struggles to get along with the other students and secretly longs to be immortal like the other students. I'd already read Persephone the Phony from the same series and found it a surprisingly nuanced examination of the challenges of both staying true to yourself and getting along with others, so I wanted to see if the other books are as good. This one focuses on Medusa, who was an antagonist in the other books, and digs into her issues with trust and her resentment on having to depend on others because she's mortal (which in this context is effectively a disability.) It's not necessary to be familiar with Greek myths to understand the story, but there are a lot of bonuses and hidden jokes if you are. The characters are very well sketched out and easy to empathize with and root for; it made me eager to read the other books in the series. ( )

I really enjoy reading this book because it show how Medusa feels. I don't think everyone should be scare of her just because her hair is different. ( )