Review: The Mark of Athena

 

When last we saw Percy and his friends, they had just saved the Roman Legion (Camp Jupiter) and were reunited with Annabelle, Jason, Piper, Leo and Coach Hedge.  

Now, thanks to some ghost-like things, the Roman camp is on their tail, bent on destruction.  Gaea is plotting to take over the world, Athena has given Annabelle directions for her own quest, and the Gods of Olympus and Rome are confused and not helping anybody.

In The Son of Neptune, Percy, Hazel, and Frank met in Camp Jupiter, the Roman equivalent of Camp Halfblood, and traveled to the land beyond the gods to complete a dangerous quest. The third book in the Heroes of Olympus series will unite them with Jason, Piper, and Leo. But they number only six--who will complete the Prophecy of Seven?

The Greek and Roman demigods will have to cooperate in order to defeat the giants released by the Earth Mother, Gaea. Then they will have to sail together to the ancient land to find the Doors of Death. What exactly are the Doors of Death? Much of the prophecy remains a mystery. . . .

 

With old friends and new friends joining forces, a marvelous ship, fearsome foes, and an exotic setting, The Mark of Athena promises to be another unforgettable adventure by master storyteller Rick Riordan.

~From Amazon~

At 500-some odd pages, this is a beast of a book to read, I think it took me around 2 weeks!  So leave yourself some time to finish it! 

It has been a really long time since I read SON OF NEPTUNE and I had forgotten some details.  I'd LOVE if Mr. Riordan would include a character chart in the back (kind of like George RR Martin does with the GAME OF THRONES books). 

As for the story, I enjoyed it.  But it took until about page 200 for me to really get into the book.  I think because I was still trying to remember what had happened in the last book.

Overall, if you like his Lightning Thief series, or are fans of the other Heroes of Olympus books, you'll enjoy this one.

Review on Bookalicious

Today, I'm reviewing EXCLAMATION MARK by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld over on Bookalicious.  You should go check it out (hint hint, puppy dog eyes, etc)

From the bestselling creators of Duck! Rabbit!, an exciting tale of self-discovery!

He stood out here.

He stood out there.

He tried everything to be more like them.

It's not easy being seen. Especially when you're NOT like everyone else. Especially when what sets you apart is YOU.

Sometimes we squish ourselves to fit in. We shrink. Twist. Bend. Until -- ! -- a friend shows the way to endless possibilities.

In this bold and highly visual book, an emphatic but misplaced exclamation point learns that being different can be very exciting! Period.

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA

 

Its Monday!  What are you reading?  From Picture Books to YA is a weekly feature hosted by Jen and Kellee of Teach Mentor Texts and inspired by Its Monday!  What are you reading by Sheila at Book Journeys.

We started our state standardized testing last week (VA isn't a common core state, so we do "SOLs" or "Standards of Learning" tests).  It's mind numbing having to proctor them.  I didn't get much reading done though, because most of my tests were "read aloud", so I had to (and will have to this week) read each question to my students.  Only 14 more days, though!  We can do it!

May Calendar

Sunday	Monday	Tues.	Weds.	Thurs.	Friday	Sat.
	It’s Monday!	VRC recap	1 Review:  The Selection Series	2 #Thirstday I took a pic, but shared via twitter, not blog	3	4
5	6 It’s Monday!	7 Review: Fish Finelli	8	9	10	11
12	13 It’s Monday!	14 Review: Crystal City Lights	15 Big news!	16 Review on Bookalicious	17	18 If I had $100
19 TMT Bookswap reveal	20 It’s Monday!	21 Review on Bookalicious	22 Review: The Mark of Athena	23 #Thirstday	24	25 If I had $100
26 /2 Armchair BEA Day 7	27 It’s Monday!Armchair BEA day 1	28 Armchair BEA Day 2	29 Armchair BEA Day 3	30 #Thirstday Review:  Lightning Rider Armchair BEA Day 4	31 Armchair BEA Day 5	1  Armchair BEA Day 6

Book and Bookmark swap reveal

Jen and Kellee from Teach Mentor Texts host a book and bookmark swap...and today is the big reveal!

 

I received a copy of EVERLOST by Neal Shusterman and these pretty wicked murder mystery bookmarks from Kellee.  Love them!  Thank you, Kellee!

 Watch the TMT blog for how to participate in the next swap :)

If I had $100

Inspired by Andi, of Andi's ABC's (Accessories, Books and Clothes) post, Monopoly Money Monday (and a Barenaked Ladies song), I thought, "What if I had $100 to spend?  What books or bookish things would I buy?"

I'm going to try to make this a weekly post, usually on Saturdays, because, let's face it, I can spend $100 on books/bookish things REALLY quickly and easily!  And, if I go over, there's always next Saturday!

Of course, there are no shipping charges or tax.  It's my fantasy money, and I've decided!  

Clicking on the image *should* take you directly to that link.

This week is all about baseball books!  I love baseball, I miss playing softball (if I wasn't afraid of breaking my jaw while playing AGAIN, I'd be out there), it isn't spring/summer until AMC starts playing A League of Their Own or Major League.  I went to games in Milwaukee JUST to see Bob Euker (aka the dad from Mr. Belvidere---he's the voice of the Brewers).  Roberto Clemente is my hero.

 $7.19

$14.94 

 

$17.52

 

 $35.96

$3.59 

$20.08

And that, dear friends, is how you spend $99.28 on baseball books.  Enjoy!

Review on Bookalicious

 

Head on over to Bookalicious to read my review of Jarrett J. Krosoczka's LUNCH LADY AND THE MUTANT MATHLETES!

 The Breakfast Bunch have joined the mathletes team, and are all set to win the championship trophy for Thompson Brook Elementary School—they only need to beat the defending champs from Willowby Academy.  But Lunch Lady notices something strange about the opposing matheletes and their sinister coach. Will she and her sidekick Betty be able to sort out the suspicious competitors before they snatch victory away from the Breakfast Bunch?

Image and summary from Amazon

BIG NEWS!!!

 

I'm very excited and happy to announce that I was just accepted into Eastern Mennonite University's Masters of Arts in Education: Concentration in Technology and Literacy!  I'll be starting in the fall :)