Pandora the Curious

Goddess Girls #9

by Joan Holub, Suzanne Williams

Is Pandora about to open up a box of trouble?

One of the few mortals at Mount Olympus Academy, Pandora is famous for her mega quizzical nature—not that she thinks there’s anything wrong with being curious, of course!

Her curiosity kicks into high gear when a godboy named Epimetheus brings a mysterious box to school. Epimetheus is the nephew of an MOA teacher in whose class Pandora once opened another box that sent a few weather disasters to earth. Still, Pandora can’t help but take a peek inside this new box when it unexpectedly lands in her lap. What could be the harm in that, right? Little does she know that opening the box will open up far more trouble than she ever expected!

Authors Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams put a modern spin on classic myths with the Goddess Girls series. Follow the ins and outs of divine social life at Mount Olympus Academy, where the most privileged godboys and goddessgirls in the Greek pantheon hone their mythical skills.

Genres: Mythology, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Greek Mythology, Childrens, Fiction, Retellings

256 pages, Hardcover

First published December 4, 2012

About the author

NY Times bestselling children's book author:
GODDESS GIRLS series + HEROES IN TRAINING series (w Suzanne Williams); THIS LITTLE TRAILBLAZER a Girl Power Primer; ZERO THE HERO; I AM THE SHARK. Lucky to be doing what I love!

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read most of the Goddess Girls books and this might be my favorite!

As we can see by the title, this is all about Pandora! I've read the Pandora myth and I got all confused because the authors have a different approach to the myth in the book. I'm not going to spoil it for you, but since you guys all should know the myth and how the 'bubbles' flew down to earth and affected the humans, that's not what happens here.

I thought that the way the 'bubbles' affected the characters were very funny! All their personalities changed and they got all weird and funny.

We also finally get to read in Pandora's point of view! I learned something new about her too. I always thought she spoke in questions all the time, but she doesn't alway! Only 99.9% of the time! And we also get to know her more and actually learn that she's really kind and caring. I also didn't know she was friends with Pheme and Medusa!

And with Pandora's story, there has to be the people who bring the box! Epimetheus and his brother whose name I've already forgotten. Sorry! Haha. Anyways, it seems like Pandora might have a crush on one of them..

Overall, I really liked this book! I really do think it's my favorite out of the Goddess Girls Series! 4.5 Stars!

[Angelc · Rating 5 out of 5]

This installment of one of my favorite series, The Goddess Girls, tells the infamous story of Pandora opening the box of troubles. I love that these books are inspired by the Greek myths, but also make them appealing to young girls. I realized that even though everyone knows Pandora and her box, I really didn't know the actual story at all, so I was inspired to look it up. I hope that young girls reading these books will do the same and expand their knowledge of classic tales by reading something so modern and fun.

I love these books about the supporting Goddess Girls, the girls outside of the main four girls. I think the other girls might have a few more flaws, and might appeal to girls who feel a little more different. Pandora doesn't really fit the mold of 'sporty', 'brainy', or 'popular', so it's fun to read about her thoughts and feelings too. She has a flaw, she can't help but ask so many questions that it becomes nosy, and she can't hold back from snooping where she doesn't belong sometimes. But it's great to see her find a balance of the times when it's great to ask questions, not just accepting answers without knowing why. But then she has to know when to hold back too, as she learned by releasing all of the trouble bubbles on her schoolmates.

I thought it was so fun to see the trouble bubbles affect the other Goddess Girls, and we got to see them act in the complete opposite way that they normally would. I won't give away too many of the trouble bubbles, but the first bubble turned brainy Athena into a ditz! It was too cute to see the smartest, most disciplined girl in school get lost in the school hallways.

As with all of this series, I love the sweet first love stories. Pandora doesn't really like Epimetheus at first, because she is smitten with Posiedon. But Epimetheus really proves that he is the godboy for her when he appreciates her, flaws and all. He actually helps her to realize that her curiosity isn't really a flaw, when used correctly, it's a strength.

The Goddess Girls books just keep getting better and better! I love learning more about the supporting characters from the series!


book sent by the authors in exchange for an honest review

reviewed for http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com

[✧ hayley (the sugar bowl) ✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

➳ 4 ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚


this was a fun one! not my favorite book ever in this series but i still had a good time. pandora is a fun main character as well.

the mythology in this one is on point and i learned a lot reading this. another cute, quick read from the goddess girls series and i can’t wait to continue reading!


୧ ‧₊˚ 🍓 ⋅ ☆

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

At First Sight: Pandora is without a doubt the most curious girl of Mount Olympus Academy - and one of the few mortals that go there. She's always asking questions and that doesn't make her very popular, but she can't help herself.

So, when she sees Titan boy Epimetheus walking around the academy with a mysterious box and later said box falls unexpectedly into her hands, Pandora opens the box, releasing nine mysterious bubbles into the campus and is left feeling a little disappointed that a) that was all there was inside the box Epimetheus guarded so much, and b) that no one believes her when she said it was really just full of bubbles.

But soon, Pandora has other things on her mind, like the Science Fair that Zeus is organizing - and which she really wants to win to prove Poseidon that girls are good at science, even if it means working with Epimethus and his brother (who are even less popular than her) - and the fact that Athena is acting like a total Ditz lately... in fact, a lot of people are acting very weird ever since those bubbles were released.

And it might be up to Pandora to fix the whole thing.

Second Glance: Pandora the Curious is my new favorite entry of the Goddess Girls series, y'all! Pandora was so adorable and cute, and I loved how curious she was and how she learned it wasn't a bad thing.

I also liked the story, with the bubbles and their effects and how Pandora had to see if Epimetheus was worth her trust - and those two were so cute working together - and I enjoyed seeing a different side to the original goddess girls, I think the authors are doing a wonderful job at broadening the scope of the books and introducing the point of view of other characters. It worked really well with Medusa the Mean and I LOVED it with Pandora the Curious.

Honestly, the way that Pandora learns to being curious is awesome but that she needs to think before asking the questions was awesome, and that Epimetheus told her "I like that about you" was a huge vote of confidence for her because he got her in ways her friends didn't.

Bottom Line: Pandora the Curious was such a cute, feel good book. I read it all in one day because I just couldn't stop. I love the world that Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams have created and I love their characters so much and, as I said before, Pandora is my new favorite.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another wonderful addition to the Goddess Girl series. Although the Goddess Girl series isn't completely accurate to the Greek myths I enjoy how they are true enough to Greek mythology to spark the interest of kids. However, what I really like is how the authors take a topic that is currently very popular and place the characters into situations that kids deal with today- like bullies, curiosity, crushes, etc. In this particular book Pandora opens the box that releases trouble-bubbles (ditz, anger, rude, thief, lazy, greed, vain, fear, lying, etc). Pandora then has to team up with Epimetheus in order to recapture the trouble bubbles and correct the chaos her curiosity caused. I really enjoyed this story, and how Pandora sums up what she learned about curiosity and the dangers of it in her school project.

[Daisy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ABSOLUTLY LOVE THIS BOOK! The best in the series so far!!!!!!!!! Pandora is a really cool character and it's nice to know (after reading Medusa's book) that not all the mortals are jealous of the gods. It was also nice because Pandora is friends with the four goddessgirls (Athena, Aphrodite, Persephone and Artemis) and Pheme and Medusa. Because we got a view of the both the groups, which I just thought was cool. I also loved Epimetheus, he's just such a nice person!

In this book Pandora opens a magic box, and it releases nine bubbles of bad qualities that pop in peoples faces and change their personalities. Pandora watches as her friends and classmates (and even the King of the Gods and a famous mathematician!)turn super weird and unlike themselves! It's up to her to get them back to their old selves with the help of her new titan friend Epimetheus...

The storyline was so funny and entertaining, and I wanted to keep reading and find out what Pandora would do to save the day. I liked how it was resolved and the ending to the book. I did spot one tiny mistake - at one point Epimetheus opens the box when Pandora is supposed to be the only one who can open it. But that was no big deal and I didn't mind.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all know the myth of Pandora and the box of mysteries to some extent. This amazing story from Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams adds another twist to the exciting tale. I love the Goddess Girls series (even though I may be too old for it, hee hee). This story introduces some new (I think; even if they're in one of the others they're in this one a lot more) characters - Epimetheus and Prometheus.

The basic story is that Pandora opened the box and these weird bubbles changed people's characteristics, so Athena became Ditzy and Zeus became lazy etc.

The main storyline was quite cleverly done and it was nice to have a story from Pandora's point of view (although it didn't really feel like Pandora, she was asking a LOT less questions.) I like Epimetheus and the end was sweet PLUS I loved loved loved the ending with Athena and Pandora and when I'd finished I hugged the book with happiness!

This is a really great feel-good book that I would recommend to girls (and boys) aged 8-13. If you read this it will become your guilty pleasure whatever age you are! Go Goddess Girls!

[Small Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute addition to the series. I prefer the books from the main girls, but Pandora's story was fun and I loved the "kiddie" twist to Prometheus's tale.

Originally posted on Small Review

Received: Review copy from author
3 out of 5 stars

There's something about Pandora that just didn't click with me. Not just in this book, but in the other books where she makes a sidekick appearances. But that's the beauty of this series: different readers will connect with different Goddess Girls, and if you don't like one, no worries! There's plenty more to choose from.

The rest of the story follows the same formula of modernized and cutesy myths, a small crush, and lots of heart. My lack of connection with Pandora made me less invested in all of these features, but they're still solid.

[Olivia S · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, so I 5-minute-read this. I've been curious about this series for awhile, because they're new-ish and nice and glossy and I dig the concept. I like mythology stuff, and the idea of writing a series of junior novels about them appeals to me.

Even though it's unfair, I can't help comparing any and all magical school books to HP somewhat. And it's just embarassing for the other books. This is just one of those books that reads like it was written by a 13-year-old girl. Crushes and excessively precious physical details abound. So I'm sure it's fine, I read the part at the end where Pandora wins a prize and invites her roommate friend instead of her crush, which I like, but, judging from my admittedly brief read, these books are nothing special. Wouldn't bother recommending.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

when pandora opens a stranger's box, bubbles come out of it and it changes the actions of the people who come in contact with the bubbles. pandora finds a hope bubble and pops people on the head with it and they go back to their normal selves.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

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In this ninth installation in the GoddessGirls series, Pandora opens that bloody box. The Titans, Epimetheus and Prometheus, are new students at Mount Olympus Academy and they are rather outcasts for the role the Titans played in the war between the Titans and Olympians. Spoiler alert: the Titans lost. Epimetheus has a box with him that makes odd noises and, of course, Pandora is intensely curious about it. When the godboys decide to play a game of keep-away with the box, it falls into Pandora’s hands without anyone noticing and it opens. Almost as if it were fated to do so. Huh. The box contained ten bubbles, which all floated out except one. Pandora seems to be the only one able to see the bubbles, so she is also the only one able to observe the effects of the bubbles bumping into people. So when Athena, for example, is bubble-bumped, Pandora hears it whisper “Ditz” and then Athena turns stupid. Similarly, another bubble bumps Aphrodite and whispers “rude,” and Aphrodite proceeds to become a vulgar and disgusting example of everyone one ought not to do, ever. Pandora doesn’t know whether or not to trust the Titans with this information, because she thinks they may have come to MOA to help take over and pave the way for a new Titan war against the Olympians. She has to decide who to trust and figure out how to reverse the effects of the bubbles before all hope is lost. See what I did there?

As with all the previous books in this series, Pandora the Curious provides an excellent way to begin teaching younger readers about the Classical myths. This one also provided a good example of troubleshooting and problem solving as well as making sure to give people second chances and not to judge based on a group but rather on an individual basis. Pandora learns a lot about herself and how curiosity can be both good and bad, depending on how it is used. She also learns that just because a person is a Titan and fought against the Olympians doesn’t make them a bad person and she should always take an individual approach to judging someone. This was a good way to talk about a variety of social issues with my daughter. We see in the news a lot of racism and sweeping generalizations made about entire groups of people. So we had a chat about how any group of people can include bad people, but that we should always try to get to know the person in front of us and not judge them or assume they are bad just because someone else like them did a bad thing. That’s no way to live.

Overall, the series has piqued my daughter’s interest in mythology, all kinds, not just Greco-Roman. At the end of the day, even if some of the stuff is silly or trite, I can live with that because of the interest it’s sparked in her for better things.

[Verena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This time we get to know Pandora better: She turns out to be quite smart, especially because Athena acts really dumb. Weird? Of course, the reason are Trouble Bubbles! Pandora released them accidentially, when she opened a forbidden box. Only she can see them! No one believes her! And since Zeus and all popular goddess girls behave oddly, it's time for mortal Pandora to prove herself together with the Titan boys Epimetheus and Prometheus. - A great, thoughtful retelling of another box of Pandora and some creation myths. Although with some take of "deadly sins", it's never scary, but hilarious. We see this time the boys confused about their crushes, and Pandora will find a cute crush. More about Pandora's crush(es) in Amphitrite the Bubbly.
Summing up, a fast read with good rhymes, about being curious and about thinking about consequences and how you write a thesis (:
(I'm going to review all the books now, although I have already read the most recent ones and my review will be based on my memory. I'll make some comments about further reading and mythology.).

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I took a look at this series back when it started and thought them nicely done. I’ve always like Holub as an author. So when grabbing books before the library closed down for the covid19 crisis, I saw some and grabbed a few. This was the first of those. It was nicely done, with Pandora beginning to realize that questions and curiosity needs to be at the right time and in moderation. The original story was updated with all working out after all. However, Pandora had to do a lot of thinking before she came up with a possible plan to solve the mystery of the vanishing bubbles. Not really 4 stars but a good 3.5 stars. Recommended.

[Violet Bleger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pandora is one of my favorite characters in the whole series. I love how the authors are able to portray her. I also love the underlying concept of curiosity being a good thing and a bad thing. Definitely a great book.

[Ella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decided to try this series because I like Greek mythology and it seemed like a similar plot to Ever After High, one of my favorite series, because of the middle/high school environment. It was pretty good.

[Mamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this to get a sense of the series, and I think my students will love these books! The writing is fresh and compelling and the way the author brings in elements of the mythology in new ways to s just wonderful.

[Amina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot was intresting and I liked how at the beggining it had me hooked, but there was so many unessacery things in the middle. But I loved the ending so it was just all worth it, and I loved how Pandora and the titan's relationship was so cute.

[☯Meera☯ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was caught for bringing this library book to school... ouch.

[Christina Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Someone is curious. I like how this book showed the other goddesses personality.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

So hilarious! Out of all the books so far,this is my favorite.

[Abbey Koenig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was a pretty good book

[QSTCMomma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than the last few books in this series

[Sadie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I just love the Goddess Girls series. It was fun to get a glimpse of the girls while they were in high school. I recommend this book if you (like me) have an overactive imagination , like mythology, and are a girl.

[mariaemmorey 🧸ྀི · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a 3.9 I still really liked it but out of the series not my fav

[erin :3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5 stars) cute!

[Emilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, a solid book in the series!

[Marcia Van Camp]

Eldest read

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books are so cute!

[Sundari Chandrashekaran · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of my favs in the series.. I’m getting flashbacks to when I read this in 2nd grade

[Cassie Hawkings · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reread later.