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Goddess Girls
The Girl Games: Super Special
The first-ever standalone superspecial in the Goddess Girls series—let the games begin!
Athena, Medusa, Artemis, and Persephone are sick and tired of being left out of the annual boys-only Olympic Games. Their solution? The Girl Games! But as the Goddess Girls work to make their dream into a reality, they come up against plenty of chaos and competition. Told in alternating points of view, this superspecial is packed with Olympic spirit!
Athena, Medusa, Artemis, and Persephone are sick and tired of being left out of the annual boys-only Olympic Games. Their solution? The Girl Games! But as the Goddess Girls work to make their dream into a reality, they come up against plenty of chaos and competition. Told in alternating points of view, this superspecial is packed with Olympic spirit!
320 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2012
101 people are currently reading
1346 people want to read
About the author
Joan Holub
347 books1,236 followersNY 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!
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!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
October 3, 2013
What a cute story!
This was my second book that I read in the Goddess Girls series. It's a middle grade series that takes the classic myths and puts a modern spin to them. It's centered around the goddesses of Greek mythology as their tween selves-- all attending MOA, Mt. Olympus Academy.
I really enjoyed reading about Athena, Aphrodite, Artemis, and Persephone as they held the first ever girl Olympics. Of course the godboys were also part of the story-- each girl has a crush (hint: the crushes are all their would-be mates). Each girl battles different anxieties with the upcoming games. MOA is hosting girls from all around the world. We get Norse goddesses! Chinese goddesses and Egyptian goddesses in this book and I loved that. I'm such a sucker for mythology, and I love how the authors made it fit the middle grade genre, pushing the creativity of various myths and mythical heroes and gods.
I definitely recommend these books to young girls. My niece loves this series, and I'm glad she does. There's just the right amount of kissing (cheek kissing) and hand-holding. It also teaches wonderful messages about girl-on-girl jealousies. It's a well known fact girls can be terribly mean and spiteful. Young girls need too earn how to deal with these situations if they're ever targeted or bullied and how to make the situation better and maybe eventually even become friends after understanding what motivates a young woman to, for example, flirt with your crush! I also actually find it refreshing that the goddess girls are popular. No, not totally stereotypically popular. They're just a group of talented girls who are friends and have a lot of friends. They don't endorse mean behavior, and are only "popular" because they're nice to everyone and like to have fun. It's wonderful.
This was my second book that I read in the Goddess Girls series. It's a middle grade series that takes the classic myths and puts a modern spin to them. It's centered around the goddesses of Greek mythology as their tween selves-- all attending MOA, Mt. Olympus Academy.
I really enjoyed reading about Athena, Aphrodite, Artemis, and Persephone as they held the first ever girl Olympics. Of course the godboys were also part of the story-- each girl has a crush (hint: the crushes are all their would-be mates). Each girl battles different anxieties with the upcoming games. MOA is hosting girls from all around the world. We get Norse goddesses! Chinese goddesses and Egyptian goddesses in this book and I loved that. I'm such a sucker for mythology, and I love how the authors made it fit the middle grade genre, pushing the creativity of various myths and mythical heroes and gods.
I definitely recommend these books to young girls. My niece loves this series, and I'm glad she does. There's just the right amount of kissing (cheek kissing) and hand-holding. It also teaches wonderful messages about girl-on-girl jealousies. It's a well known fact girls can be terribly mean and spiteful. Young girls need too earn how to deal with these situations if they're ever targeted or bullied and how to make the situation better and maybe eventually even become friends after understanding what motivates a young woman to, for example, flirt with your crush! I also actually find it refreshing that the goddess girls are popular. No, not totally stereotypically popular. They're just a group of talented girls who are friends and have a lot of friends. They don't endorse mean behavior, and are only "popular" because they're nice to everyone and like to have fun. It's wonderful.
December 21, 2015
I think that this was the first book in the series that I found a little disappointing. It's a full-length novel, but doesn't follow the typical "from one POV" method (instead bouncing between characters) from all the previous books (as also noted by the different title), though I'd guess that it's a relevant enough storyline that it will be referenced in later books. I think one of the main parts that I disliked was the concept of "Girl Games" at all - of course, I thought when the girls fought for their right to compete in an earlier novel (and won, obviously) that was great, but then these games seemed to make a mockery of the competition with things like pink sparkly sand and stuffies to pass in a relay race. I get that the mythology is trying to tie old world concepts to a new world setting, but the whole separation of guy games/girl games, and then making girl games such stereotypically "girlie" was a lot more off-putting than I would have liked. There didn't really seem to be any strong morals to convey in this one, and the other side story involving the cat was just rather annoying. I think I may have to backburner this series for a while again and maybe come back to it later.
April 8, 2024
➳ 4 ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚
i’m not sure which book this super special is supposed to be read after but i always read it after medusa the mean (8) based on publication dates.
anyway, this book was a blast! i enjoyed having all of the 4 girls’ povs in this book and the concept of the girl games was a fun one. this was another cute read and i’m excited to reread more of the series.
୧ ‧₊˚ 🍓 ⋅ ☆
i’m not sure which book this super special is supposed to be read after but i always read it after medusa the mean (8) based on publication dates.
anyway, this book was a blast! i enjoyed having all of the 4 girls’ povs in this book and the concept of the girl games was a fun one. this was another cute read and i’m excited to reread more of the series.
୧ ‧₊˚ 🍓 ⋅ ☆
July 25, 2019
I probably would have enjoyed this book a lot more when I was 8-10 ish, but it was still cute! Think school AU fanfic with kid gods and goddesses from mythology. That’s the easiest way I can think to describe it. I would definitely read more of this series, but only if I can find the books cheap:)
July 9, 2012
The Goddess Girls are back, and this time in a super special edition. Written by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams, this popular middle grade series takes on the world of the Olympics in, Goddess Girls- The Girl Games.
The Story- Zeus has finally agreed to let the goddess girls hold their own completion, the Heraean Games. Artemis, Persephone, Aphrodite, and Athena are ready to go, each competing in both the group cheer challenge and individual sports.
Of course, problems arise. Artemis takes it upon herself to make sure the games are perfect. Aphrodite finds a cute kitten and smuggles him back to Mount Olympus Academy, totally against the rules. And her bestest friend Persephone falls in love with the kitten, named Adonis, and wants him for her own. And then there’s Athena who is having dreams about someone stealing her dad’s (Zeus) prize Pegasus.
Can the girls get things together and compete in the games?
My Thoughts- This is a very cute MG book. I have not read the others in the series and it wasn’t a problem, this book holds its own. The story switches back and forth from the POV of all 4 girls, which really helps develop their individual characters and allows the story to be seen from different angles. I did sometimes have a problem telling whose chapter I was in, and would sometimes have to go back to the chapter heading to remind myself.
The action is very middle grade appropriate. The Olympic type events include things like cheer leading, relay races with stuffed animals, long jump into magical pink sand, and thumb wrestling. The conflicts are also right on age level. Artemis struggles to do everything herself, and one of the main themes is that it is ok to ask for help. Then there is the jealousy between Aphrodite and Persephone, a very girl type of struggle for ownership of a kitty cat.
The writing is colorful and full of energy, with special made up words to fit the story. I totally recommend this book for 8 and up.
The Story- Zeus has finally agreed to let the goddess girls hold their own completion, the Heraean Games. Artemis, Persephone, Aphrodite, and Athena are ready to go, each competing in both the group cheer challenge and individual sports.
Of course, problems arise. Artemis takes it upon herself to make sure the games are perfect. Aphrodite finds a cute kitten and smuggles him back to Mount Olympus Academy, totally against the rules. And her bestest friend Persephone falls in love with the kitten, named Adonis, and wants him for her own. And then there’s Athena who is having dreams about someone stealing her dad’s (Zeus) prize Pegasus.
Can the girls get things together and compete in the games?
My Thoughts- This is a very cute MG book. I have not read the others in the series and it wasn’t a problem, this book holds its own. The story switches back and forth from the POV of all 4 girls, which really helps develop their individual characters and allows the story to be seen from different angles. I did sometimes have a problem telling whose chapter I was in, and would sometimes have to go back to the chapter heading to remind myself.
The action is very middle grade appropriate. The Olympic type events include things like cheer leading, relay races with stuffed animals, long jump into magical pink sand, and thumb wrestling. The conflicts are also right on age level. Artemis struggles to do everything herself, and one of the main themes is that it is ok to ask for help. Then there is the jealousy between Aphrodite and Persephone, a very girl type of struggle for ownership of a kitty cat.
The writing is colorful and full of energy, with special made up words to fit the story. I totally recommend this book for 8 and up.
Read
April 19, 2017This book is really fun, Athena, Artemis, Aphrodite, and Persephone are competing in the very first Girl games, but things aren't going as smoothly as Artemis planed, Aphrodite and Persephone are fighting over a kitten, Athena is having boy-trouble, all four want to win the games. But everything ends well, the girls boyfriends plan a party for them, which is really funny how it is described.
Aphrodite and Persephone found a way to share the kitten, Zeus' "idea" to have the kitten stay one week with Aphrodite, then the other week with Persephone, the games went well for Artemis especially when her crush, I cant spell his name, gives her a kiss. I love all of this book, there is not one part of it that I don't like.
Aphrodite and Persephone found a way to share the kitten, Zeus' "idea" to have the kitten stay one week with Aphrodite, then the other week with Persephone, the games went well for Artemis especially when her crush, I cant spell his name, gives her a kiss. I love all of this book, there is not one part of it that I don't like.
June 24, 2014
greek goddesses... here they come.
October 12, 2015
Four times the awesome of a regular Goddess Girls book!
January 26, 2023
2.5 stars
This is the… third Goddess Girls book I’ve read? I wasn’t sure where in the series it took place so I dunno if there were any “spoilers” in this but it’s fine.
I liked the others I read a lot, they were quite clever in how they adapted Greek myths into pre-teen girl stories. But I felt throughout the duration of this book that it was very immature. The girls fighting over stupid stuff like the cat just felt silly. 12/13/14 year old girls I feel wouldn’t be so young in dealing with that, I’d expect it more of like an 8 year old. Especially weird when you had it contrasted against Artemis pulling off an entire Olympics event by herself when they’re all supposed to be the same age.
I also found it hard to keep track of the girls and whose storyline I was reading (though that may be because there’s 3 out of 4 characters with A names. 😵💫) And I thought the breakdown of the days leading up to the games was unnecessary.
Overall it’s a fun series and I’m going to read more of them, but this one was too young for me to really enjoy. I wish it had focused more on putting the Games on and maybe even dived into the history of the Olympics (which I know nothing about).
This is the… third Goddess Girls book I’ve read? I wasn’t sure where in the series it took place so I dunno if there were any “spoilers” in this but it’s fine.
I liked the others I read a lot, they were quite clever in how they adapted Greek myths into pre-teen girl stories. But I felt throughout the duration of this book that it was very immature. The girls fighting over stupid stuff like the cat just felt silly. 12/13/14 year old girls I feel wouldn’t be so young in dealing with that, I’d expect it more of like an 8 year old. Especially weird when you had it contrasted against Artemis pulling off an entire Olympics event by herself when they’re all supposed to be the same age.
I also found it hard to keep track of the girls and whose storyline I was reading (though that may be because there’s 3 out of 4 characters with A names. 😵💫) And I thought the breakdown of the days leading up to the games was unnecessary.
Overall it’s a fun series and I’m going to read more of them, but this one was too young for me to really enjoy. I wish it had focused more on putting the Games on and maybe even dived into the history of the Olympics (which I know nothing about).
August 14, 2020
This one was ok. Some things stood out from other the books though, so that's why I wrote this review.
I liked how the goddesses from other cultures were included in this book, and I enjoyed envisioning the sports events (maybe because I've been playing Wii Olympics too much). The idea of a 'Girls-Only Olympics' was cute and made a lot of sense, considering some of the Goddess's love for sports. (Artemis & archery, Aphrodite & cheer, etc.)
I didn't like the subplot of Adonis and Aphrodite and Persephone fighting. Artemis was annoyingly dismissing everyone's offers to help prepare the Games, and Athena was on the verge of being a really sore loser. Also, I really found Heracles and Ares annoying and unnecessary in this book.
Same cute characters, and humor that would appeal to elementary age kids.
I liked how the goddesses from other cultures were included in this book, and I enjoyed envisioning the sports events (maybe because I've been playing Wii Olympics too much). The idea of a 'Girls-Only Olympics' was cute and made a lot of sense, considering some of the Goddess's love for sports. (Artemis & archery, Aphrodite & cheer, etc.)
I didn't like the subplot of Adonis and Aphrodite and Persephone fighting. Artemis was annoyingly dismissing everyone's offers to help prepare the Games, and Athena was on the verge of being a really sore loser. Also, I really found Heracles and Ares annoying and unnecessary in this book.
Same cute characters, and humor that would appeal to elementary age kids.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2023
I liked this big Goddess Girl book. It was twice the length and twice the plot of the other Goddess Girl books. Persephone and Aphrodite have to share an adorable kitten named Adonis, while Mount Olympus Academy is finally putting on a historically accurate all-girl Olympics, the Heraean Games. The games are quite stereotypically girly, but I do enjoy their description. What I like best is all the other goddesses from different mythologies who come and participate in the games.
July 6, 2021
During the girls’ version of the Olympic Games, I could have loved without the stereotypical “girly” things (pink sand, stuffed animals as prizes, etc.), but the story itself was good. Definitely more moving parts than the other books have (this IS the special edition book) that, of course, all work out in the end.
March 20, 2023
It was a cute book.
The goddess girls are in a competition version of The Olympics. For those of you who don’t know, the Olympics originally started in Ancient Greece. There’s some trivia!
Anyway, in the story, the Greek goddesses are in a tournament with other competitors, whom are Amazonians (think Wonder Woman) and Egyptian goddesses.
Who will win the games? Read to find out!
The goddess girls are in a competition version of The Olympics. For those of you who don’t know, the Olympics originally started in Ancient Greece. There’s some trivia!
Anyway, in the story, the Greek goddesses are in a tournament with other competitors, whom are Amazonians (think Wonder Woman) and Egyptian goddesses.
Who will win the games? Read to find out!
January 5, 2018
I love this book!Its about the 10th book I've read in the series its so good!It switches perspectives every chapter witch is her cool!I would recommend this book to people who like mythology but want a modern spin on it!I love the series read the other books!
May 19, 2022
3.5 stars
Longer than the others. A few "forced" lines (trying too hard to be funny). Persephone and aphrodite's problem is a bit far fetched. The introduction of new characters from different cultures was really cool
Longer than the others. A few "forced" lines (trying too hard to be funny). Persephone and aphrodite's problem is a bit far fetched. The introduction of new characters from different cultures was really cool
August 1, 2024
A good fast read, where the magic parts are written in such a fun way...however, the problems take so long to resolve when they're really obvious (i.e. Aphrodite being possessive, Artemis doing too much, etc...), so kinda frustrating to read at times.
January 2, 2019
Loved it!
September 27, 2019
This was a funny book. I really enjoyed reading it and read it everywhere. You would probably like this book if you like Greek mythology , crushes and competition and animals.
June 5, 2020
Good luck today
September 3, 2021
I liked the book
March 30, 2022
3.5 ⭐️
September 13, 2022
Loved the different cultures and mythology presented in this book. An hilarious moment close to the ending too was pretty fun. ^_^
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2023
It was a good book and interesting plots.
July 30, 2023
This was an intresting read though it was short so if you don't like short books this isn't for you. I only read this once.
August 30, 2023
I loved seeing it form all their points of views and how some of them were happining all at once but from diffrent perspectives.
September 7, 2023
This book was amazing!! I read it in 4 days!! This book is the kind of book you pick up and get forced to put down cause you read it way to long!😁
April 20, 2024
I didn’t really enjoy this one very much. I think the changing points of view actually hurt the book instead of helping it.
December 18, 2023
Behold! The first Goddess Girls book. A standalone but connected to the main books, The Girl Games is based on a subplot from Artemis the Loyal, where Artemis sets out to start a girls-only Olympic Games after Zeus bans all girls from participating in the boys-only Olympics.
What's great about this book is that it introduces the Amazons into the franchise as being sporty and competitive, like the giants in Artemis the Loyal.
This book would get 5 stars, but it involves sport and this reviewer does not like sport.
What's great about this book is that it introduces the Amazons into the franchise as being sporty and competitive, like the giants in Artemis the Loyal.
This book would get 5 stars, but it involves sport and this reviewer does not like sport.
July 17, 2012
Just in time for the Summer Olympics in London, fans of The Goddess Girls will love diving into this special summer hit!
What could be more exciting to the Goddess Girls series than a book that focuses on Olympic style games for the girls. Though this new release is a stand alone, fans of this series will be sure to enjoy every moment of this exciting story line. Told from alternating points of views, this story stays true to everything I have loved about this series and introduces some new characters and fun twists. This story also introduces fans to the lovable Adonis, the adorable little kitten seen on the cover of the book.
Being a huge fan of the Olympics, I love that this storyline focuses on the Olympics, girl style. The girls have come up their own creative games complete with pink sand to jump into and beanbag animal hand offs in the rely races vs the batons. Honestly I wouldn't have expected that any other way. Of course not everything will always go as planned, and with more than just the girls at Mount Olympus Academy competing, there's more than just winning at stake. Don't worry fans, the boys are all present in the story as well. What would the games be without a little help from them.
One of the things I enjoyed the most about The Girl Games is the story telling. Not many authors can pull off telling a story for multiple character points of views, but Joan and Suzanne have done a superb job doing so. They not only allow their fans to get to know their characters more, but they make it fun, and easy for readers to distinguish between each narrator. Whether we're following Artemis as she's trying to do it all to get everything ready for the Games, or Aphrodite and her newly found kitten, Adonis, Persephone, Artemis and Aphrodite all learn a few lessons about friendships and some friendly competition.
True to the Goddess Girls style, there's also plenty of sweet romances, lessons learned about friendships, and a lesson or two learned about some "friendly" competition. Goddess Girls: The Girl Games, Super Special is a book I HIGHLY recommend picking up. It's one that can easily be read as a stand alone, as much it's a book the fans of this series will love. As I've said with each of these books, I HIGHLY recommend this series for young readers!
What could be more exciting to the Goddess Girls series than a book that focuses on Olympic style games for the girls. Though this new release is a stand alone, fans of this series will be sure to enjoy every moment of this exciting story line. Told from alternating points of views, this story stays true to everything I have loved about this series and introduces some new characters and fun twists. This story also introduces fans to the lovable Adonis, the adorable little kitten seen on the cover of the book.
Being a huge fan of the Olympics, I love that this storyline focuses on the Olympics, girl style. The girls have come up their own creative games complete with pink sand to jump into and beanbag animal hand offs in the rely races vs the batons. Honestly I wouldn't have expected that any other way. Of course not everything will always go as planned, and with more than just the girls at Mount Olympus Academy competing, there's more than just winning at stake. Don't worry fans, the boys are all present in the story as well. What would the games be without a little help from them.
One of the things I enjoyed the most about The Girl Games is the story telling. Not many authors can pull off telling a story for multiple character points of views, but Joan and Suzanne have done a superb job doing so. They not only allow their fans to get to know their characters more, but they make it fun, and easy for readers to distinguish between each narrator. Whether we're following Artemis as she's trying to do it all to get everything ready for the Games, or Aphrodite and her newly found kitten, Adonis, Persephone, Artemis and Aphrodite all learn a few lessons about friendships and some friendly competition.
True to the Goddess Girls style, there's also plenty of sweet romances, lessons learned about friendships, and a lesson or two learned about some "friendly" competition. Goddess Girls: The Girl Games, Super Special is a book I HIGHLY recommend picking up. It's one that can easily be read as a stand alone, as much it's a book the fans of this series will love. As I've said with each of these books, I HIGHLY recommend this series for young readers!
August 8, 2012
At First Sight: After weeks of planning, the Girl Games - a Girls Only version of the Olympic games - are about to take place at Mount Olympus Academy, with goddess girls and special mortals for all over the world coming to visit, and Athena, Artemis, Persephone and Aphrodite are in the middle of things.
Athena is excited about the games, but with her crush, Heracles, away on a sports competition of his own, she feels a little lonely. And there is a little kid who keeps coming around Athena's Dad's winged horse, Pegasus.
Artemis has taken upon herself to make sure everything goes as planned with the games, feeling that everything is her responsibility and is quite reluctant to ask for or accept help, which is stretching her quite thin. Plus, there is an Amazon named Penthe sniffing around Artemis's crush, and she's a great archer to boot.
Meanwhile, Aphrodite and Persephone have to deal with their respective crushes wanting to whip them into shape for the competition and with the raising tension between them due to a kitten named Adonis that has stolen both their hearts.
Second Glance: The Girl Games is the first ever Super Special of the Goddess Girls series and it features all four POVs of the original four goddess girls.
I have some pretty hard core love for these books and I love reading each of the girls's adventures, but I liked seeing all their perspectives in one single book too. I loved how each girl had her own thing to go through within the bigger frame of the Games.
It was adorable how the girls adapted the events to fit things that girls cared about and how they tried to make things girly while keeping the competition fierce.
Also, can I just say that I LOVE the boys? they really step it up in this book with their support of the girls.
Bottom Line: I loved the idea of a Super Special with these characters and The Girl Games delivered. It had all the stuff I like about these books and the rotating perspectives kept the book moving fast.
Favorite Quote: "Things don't have to go perfectly to work out great in the end." - Artemis
Athena is excited about the games, but with her crush, Heracles, away on a sports competition of his own, she feels a little lonely. And there is a little kid who keeps coming around Athena's Dad's winged horse, Pegasus.
Artemis has taken upon herself to make sure everything goes as planned with the games, feeling that everything is her responsibility and is quite reluctant to ask for or accept help, which is stretching her quite thin. Plus, there is an Amazon named Penthe sniffing around Artemis's crush, and she's a great archer to boot.
Meanwhile, Aphrodite and Persephone have to deal with their respective crushes wanting to whip them into shape for the competition and with the raising tension between them due to a kitten named Adonis that has stolen both their hearts.
Second Glance: The Girl Games is the first ever Super Special of the Goddess Girls series and it features all four POVs of the original four goddess girls.
I have some pretty hard core love for these books and I love reading each of the girls's adventures, but I liked seeing all their perspectives in one single book too. I loved how each girl had her own thing to go through within the bigger frame of the Games.
It was adorable how the girls adapted the events to fit things that girls cared about and how they tried to make things girly while keeping the competition fierce.
Also, can I just say that I LOVE the boys? they really step it up in this book with their support of the girls.
Bottom Line: I loved the idea of a Super Special with these characters and The Girl Games delivered. It had all the stuff I like about these books and the rotating perspectives kept the book moving fast.
Favorite Quote: "Things don't have to go perfectly to work out great in the end." - Artemis
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews