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Medusa Gorgon's Bad Hair Day
Twelve-year-old Meddy Gordon has serious anger issues.
In this hilarious book for middle-grade readers, Meddy
rants about family and friendships, using her diary as a way
of letting out her anger and keeping her emotions in check.
So far, so normal. You know the kind of frustrations with
her self-absorbed sisters; problems with idiotic classmates; disagreements
with pompous teachers; and, of course, her troubles
dealing with the occasional flock of owls, swarms of snakes, or even
the odd many-headed dog.
And then there's the small problem of the snake hair that appears
if she doesn't control her anger...
You see, Meddy Gordon is not actually from the twenty-first century.
She is, in fact, a human from ancient Greece and she has made
a powerful enemy.
Meddy G is MEDUSA and she just happens to have angered Athena,
the goddess of war. And what happens when the goddess of war is
on the warpath? You get a bad day. A very bad day indeed.
Meddy Gorgon is loosly based on the famous Greek myth of Medusa,
ideal for young fans of Greek mythology!
A highly illustrated book, great for fans of the
Diary of a (sort of) Hero and Lottie Brooks.
Funny and fantastic illustrations by Katie Abey who has illustrated
over fifty books for children.
309 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 14, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 28, 2025
A really good mix of Lottie Brooks and Loki. In an overcrowded and long-overdone part of the middle grade market this really stands out. Funny, surprising and informative.
August 18, 2025
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book, I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Medusa is guardian of Athena’s shield, which is a fairly dull job so she longs for a bit more excitement. Little does she know that she'll end up with more than she ever thought possible. Medusa ends up losing her temper and starting off a chain of events which sees her being sent to the twenty-first century to a secondary school as a punishment. Trying to navigate life at Shadewell Academy as a preteenager is no easy feat, add in a task to be completed before she can return home and things start to get messy.
Written diary style with fantastic illustrations and a fabulous cast of side characters (Jeremy we love you!). This book was a chuckle out loud read.
It cleverly weaves in aspects of Greek mythology, friendships, family, bravery, courage, empathy and understanding.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book with my son and whenever I went to put the bookmark in he was begging for another chapter. We can't wait for more
Medusa is guardian of Athena’s shield, which is a fairly dull job so she longs for a bit more excitement. Little does she know that she'll end up with more than she ever thought possible. Medusa ends up losing her temper and starting off a chain of events which sees her being sent to the twenty-first century to a secondary school as a punishment. Trying to navigate life at Shadewell Academy as a preteenager is no easy feat, add in a task to be completed before she can return home and things start to get messy.
Written diary style with fantastic illustrations and a fabulous cast of side characters (Jeremy we love you!). This book was a chuckle out loud read.
It cleverly weaves in aspects of Greek mythology, friendships, family, bravery, courage, empathy and understanding.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book with my son and whenever I went to put the bookmark in he was begging for another chapter. We can't wait for more
September 1, 2025
Thanks to Hannah at Scholastic for this copy of the book, which is out now.
I like Bethany's writing, Olly Brown God of Hamsters was very funny and am loving How to Train Your Teacher, a picture book, which is also going to go to school this week!
This is going to be perfect for those that have enjoyed the Hercules A sort of Hero books which are very much in the same style.
The book is highly illustrated by Katie Abey and includes some pages in graphic style too.
Medusa Gorgon is twelve, her best friend is called Arachne. She is the daughter (a human looking one) of two sea monsters...her older sisters are also sea monsters. Oh, and Athena has totally amazing hair, dark, wavy and luscious. She works for Athena, goddess of War and Wisdom. Arachne works for Aphrodite. Medusa's job is to stand in the temple and guard Athena's shield! Arachne's is to sing songs and frolic in sea foam. Pretty sure Arachne has the better job! Medusa writes a diary as Arachne informs her it might well help with her anger issues - she can write things down instead of saying or doing something!
Zeus has told everyone not to trust Hades. Hades has built a new well and Athena and Aphrodite are arguing over who is going to decorate it. Unfortunately Medusa thinks if she shows Athena Arachne's beautiful embroidery, she'll get Arachne to come and work for her...but it backfires, guess what she turns Arachne into?
Medusa is so angry about the situation - she throws Athena's shield into Hades well! And Athena punishes her...by doing something to her beautiful hair! So Medusa agrees to a contract with Hades and Athena...she will go into the well to fetch the shield so that she can have her hair back and Arachne can become human again, but she only has 24 days. She will be able to speak whatever language is spoken, she will have a guardian (or two) but she cannot tell anyone who she is and she must not lose her temper or the hair mask will start to reveal....
Medusa has to become a secondary school girl, not easy. Also not easy to hide yourself when you keep getting detention! And who are all these other strange people in detention.
But Arachne begins sending messages about the contract. Just what exactly is she getting at?
Brilliant fun.
I like Bethany's writing, Olly Brown God of Hamsters was very funny and am loving How to Train Your Teacher, a picture book, which is also going to go to school this week!
This is going to be perfect for those that have enjoyed the Hercules A sort of Hero books which are very much in the same style.
The book is highly illustrated by Katie Abey and includes some pages in graphic style too.
Medusa Gorgon is twelve, her best friend is called Arachne. She is the daughter (a human looking one) of two sea monsters...her older sisters are also sea monsters. Oh, and Athena has totally amazing hair, dark, wavy and luscious. She works for Athena, goddess of War and Wisdom. Arachne works for Aphrodite. Medusa's job is to stand in the temple and guard Athena's shield! Arachne's is to sing songs and frolic in sea foam. Pretty sure Arachne has the better job! Medusa writes a diary as Arachne informs her it might well help with her anger issues - she can write things down instead of saying or doing something!
Zeus has told everyone not to trust Hades. Hades has built a new well and Athena and Aphrodite are arguing over who is going to decorate it. Unfortunately Medusa thinks if she shows Athena Arachne's beautiful embroidery, she'll get Arachne to come and work for her...but it backfires, guess what she turns Arachne into?
Medusa is so angry about the situation - she throws Athena's shield into Hades well! And Athena punishes her...by doing something to her beautiful hair! So Medusa agrees to a contract with Hades and Athena...she will go into the well to fetch the shield so that she can have her hair back and Arachne can become human again, but she only has 24 days. She will be able to speak whatever language is spoken, she will have a guardian (or two) but she cannot tell anyone who she is and she must not lose her temper or the hair mask will start to reveal....
Medusa has to become a secondary school girl, not easy. Also not easy to hide yourself when you keep getting detention! And who are all these other strange people in detention.
But Arachne begins sending messages about the contract. Just what exactly is she getting at?
Brilliant fun.
July 28, 2025
Who knew that a story could have an angsty middle grade student's diary and Greek Mythology all rolled into one! .
Meddy G (also known as Medusa) was once a worker for the God Athena in ancient Greece before her anger got the better of her and was summoned to live in the 21st century until her punishment was over. She has to navigate a completely different century and keep her anger (and snake hair) under control. Can she do it without blowing her cover?
This is a great middle grade story with fantastic pictures and comic style throughout. It had me laughing out loud and cringing at Meddy's adventures in the 21st century. A must read!
Meddy G (also known as Medusa) was once a worker for the God Athena in ancient Greece before her anger got the better of her and was summoned to live in the 21st century until her punishment was over. She has to navigate a completely different century and keep her anger (and snake hair) under control. Can she do it without blowing her cover?
This is a great middle grade story with fantastic pictures and comic style throughout. It had me laughing out loud and cringing at Meddy's adventures in the 21st century. A must read!
August 11, 2025
Utterly brilliant. My daughter was given an ARC of this book, and we read it together. I think I actually loved it as much as she did.
It's fun, quirky, such an easy read, and the layout being like a diary with doodles and everything was the cherry on top.
Highly recommend. Especially if you have a child who doesn't want to read anything too heavy or too wordy. The layout makes it feel far more manageable for reluctant readers.
It's fun, quirky, such an easy read, and the layout being like a diary with doodles and everything was the cherry on top.
Highly recommend. Especially if you have a child who doesn't want to read anything too heavy or too wordy. The layout makes it feel far more manageable for reluctant readers.
July 29, 2025
I loved the way the author managed to produce this fun diary style look at Greek mythology. This is an interesting look at Hades, Medusa and Athena.
And this book will teach us all a lesson about the consequences of losing our temper. It was a great idea to have the character sent to a modern day secondary school. Bethany Walker just gets better and better.
July 24, 2025
This ACTUALLY made me laugh out loud numerous times. Medusa is sent to SECONDARY SCHOOL in OUR WORLD and so many lols ensues. This is Loki crossed with Lottie Brooks and Greek myths. I just adored it. Hilarious story, gorgeous illustrations and loads of mythical brilliance!
February 1, 2026
A great idea and an epic take on Medusa's character but I found it a little boring in places and struggled to want to pick it back up. That said, the kids loved it, especially Jeremy!
February 20, 2026
AMAZING😀
May 10, 2026
I loved this book and how it was written as a characters diary. I also enjoyed the adventure in the story.
January 26, 2026
Meet Medusa, she pissed off Athena and is now living in this century’s England. Will she get the shield back? And her fabulous hair?
I love myself some Greek legends/tales so of course I had to pick up this one when I saw it appear on BlueSky.
🐍 Medusa or Meddy as she was called in the now was such a fun character. A tad vain, but then again if one has such a fabulous hairdo you cannot not love it. I loved how far she went for her friend. I mean, some would have just not done anything because gods and all that, but Medusa? She yeeted that shield into the well of Hades with a passion. And sure she is determined to bring it back because that means that her friend can come back as human. Yes, Medusa wants her hair back as well, but if she has to choose it is friendship.
🐍 I loved seeing Meddy get used to life in the now, figure out friendships and food, all hail the oracle Alexa, try to figure out why this place is so bad (because all she can see is that people are all so very kind to her even the teachers), learn all about the world, get closer to her sisters, and more.
🐍 I also loved seeing her try to deal with her anger issues. She has some big ones, some definitely warranted, others maybe not so much.
🐍 The snakes! I had such a laugh at Meddy’s names for them.
🐍 I love the sisters. They were such sweethearts. I love how they took this chance with both hands and went for it fully. Learning all about the world. Making sure that Meddy was cared for and had food. Figuring out a job. Learning about make-up and going from clowns to more decent make-up. They were so sweet and I loved learning more about them as the story continued.
🐍 The way Meddy tried to name her diary entries. From going to Alpha Beta to June 33rd or July 3rd, it was a lot of fun and it made me smile each time.
🐍 The letter between Hades and Athena. That one especially gives a glimpse in Hades and what he is planning. Not a spoiler from the get go you see that he is telling certain things and that those things didn’t happen to Meddy. I was definitely invested in finding out what Hades was up to and why he was trying so hard to make sure Meddy didn’t get the shield in one go.
🐍 Love the diary format and love seeing Meddy go with technology (after figuring out that a tablet + wax isn’t working out).
🐍 Oracle Alexa made me laugh so hard, especially seeing how Meddy even added some offerings to appease her.
🐍 The illustrations were just perfection!
🐍 The kids in the detention. I knew from the start who they were (unlike Meddy) and I loved seeing each new addition.
🐍 A certain minotaur appears and I had fun seeing him being added to the cast + what happened to him.
🐍 My heard broke when Medusa’s newest friend gave her that book of legends/tales with each of her and her friends/family fates. And that is the tamer edition given I know what else happened to Medusa. No one deserves those fates.
🐍 The ending and how everything came together, the full truth came out, and I just adore seeing everyone work together.
😒 I didn’t like those comics in between with the kids talking about the book/story. We have one know-it-all who was OK at times and the rest were just idiots and I wasn’t a fan of them. If there is ever a second book I hope less of those parts. Or that the kids are better.
All in all, I had oodles and oodles of fun with this one, it made me laugh so much! I would highly recommend it to everyone.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I love myself some Greek legends/tales so of course I had to pick up this one when I saw it appear on BlueSky.
🐍 Medusa or Meddy as she was called in the now was such a fun character. A tad vain, but then again if one has such a fabulous hairdo you cannot not love it. I loved how far she went for her friend. I mean, some would have just not done anything because gods and all that, but Medusa? She yeeted that shield into the well of Hades with a passion. And sure she is determined to bring it back because that means that her friend can come back as human. Yes, Medusa wants her hair back as well, but if she has to choose it is friendship.
🐍 I loved seeing Meddy get used to life in the now, figure out friendships and food, all hail the oracle Alexa, try to figure out why this place is so bad (because all she can see is that people are all so very kind to her even the teachers), learn all about the world, get closer to her sisters, and more.
🐍 I also loved seeing her try to deal with her anger issues. She has some big ones, some definitely warranted, others maybe not so much.
🐍 The snakes! I had such a laugh at Meddy’s names for them.
🐍 I love the sisters. They were such sweethearts. I love how they took this chance with both hands and went for it fully. Learning all about the world. Making sure that Meddy was cared for and had food. Figuring out a job. Learning about make-up and going from clowns to more decent make-up. They were so sweet and I loved learning more about them as the story continued.
🐍 The way Meddy tried to name her diary entries. From going to Alpha Beta to June 33rd or July 3rd, it was a lot of fun and it made me smile each time.
🐍 The letter between Hades and Athena. That one especially gives a glimpse in Hades and what he is planning. Not a spoiler from the get go you see that he is telling certain things and that those things didn’t happen to Meddy. I was definitely invested in finding out what Hades was up to and why he was trying so hard to make sure Meddy didn’t get the shield in one go.
🐍 Love the diary format and love seeing Meddy go with technology (after figuring out that a tablet + wax isn’t working out).
🐍 Oracle Alexa made me laugh so hard, especially seeing how Meddy even added some offerings to appease her.
🐍 The illustrations were just perfection!
🐍 The kids in the detention. I knew from the start who they were (unlike Meddy) and I loved seeing each new addition.
🐍 A certain minotaur appears and I had fun seeing him being added to the cast + what happened to him.
🐍 My heard broke when Medusa’s newest friend gave her that book of legends/tales with each of her and her friends/family fates. And that is the tamer edition given I know what else happened to Medusa. No one deserves those fates.
🐍 The ending and how everything came together, the full truth came out, and I just adore seeing everyone work together.
😒 I didn’t like those comics in between with the kids talking about the book/story. We have one know-it-all who was OK at times and the rest were just idiots and I wasn’t a fan of them. If there is ever a second book I hope less of those parts. Or that the kids are better.
All in all, I had oodles and oodles of fun with this one, it made me laugh so much! I would highly recommend it to everyone.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews