Die sagenhaften Göttergirls, Band 05: Hausaufgaben für einen Helden

Goddess Girls #5

by Joan Holub

Dass die Sagen der Antike Vorlagen für spannenden Stoff vom Feinsten bieten, ist kein Geheimnis. Doch mit dieser göttlichen Mädchenreihe ist es den Autorinnen auf ganz neue und originelle Art gelungen, frischen Wind in die klassische Mythologie zu bringen. Die rasanten Abenteuer sind mit zahlreichen Anspielungen aufs Original herrlich lustig verpackt und sorgen für viel Spaß bei Jung und Alt! Direktor Zeus bittet die Klassenbeste Athene, sich um den neuen Schüler Herakles zu kümmern. Schon bald stellt sich heraus, dass Herakles ein aufregendes Geheimnis verbirgt: Er muss zwölf rätselhafte Aufgaben erfüllen, und wer könnte ihm dabei besser helfen als die Göttergirls?

Genres: Mythology, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Childrens, Greek Mythology, Fiction, Young Adult

220 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 5, 2011

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

[MissBecka Gee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series, all the books are a really cute way to introduce tiny humans to Greek mythology.
Despite the title, this is actually a book about Hercules and his 12 labours.
Entertaining and education, I would definitely recommend this to small peoples.

[Desiree May · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, "Goddess Girls: Athena the Wise", written by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams, was very unique and adoring."Goddess Girls: Athena the Wise", is about a boy that recently just got invited to attend Mount Olympus Academy, if he could finish the 12 labors that he was assigned. But, of course he would get the help from a goddess girl who might have just happened to be assigned to his case especially. The main characters of this fiction are Athena and Heracles (Hercules), while the minor characters are Artemis, Aphrodite, Persephone, Pheme, Pandora, Arachne, Iris, Apollo, Dionysus, Poseidon, Hades, Ares, Zephyrus, Eros, Medusa, Cassandra, Phaeton. For this book, the characters aren't real but, they do seem really real and believable, and just like real people they face ups and downs, and just like us they have traits. Athena traits are bookworm, studious, caring, confident, angry when provoked, easy going and sometimes haughty. Her appearance are long wavy brown hair, grey eyes, plumed lips, arched eyebrows, straight nose, olive skin, and average height. One evidence that shows that she is caring is "...but every few minutes she glanced toward the door, hoping to see a note from Heracles under it. When a knock finally sounded, she jumped up in relief", this following written evidence shows that Athena is so worried and cares so much for Heracles that she checks for his message every few minutes. Heracles traits are cocky, sassy, funny, kind, dense, hot-headed, passionate, and confident. His appearances are black hair, brown eyes, tall, muscular, and toned body. Something that Heracles said that shows that he's easily angered from the book is, "How dare she treat you like that!" Heracles roared when Athena told him what had happen with Arachne....he continued to rant and wave his club around." Which shows that Heracles gets really angry once something bad happens to people around him, that he could have been in control of. In my opinion, I really liked this book! One thing that I really liked about this book was the comedy hidden within the chapters, that made the story more entertaining to read. I also liked how the characters in this book faced real life problems that many people, including myself have faced. I would love to recommend this book to people in their Tweens and Teens, and although this book might be for 4th graders it's really for anyone who loves a little romance in their story that's realistic, cute, and not too overboard with the romance.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the fifth book in the Goddess Girls series by Joan Holub. Our oldest has really gotten interested in Greek Mythology and loves this series. I like them as well and they have a fresh, young vibe that will appeal to the pre-teen, young teen girl audience.

This story is longer than the first book in the series and it also gets a little deeper into a romantic aspect. Our girls are not quite ready for that yet, but thankfully it's still PG. We've enjoyed this series so far and our girls are eagerly awaiting the next book in the series, Aphrodite the Diva.

[DivyaRani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love mythology. Greek, Roman, or Norse whatever.
This series I started for Athena the goddess of wisdom. Amazing book. I loved it.
Loved the narration of story .
Loved the plot of friendship between four goddess girls.
Loved the 12 tasks of Hercules.
Finally
Loved the ending part.

[Ella · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75

My least favorite so far. Heracles is a stupid character. I don't see why Athena likes him..

[Lady Tea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4 / 5

Quite cute, and interesting representations of the "12 Labours of Hercules".

(Although, I must say, I did NOT see that coming at the end! It was cute, regardless, though.) 😊

[Britt N · Rating 5 out of 5]

These Goddess Girls books are just so sweet. Just nice, gentle ways to introduce kids to Greek mythology.

[Daisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series isn't shaping out to be as perfect as I thought it was when I first read it. I did enjoy Heracle's labours as a storyline but Athena was waaay too obsessed with him even after promising her friends she wouldn't forget them just because of a boy. Also, I found the writing style pretty poor and, unlike most of the other books in this series, the way that the whole gods thing was dealt with just felt wrong to me. I do understand that the authors are trying to stick to the original myths as much as possible, and I can see kids approaching these myths later on and having this pre-knowledge which helps them understand it (this has happened to me with many of the storylines in this series). There was even a lot of cool commentary on when revenge is justified and how revenge should be practised, but my problem was that it all kind of came to nothing - Athena acted violently anyway just because she's now a goddess and a mortal offended her. I feel like these authors are usually so good at making the more mature aspects of the myths seem friendly and pleasant but to me they dropped the ball on this one.

Having said that, I LOVED the way that the ninth task was dealt with and the end was very funny and cute. Overall a good book, but definitely some problematic elements for me.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Athena is a fairly new resident at the boarding school for young gods and goddesses. Therefore she feels sympathy when an even newer kid takes up residence. Then her dad, Zeus, who is principal at the school, asks her to help the new kid with these 12 tasks.... Basically these are mostly retellings of the Greek myths, more or less transferred into modern times.At least in the way the "kids" think and react to the authority figures. This is pretty funny in many ways. If nothing else, it introduces kids to characters they will encounter again in Riordan's series with Greek gods and demigods! Very enjoyable but I don't get any feeling of really being impressed with it. I'll have to think why that is, so this review might get modified in the future. This is one of an expanding series, so likely will try a few more anyway.

[ashley.ೃ࿐ · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://beautifullybookish.booklikes.c...

[Sting Key · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book! I would probably say it was my favorite goddess girls book so far!

[Sarah Wahl]

It's so funny to see the 12 labors made more PG lol.

[Ice star · Rating 4 out of 5]

Athena stories are so funny. This series it's really nice both for children & adults.

[Violet Christensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t remember reading this but the cover is familiar (I remember drawing a picture of the guy on the cover and being proud of it)

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

➳ 4 ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚

another hercules story? yes please! i know this book doesn’t follow anywhere close to the disney movie, my reason for living, because this one follows the actual mythology, but still…hercules! (or, heracles, the true greek form, as this book uses).

anyway, this book was just as cute as the rest of them and i enjoyed it a lot! i enjoyed the 12 labors plot and heracles * athena’s relationship. athena isn’t my favorite main character, but i still like her a lot.

i’d highly recommend this to greek mythology-enthusiasts who don’t mind a young, simple read!


୧ ‧₊˚ 🍓 ⋅ ☆

[Tiffany Spencer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Athena the Wise (Updated)
Chapter 1: The New Mortal
There’s a new boy at MOA (Herales). He attracts attention because he’s tall, muscular, and is wearing a lion-skin cape with the lion's jaws as a helmet. The girls have mixed opinions of him, ranging from he’s cute but unfashionable (Aphrodite) to his skills being questionable (Artemis) to Persephone saying that they shouldn’t be too quick to judge him. The boys however, are impressed by him and start comparing weapons to his club.

Athena says they should put themselves in his sandals, and the Goddessgirls praise her for her wisdom. Not that Athena thinks she deserves it. She decides to go over and welcome him to the Academy. She invites the other girls to join her, but before she does, Zeus summons her to the office. Athena wonders if she’s done something wrong.

Chapter 2: On Trial
When Athena enters the office, Zeus shows Athena sketches for a new temple being built in his honor. Then he gets down to the real reason he called her there. He tells Athena Heracles is only at MOA on a week-long trial to prove that he belongs there. He explains that even though Heracles is strong, he also has a hot temper. He once smashed a lyre over a music teacher’s head. Zeus asks Athena to keep an eye on him, be his friend, and guide him. His later words to her are don’t tell Heracles and don’t let him down.

Chapter 3:: Revenge-ology
Athena leaves Zeus’s office not sure of what he expects from her and wishing she would have asked more questions. She’s feeling insecure about him (and everyone else) referring to her as “goddessgirl of wisdom”. In Ms. Nemesis's class, Heracles makes his entrance. He accidentally drops his club causing Medusa’s snakes to lunge at him. On instinct, he grabs and squeezes the snakes causing Medusa to scream. Ms. Nemesis intervenes and seats Heracles near Athena.

Athena advises Heracles not to look Medusa in the eyes because she can turn mortals to stone. He immediately shields his eyes. Ms. Nemesis’s lesson is on what vengeance is. Hercules gives an unexpected smart comment, which shows he’s more than just strong. This impresses Athena. After class, Heracles drops his scrolls and his club, which lands on his foot. But he says only his pride is bruised. Athena suggests he store some of his things in his locker instead of carrying them around. He says yes to the scrolls, but no to the club. He has to keep it with him at all times. They then bond over first-day accidents.

Athena invites him to join her and her friends for a shake at the Supernatural Market after school. He agrees. Athena thinks to herself, maybe he’s not as recklass as Zeus thinks he is.

Chapter 4: A Mysterious Figure
Athena waits for Heracles for half an hour. When she does see him, he’s arguing with another boy by the olive grove. The other boy disappears into the trees. Athena wonders if she should confront Heracles or ignore him. He spots her tho and apologizes. Athena admits she’s a little mad but quickly forgives him. She asks him who he was arguing with, and he says his cousin Eurystheus. It’s clear he doesn’t like, but doesn’t say anything further.

Athena offers that if he ever needs help, he can ask her. He says he will. At the market, Pheme’s new chiton is admired by the goddess girls. She says she bought it from Arachne. Athena has never heard of her and vows to pay her shop a visit.

Hercales is encouraged by the boys and girls to tell the story of how he killed the Nemean lion and earned his cape. Athena impresses Hercales by knowing instantly that he skimmed the lion with its own claws. When Padora asks why he had to skin the lion, he gives a vague reply and changes the subject. Heracles slips off, and Athena decides to follow him. She transforms herself into a brown owl and follows the trail he takes.

Chapter 5: Too Many Heads
She ends up following Heracles to Lerna, home of a dangerous Hydra. He lures the Hydra out of its cave and attempts to fight it. Only when he knocks off one head, two more grow back. When the Hydra snatches Heracles up, Athena distracts it by making it count its own heads. They trick it into trapping itself in the cave as it multiplies. Heracules cheers and Athena is proud to have sued him you can use your brains instead of your brawn.

Heracles ends up showing Athena a list of twelve labors he has to complete, assigned by an oracle. He admits he really wants to transfer to MOA, and an oracle told him he could earn a permanent place there if he does. His cousin gets to choose the tasks. He only has until the end of Friday to finish them all. Athena realizes Zeus may have been the one to set the labors in motion and feels guilty. This may be why he asked her to help him. Hercules refuses to tell Athena what the next task is. He tells her “You’re her friend and you probably won’t like it.”

Chapter 6: Third Labor
He finally admits that he has to capture one of Artemis’s deer and show it to Eurystheus. Athena knows about Hercle’s violet temper and fears he’ll hurt Artemis’s four golden horned deer that are beloved pets. So, she quickly says they can ask Artemis to borrow them, show them to Eurysthesus and return them unharmed. Heracles eagerly agrees with this.

Athena realizes his cousin’s tasks have a pattern. The next is to capture the Erymanthian boar. While Athena goes to find Artemis, Heracles gets a little ahead of himself and tries to capture one of the deer (Delta), which earns him a scolding from Athena. They show Eurystheus the deer, but on the way back their caught by Artemis. She forgives them, but warns them never to do it again.

Chapter 7: Gone Hunting
They find the boar and find out it’s a bore (who loves to talk). He goes on and on about a story involving ants and an anthill. Athena cleverly tells the boar Eurystheus loves stories. The beast is thrilled, and they drop him off there.

Chapter 8: Pooped
For the next labor, Athena has to help Heracules at dawn clean King Augeas’s stables. The stables have thirty years' worth of dung. Hercles uproots trees to build a dam. The water floods the valley and washes away the gung. They then send doves to King Augeas and Eurystheus to inform them the labor is finished.

On the way back, Athena visits Arachne disguised as an old woman. Not knowing who Athena is, she boasts that she could beat her in a contest. When Athena reveals herself, Arachne is embarrassed but doesn’t back down. So, they agree five days from now to have a contest judged by the women in town.

When Athena tells Heracles, he becomes furious and wants to go back there so he can knock some sense into her (with his club). She tells him she doesn’t think that’s an appropriate response for rudeness. She tells him revenge must be balanced and he sees his wrong and apologizes. Hercales asks if she’ll go with him tomorrow to his next task. She wants but but needs to study. So, she’ll let him know in the morning.

Chapter 9: Battling The Birds
By the time Athena wakes up the next morning, Heracles is gone. She hopes he’ll be ok on his own. She gets a message from Zeus wanting to know Heracles progress. Instead of going to meet with him tho, she goes to the library. She reads a book about how to deal with disrespect from mortals. She wonders if Arachne’s insult qualifies for revenge.

At lunch, her friends tease her about Heracles liking her. Athena admits she thinks he does and yes she likes him too, but it's not like they’re getting serious. Pheme almost tells her friends about the contest, but Athena pulls them away. But she tells them in Aphrodite’s room. They encourage her, and say she’ll win. All afternoon she practices weaving.

Heracules returns, and Athena overhears him telling the godboys about the deadly, armor-piercing birds that shoot arrows. He catches up with Athena and tells her he missed having her help. He didn’t even use his club. Instead, he asked himself what Athena would do and smashed rocks together like cymbals to frighten the birds. His next task is to capture a Cretan bull. He asks her to come with him, but she says she has to study (and can’t). He’s disappointed.

Chapter 10: Missing Heracles
Heracles doesn’t appear at dinner that night, and the godboys say he refused their help. They think he’ll get punished for missing classes. Athena doesn’t get a note from him either. The girls sneak upstairs to check Hercules room. There’s a note on his door: “Gone to Crete. Back later.” Athena’s friends offer to go with her to the contest, but she says she wants to go alone.

It’s Tuesday, and Heracles still hasn’t returned. So, Athena goes to Zeus. Zeus explodes when he finds out Athena let him go to Crete on his own. Zeus receives a letter from Hercales that says he’s been in Crete wrangling a bull. Today he moved on to Thrace to corral some horses, and then he’ll be off to Northern Africa to rustle some cattle belonging to a Geryon. He promises to return Thursday.morning and study exta hard to make up for the missed work.

Zeus admits that he shouldn’t have let Eurystheus choose the tasks and that he didn’t give him long enough. But the oracle’s words can’t be changed. Zeus tells her he wants her to stick to him until he completes every last labor. She agrees to this, but she’s torn between helping Heracles, preparing for the weaving contest, and keeping up with her school work.

Chapter 11: The Contest
The contest starts, and Athena starts to weave a multi-scene tapestry. They both finish at the same time. Arachne’s tapestry shows Zeus dancing in pain while Metis buzzes around his head. There’s a thunderbolt stuck in his foot, and his tunic is on fire. Athena rips Arachne’s tapestry to shreds, stomps on it, and then transforms her into a spider. The judges flee in terror. On the way home, Athena wonders if she acted out of anger or if she acted wisely.

Pheme has news that Heracles managed to seize the Cretan bull by the horns, tossed him into the sea, and rode him back to land. Artemis adds details about the man-eating horses and the Geryon. He returns earlier, but left to pick magic apples with Atlas. Later, he gives one of the apples to Athena. She asks why he didn’t send her a note. He blushes and says she doesn’t ever have to worry about him.

He tells her he postponed the ninth labor and needs Cerberus to complete the eleventh. Athena tells him he should just talk to Hades and ask his permission rather than trying to sneak the dog from the Underworld. That night, Athena starts a new tapestry of all twelve of Heracles’s labors. She plans to add the ninth and twelth labors when he completes them.


Chapter 12: The Last Labor
Athena oversleeps the next day for the second time. At breakfast, she’s told by Persephone that Hercales asked for Hades permission to borrow Cerberus, but he refused.. So, Hercales tried to make him look like a three-headed goat and sneak him out. Athena can’t believe he thought this would actually work. Persephone and Hades then fly to the River Styx.

Athena gets them to talk it out. Hades insists that Cerberus is a working dog and shouldn’t have to leave the Underworld. Athena persuades him to help by saying the twelfth labor will be an honor. He agrees but only if Cerberus goes willingly and Heracles leaves his club behind. Hercales doesn’t want to hear this, but reluctantly he agrees after Athena tells him he’s as attached to that club as Eurystheus is to his vase.

Back at MOA, Athena asks about the 9th task. He says it’s the hardest one. Then, without warning, he kisses her. Athena jumps up, runs from the room, and bursts into tears. Unfortunately, Medusa and Pheme witness it. Heracles chases after her and tries to apologize, but she tells him to leave her alone.

Chapter 12: Finding Favor
Athena throws herself on her bed and cries. She wonders if she likes Hercales as more than a friend and whether he likes her or he was just using her to help him with his labors. Athena goes out of her way to avoid Hercales with the help of her friends. But she eventually decides to let him talk to her. He admits that the ninth labor was to win the favor of a strong girl, and she’s the strongest girl he knows. Since he didn’t complete the task, he’s going back to Earth. Athena notices he has two bags. Athena decides to fogive him -thinking of her teacher’s lesson- and help him stay at MOA.

Athena comes up with a plan, finishes the new tapestry, and takes both of them to Zeus’s office. With the rest of the goddess girls, Athena confronts Zeus and asks him if there’s still time to complete his task. She then presents him with the tapestry and grants him her favor. He’s touched because he’s never received a gift like this. Zeus asks Athena if he can copy her design to give to the temple artist to decorate his new temple. She sees a magazine cover, “Hot New Trends: Decorate Your Temple With Awesome Mortal Deeds” and realizes this was Zeus’s plan all along.

My Thoughts
This one was just so-so. The plot was mythological correct. If you check, all the labors happened except for the one about obtaining the girdle of Hippolyta (Queen of the Amazons). Which I don't mind the substitute since none of these Goddess Girls probably don't even know what a girdle is. So I appreciated the accuracy.

As for the tasks themselves, I thought the Boar was amusing as a character. That was probably the task I liked the most. The others were kind of ah. Sometimes I found them *too easy* and repetitive. But I suppose it was the people he was around that made them doable. There are a couple of others that I see that (on second look) weren't mentioned in the story but it's nothing to nitpick over.

There was action, but it was very quickly done. I suppose if you like short stories full of adventure, you might get into the tasks, but they really didn't do much for me personally. And the importance was not the tasks themselves, but the message that sometimes it's ok to handle your challenges head-on. But it's also that much better to have a friend/friends there to encourage you, support you, and help you fight your battles. Whether they be physical, emotional, etc.

I liked that, as a character Hercules was strong, but even though he had his moments when you saw him bragging about his exploits to the God boys and sometimes he could be a little aggressive with his club, it also showed that he was humble enough to admit when he was being a jerk. That really showed his strength more than his physical acts. It takes a stronger person to admit when you're wrong.

I really did relate to Athena in this. Not so much for her wisdom (as indicated in the title of the story), but on a more personal level. Athena is a character that, unlike the other Goddess girls, has been shown to be characterized by her intellect. So her stories haven't really been about her liking this God boy or that. Then when she finally does find one she's attracted to (and forms a bond with), she gets close to him only to have him leave for days, and in typical male fashion, she doesn't hear not a thing from him. It isn't until he contacts Zeus that she hears something. (Sighing) Well, he is MORTAL! Probably the only thing that didn't endear me to the character was his thoughtlessness. I thought her gift to him was beautiful, and I really wanted a better kiss for these two to make up for the first one (AWKWARD). It was also interesting to see where they were going with Arachne. I was wondering.

[Hermione_Owl · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, Heracles has the same personality as Orion. Ya, I don't want to talk about Orion. But as you read more, you find that Heracles is 100x better than Orion. He cares about other people and doesn't think he's the best. He was grateful that Athena helped him with his 12 labors. I just love Heracles! I honestly hate ( in movies and in books) when a 2 characters love each other, but when the guy or girl kisses the guy/girl, that person gets upset and doesn't like it. I HATE THAT. Thats what happened to Herales and Athena. Athenas the one who got upset that Heracles kissed him. Makes me too mad. But overall, this book was really good. Filled with adventure, monsters, and more.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Athena now has to deal with Heracles and helping him complete his Labors. It’s pretty stressful, even for someone as wise as Athena. This is an excellent Goddess Girl novel, except for one thing. Athena is crushing on Heracles. I know this is a middle school novel and the characters are at the mental ages where they are discovering love, but Athena? Really? Not everyone has to be in a romantic relationship, especially not Athena, the goddess known for not dating anyone. Otherwise, this is a great little novel.

[Suzanne Warr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this return to Mount Olympus Academy, and loved the clever ways Athena found to accomplish the tasks she and Hercles have to accomplish. A great example of using brain over brawn and thinking outside the box! Get my full spotlight--plus the cat's two cents--on my blog, and happy reading!

[kaotickitten · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book got back to a loose mythological truth. What I mean is it follows the myths much more closely than the previous one did. Athena shows her self to have self respect and the wisdom she is known for. This book has a slight morality lesson in it. That it is better to think before you react in anger.

[Karen Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and cute. I suppose I might have been a bit of a grouch in my first review but I am glad that this book is slightly more acceptable! The characters have depth in them and Athena actually reveals more vulnerability than in the first novel so I'm proud of her. A fun read to pass the time.

[aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read with Fiona. This one takes the classic Greek myths and puts them into a modern high school setting. Athena is tasked by her father (and principal of the school) Zeus to help out with some trials for Heracles and in the process ends up befriending him (and maybe more?). It was a fun little read and Fiona may pick up more.

[Zainab · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for a class, and it was nice. It was a fun way to read a story about the Gods/Goddesses through a fictional style as these characters were portrayed as school students. It was short and simple and enjoyable.

[Kátia Cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in love with this series and if possible I'd like to read all the books and if you are into mythology you should too.In this one Athena is helping Heracles fulfil his 12 labours. A different version of the original story but as original as it could be.

[☯Meera☯ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember these books! I loved them. They were so cute. I still remember a bit of them from when I was nine, and I can't believe it's been years since I read them.

[Jordan Hillard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Athena has the brains and Hercules has the muscles. They are absolutely a great couple, and Greek Mythology is so interesting.

[Myrtle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book but not accurate to the 12 tasks

[Liora · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5

[Amanda Grainger · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a nice chilled read. Keeps you on your feet and eager for more

[Gracee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had fun reading the whole series, it’s good to see mythology being incorporated into an academy setting which makes it inviting for kids. This one is about Athena, the wise!!