"It's too bad if you overlook the place, though, because the strawberries play a vital role at camp. They make us money, which pays for a lot of useful stuff here at Camp Half-Blood (page 134)."
Author's Writing Style: 4 stars!
Yay: It is conversational. It is easy to read. It is entertaining. Nay: It is a short guide that can be finished in one day.
Characters' Development: 4 stars!
Yay: This is not a novel. This is like a school handbook. It is a collection of three contents. One, essays written by select demigods such as Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, Rachel Elizabeth Dare and more. Two, written advertisements with black and white artworks presented by Pete the Palikos, god of geysers. These advertisements feature the special landmarks of Camp Half-Blood such as the Athena Parthenos, Pegasus Stables and the Volleyball court. Three, short comedic plays as headed by god Apollo. Nay: Nothing. The personal essays are nicely-written, the advertisements are funny, wanting me to visit the camp if only it is real, and Apollo's plays make him the brightest star in Olympus.
Plot: 3 stars!
Nay: This book is not a must-read. I mean, you can go straight into the series even without this guide but being patient for a while and make time to read this helps you understand the world-building. Yay: This book is an ideal read before you start these series: Percy Jackson and The Olympians, The Heroes of Olympus and The Trials of Apollo.
It introduces you to the Camp Half-Blood itself, its history and how it operates. I love this one essay written by a daughter of Demeter, in which she tells the story on how the camp would use strawberries to finance their operational needs. I am impressed with how they turn the business idea into an action plan. It is smart!