Persephone the Phony Graphic Novel

Goddess Girls Graphic Novels #2

by Joan Holub, Glass House Graphics (Illustrator)

Persephone befriends resident bad boy Hades in this second book in the Goddess Girls Graphic Novel series, based on the popular and long-running Goddess Girls series.

Persephone’s mom encourages her to “go along to get along” instead of doing what she really wants, and Persephone follows her advice even when it makes her feel like a fake. But when she meets Mount Olympus Academy troublemaker Hades, she finally feels she has found someone she can be herself with. He’s the first person who actually listens to her, and she finds herself liking him, despite the fact that the other goddess girls think he’s bad news. But if he makes her feel so special—and she’s so comfortable hanging around him—can he really be all that bad?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Mythology, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Childrens, Juvenile, Comics

192 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 22, 2022

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

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute art style, bland and typical story about not believing rumors and not being a massive people pleaser.

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one even more than the first! We follow Persephone’s story as she tries to find her voice, speak up for herself, & do the things she wants to do. Also, we see her developing friendship with Hades. I love how so far we have gotten to know a different goddess each book. Really enjoying that. So many great messages & lessons in this one. I FLEW though this. I read the 1st half in 1 sitting, & then the other half in another. So good! Really looking forward to the 3rd one that comes out in August. I also still want to pick up the novels now lol. Another BEAUTIFUL cover & inside artwork-cover by João Zod & artwork by Eduardo Garcia! A great adaptation by David Campiti as well! Highly recommend!💜

[Gargee Kale · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

[Shanze♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so fucking cute. I loved seeing my favorite goddess girl book illustrated.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

thoughts
1. me core
2. demeter was too nice
3. luv that hades was a lil scrawny emo baby

[asiya | アセヤ (free palestine) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was definitely a shocker, since the story came out a lot more brutally than I thought it would, but other than that it felt pretty bland just like the first one to this new graphic novel series. Sigh.

The artwork feels clunky and unnecessary (I should probably just read the novels) and the plot line gets superrrrrr predictable. Ugh.

Onto the third one I guess.

But, hey! It's so nice to see different kinds of retellings for this VERY classical Greek Mythology love story.

So, I guess that was a bit of a bonus.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book would help young readers if it came with a glossary with short explanation of the characters or mythological words special to the series. I could see a young reader lost at first if they didn’t have some background information that grounded what us important in understanding this book in the series. Set the stage for the time period, location and what is going on before the story takes off. In the beginning the story is clunky bc it relies too much on dialogue and the reader needs more build up to understanding Persephone’s conflict of seeing herself as a phony with her friends and her mother. The internal conflict was shown in her internal thoughts but it wasn’t fully developed to show how it impacted her mental health prior to her meeting Hades. While I liked that Persephone found a friend in Hades, the author hints at romantic intentions which isn’t what this character needs in this time in the story. It was interesting for her to travel to the underworld and experience Hades with all its mythology. But why not show how her travel impacted earth? If she had remained there, what would have happened? It was a twist to have Hades take her back home where she belonged. The resolution with her friends accepting him was a nice ending to her finally feeling like she could be friends with everyone without sacrificing herself. The book overall needed more character development and focus on the mythology of Persephone before meeting Hades. Why is her power so important? How did her goddess essence or lack of it when she was acting phony impact earth? The graphics at times were overpowering the story and didn’t add to the storyline.

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Persephone always feels like a phony. Her mom told her as a child to go along with others to get along and ever since she's buried what she really thinks and just tells others what she thinks they want to hear and does what they want to do. She's about to a breaking point when she meets Hades. He's kind of an outcast at school because of where he's from. Persephone's friends and mom don't want her hanging out with him, but when she talks to Hades Persephone feels free to be herself for once and she thinks the others aren't giving him a chance. Can Persephone find the bravery to be herself instead of a phony and be Hades' friend?

Holub has re-written the Hades & Persephone romance into a tween "like" story with some tackling of people-pleasing issues and judging of someone because of where they are from thrown in. I haven't read the novel version but this graphic novel version flows really well and is cute with some good messages. It may be a little too mushy for some middle graders, but I feel like it was a clever age-appropriate adaptation of the Greek myth.

Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content beyond some hand-holding and a kiss on the forehead. Ares is a bully and picks on Hades, but Hades sagely deals with that in the end and Zeus has his back. There's a punch thrown but avoided. Persephone rebels against her mom a little as she goes a bit overboard in stopping her people pleasing, but her mom is also a bit overprotective and both of them learn some good things about how their relationship needs to change a bit.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute take on Greek mythology but definitely a bit jarring for those who know mythology fairly well. The lineage and connections are ignored in this series. Hades is a high schooler and Zeus is the principal instead of being brothers and similar ages. The dialogue is a bit awkward in spots and there is a big focus on Persephone’s self-doubt (impostor syndrome) but it keeps being played out in her inner monologue as calling herself phony. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. My 5 year old enjoyed it, but honestly I could’ve stopped halfway and would have been fine.

[C.W. Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cute book from the myth of the Greek world. I was disappointed that Hades was a student and younger than Zeus, but I did like that he was still older than Persephone. The way the series is going I don't think that Hades and Poseidon are Zeus's brothers. I wonder where Hera will come into the story. I did like the interaction between Hades and Persephone. I am planning on sending this series to my nieces because of how fun and lighthearted it is.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute graphic novel.
Artwork was nicely done, nothing really extraordinary.
Definitely has the "Learn this lesson" vibe for the younger crowd.
Persephone would go along to get along and was not being true to herself. That is until she meets Hades and really gets to know him. He sees her for who she is and lets her be herself.
I love Hades and Persephone. So to see them as kids getting to know each other and become friends is adorable.

[Ellon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think this one did as well as a graphic novel as the first in the series did. Persephone just has too much inner dialogue that it ends up being a bit clunky in graphic novel form. I still enjoyed it though. It's fun to see the little budding romance between Persephone and Hades.

[Anna Salvesen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Persephone has a crush on Hades, the bad boy from the Underworld. Her family doesn't want her to like him, so she shape shifts in order to look different and be able to be with him. In the end, her parents don't think he's as bad as they thought at first.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really cute story! I think that these books are a great way to get kids interested in Greek Mythology without getting bogged down by a lot of details that may bore kids. I will defintely be reading more of this series!

[Jenna Andersen]

This book can be so infuriating at times. I hate how Persephone always has to do what her friends tell her and how they throw a fit when she doesn't. It's really sad.

[Elle · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF - much better in the original novel format

[Amaruuk]

hades giving sebastian from stardew valley

[Olivia Menné · Rating 2 out of 5]

man... i hate this art style

[Chloedoggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read with girls

[Robin Pelletier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this retelling of Persephone and Hades in graphic novel form. Persephone is sassy and spirited and Hades is more shy and bashful than the original myths. It's full color and I like the art style!

*I do like the Goddess Girls chapter book series and have a bunch in my classroom for the kids who like Greek mythology.