What do you think?
Rate this book
Mythic Misadventures #1
Pandora Gets Jealous
Pandora released seven deadly sins—now the first is in paperback!
Pandora Atheneus Andromaeche Helena (or Pandy for short) has the perfect prop for her school project: a box given to her father by Zeus himself. Pandy knows the box must never be opened, but of course accidents happen and soon seven forms of evil and misery have escaped. Now it’s up to Pandora to capture all seven—starting with jealousy—or go down in history as the girl who ruined the world.
“Debut novelist Hennesy’s Hollywood comedian background shows in her witty juxtapositions of modern popular culture and classical Greek legend.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
Pandora Atheneus Andromaeche Helena (or Pandy for short) has the perfect prop for her school project: a box given to her father by Zeus himself. Pandy knows the box must never be opened, but of course accidents happen and soon seven forms of evil and misery have escaped. Now it’s up to Pandora to capture all seven—starting with jealousy—or go down in history as the girl who ruined the world.
“Debut novelist Hennesy’s Hollywood comedian background shows in her witty juxtapositions of modern popular culture and classical Greek legend.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“It won’t be hard to sell this to Rick Riordan fans.” —Kirkus Reviews
288 pages, Paperback
First published December 26, 2007
90 people are currently reading
4337 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Hennesy
11 books178 followersCarolyn Hennesy, a Los Angeles native, has been in over 100 theatrical productions spanning the LA., regional and international theatre scenes. Having trained at American Conservatory Theatre and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London as well as earning a dramatic scholarship to the California State University at Northridge, she has played such distinguished houses as the Mark Taper Forum, Arizona Theatre Company, Odyssey Theatre, Lobero Theatre and Geary Stage. She also studied with the Groundlings in the early ‘90s and became a member of the Sunday Company. From there she moved to the main company at the ACME Comedy Theatre where she performed for 5 years to critical acclaim. Carolyn is the 2000 recipient of the prestigious Natalie Schafer Award for Outstanding Comedic Actress given by the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle and has been featured as an “Actor’s Actor” in the industry publication Backstage-West. She recently won the Ovation Award for her work in “The Fan Maroo” (Theatre of NOTE) and was an NAACP Award nominee for her ensemble work in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” (Sacred Fools).
Notable theatre credits include: the long running and critically acclaimed “It’s Just Sex” (Zephyr Theatre), “Equinox” (Odyssey Theatre), “Two Rooms” (Santa Barbara Theatre Company), “View of the Dome” (Egyptian Arena Stage), “Tongue of a Bird” and “Nothing Sacred” (Mark Taper Forum), “The Heidi Chronicles” (Arizona Theatre Company), “Dangerous Liaisons,” “Julius Caesar,” and “The Lion In Winter” (Knightsbridge), and her one-woman show “Carolyn Hennesy’s Big Leap” (HBO Workspace). Films include “Terminator 3,” “Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde,” “The Cougar Club,” “Sublime,” “the Believers” and “Click”.
Television work includes many regular, guest star and recurring roles in everything from episodics to sit-coms, but she can now regularly be seen on ABC’s daytime drama “General Hospital” in the role of “Diane Miller,” Port Charles’ smart and sassy mob lawyer. In addition to a full-time acting career, Carolyn is also an author, proud shop-a-holic, unabashed foodie, teaches improvisational comedy, speaks American Sign Language (fairly well!) and studies the flying trapeze.
But more important than any of this: she is the fabulously happy new wife of actor Donald Agnelli.
Notable theatre credits include: the long running and critically acclaimed “It’s Just Sex” (Zephyr Theatre), “Equinox” (Odyssey Theatre), “Two Rooms” (Santa Barbara Theatre Company), “View of the Dome” (Egyptian Arena Stage), “Tongue of a Bird” and “Nothing Sacred” (Mark Taper Forum), “The Heidi Chronicles” (Arizona Theatre Company), “Dangerous Liaisons,” “Julius Caesar,” and “The Lion In Winter” (Knightsbridge), and her one-woman show “Carolyn Hennesy’s Big Leap” (HBO Workspace). Films include “Terminator 3,” “Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde,” “The Cougar Club,” “Sublime,” “the Believers” and “Click”.
Television work includes many regular, guest star and recurring roles in everything from episodics to sit-coms, but she can now regularly be seen on ABC’s daytime drama “General Hospital” in the role of “Diane Miller,” Port Charles’ smart and sassy mob lawyer. In addition to a full-time acting career, Carolyn is also an author, proud shop-a-holic, unabashed foodie, teaches improvisational comedy, speaks American Sign Language (fairly well!) and studies the flying trapeze.
But more important than any of this: she is the fabulously happy new wife of actor Donald Agnelli.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 275 reviews
November 8, 2009
A caveat up front: I was predisposed to like this book. I'm a fan of the author, who plays Diane on General Hospital and Barb on Cougar Town, among other things. She's a smart, funny, strong and cool lady, so I went into this expecting good things.
This is a book for tweens. If you are not between 8 and 12, you must read the book keeping in mind the target audience to appreciate it. It's light and funny with lots of adventure and lessons in history, mythology, social skills and morality thrown in. It is not Percy Jackson for girls (and Percy Jackson is as much for girls as boys, by the way). Yes, the foundation of the story is mythological. Yes, the main character and her 2 friends have to save the world. But every story for kids is about children taking on great responsibility, usually with the help of a few good friends.
I like Pandora a lot. I think that most girls would identify with her. She has an annoying little brother, a mom who works too much, a lot of stress over school and homework, and a crush on the cutest boy in the world. She wants desperately to be grown up until grown-up responsibilities land on her shoulders, when she realizes being a girl might not have been so bad. But she shoulders the responsibilities and does her best to make up for her mistakes and save the world and her family. Basically, this is a new entry in the tradition of myths about heroes, children of the gods sent on daring adventures and learning major lessons, while teaching them as well. And this hero is a girl! That fact is deeply satisfying to those of us who read mythology as a kid and were disappointed that the girls were always the victims or minor players at best.
The book is quick and light, but has a lot of fun elements. The mythological references are often humorous in an attempt to relate them to our modern world, such as the conch shells they use to communicate over a distance being set on vibrate for silence and not working well in the mountains due to interference. There are a few lines thrown in that are probably there to be appreciated by grown-up reading the books with their kids, like some things about Zeus and women, or between the father and mother about their marriage. Most of all, it's a great adventure story that also teaches kids a lot about friendships, making good choices, and mythology.
This is a book for tweens. If you are not between 8 and 12, you must read the book keeping in mind the target audience to appreciate it. It's light and funny with lots of adventure and lessons in history, mythology, social skills and morality thrown in. It is not Percy Jackson for girls (and Percy Jackson is as much for girls as boys, by the way). Yes, the foundation of the story is mythological. Yes, the main character and her 2 friends have to save the world. But every story for kids is about children taking on great responsibility, usually with the help of a few good friends.
I like Pandora a lot. I think that most girls would identify with her. She has an annoying little brother, a mom who works too much, a lot of stress over school and homework, and a crush on the cutest boy in the world. She wants desperately to be grown up until grown-up responsibilities land on her shoulders, when she realizes being a girl might not have been so bad. But she shoulders the responsibilities and does her best to make up for her mistakes and save the world and her family. Basically, this is a new entry in the tradition of myths about heroes, children of the gods sent on daring adventures and learning major lessons, while teaching them as well. And this hero is a girl! That fact is deeply satisfying to those of us who read mythology as a kid and were disappointed that the girls were always the victims or minor players at best.
The book is quick and light, but has a lot of fun elements. The mythological references are often humorous in an attempt to relate them to our modern world, such as the conch shells they use to communicate over a distance being set on vibrate for silence and not working well in the mountains due to interference. There are a few lines thrown in that are probably there to be appreciated by grown-up reading the books with their kids, like some things about Zeus and women, or between the father and mother about their marriage. Most of all, it's a great adventure story that also teaches kids a lot about friendships, making good choices, and mythology.
November 12, 2012
Reviewed by JodiG. for TeensReadToo.com
In the times of ancient Greece, humans worshipped the Gods of Olympus. But there came a time when Zeus grew angry that humans weren't as reverent of the gods as they should be. And so, he took fire from the earth as punishment, plunging the earth into darkness. The Titan, Prometheus, took pity on man. He stole the fire from Mt. Olympus and returned it to earth. For his actions, Prometheus suffered many punishments. One of them was a box that Prometheus was condemned to care for. Inside the box the gods had placed evils and plagues that should never be unleashed on the earth or they would cause unbearable anguish. Along with the plagues, Athena placed one gift; Hope. The box was sealed and Prometheus took it into his care. "Prometheus was tormented and troubled. And then he married. And then he had a daughter. And then...she turned thirteen."
Pandora Atheneus Andromaeche Helena, "Pandy" to her friends, is the only daughter of the Titan, Prometheus. She has just turned thirteen and is officially a "maiden" now. The problem is, her life is so boring. While there are people all over Greece doing wonderful, heroic things, Pandy and her friends Iole and Alcie are still in school. To make matters worse, a big project is due. Pandy must find a way to show the presence of the gods in everyday life. She knows she has to come up with something amazing this year. And then, Pandy finds a box that belongs to her father; the one that he has been entrusted with. It couldn't hurt to borrow it for just a little while, right?
After Pandy's project, the box opens, unleashing all of the evils into the world. Pandy manages to close the box before the last item escapes. Hope is left, trapped in the box. Now Zeus has told Pandy that she must find each plague and return it to the box. It is a task she must complete without the help of her father. To make matters worse, Hera has it in for Pandy. None of the gods would dare defy Hera to help Pandy, would they? So, Pandy sets out, her two best friends at her side, to rescue mankind from the doom that has engulfed it. Her first task is to find Jealousy, and return it to the box. Pandy has a time limit in which to rid the world of these evils. Is there any way a maiden can accomplish such a daunting task?
PANDORA GETS JEALOUS is a funny, entertaining look at a familiar Greek tale. The characters are very modern and down-to-earth, including the gods who bicker like siblings. The first book in a series, PANDORA GETS JEALOUS introduces readers to a character and an adventure that they are sure to look forward to for many books to come!
In the times of ancient Greece, humans worshipped the Gods of Olympus. But there came a time when Zeus grew angry that humans weren't as reverent of the gods as they should be. And so, he took fire from the earth as punishment, plunging the earth into darkness. The Titan, Prometheus, took pity on man. He stole the fire from Mt. Olympus and returned it to earth. For his actions, Prometheus suffered many punishments. One of them was a box that Prometheus was condemned to care for. Inside the box the gods had placed evils and plagues that should never be unleashed on the earth or they would cause unbearable anguish. Along with the plagues, Athena placed one gift; Hope. The box was sealed and Prometheus took it into his care. "Prometheus was tormented and troubled. And then he married. And then he had a daughter. And then...she turned thirteen."
Pandora Atheneus Andromaeche Helena, "Pandy" to her friends, is the only daughter of the Titan, Prometheus. She has just turned thirteen and is officially a "maiden" now. The problem is, her life is so boring. While there are people all over Greece doing wonderful, heroic things, Pandy and her friends Iole and Alcie are still in school. To make matters worse, a big project is due. Pandy must find a way to show the presence of the gods in everyday life. She knows she has to come up with something amazing this year. And then, Pandy finds a box that belongs to her father; the one that he has been entrusted with. It couldn't hurt to borrow it for just a little while, right?
After Pandy's project, the box opens, unleashing all of the evils into the world. Pandy manages to close the box before the last item escapes. Hope is left, trapped in the box. Now Zeus has told Pandy that she must find each plague and return it to the box. It is a task she must complete without the help of her father. To make matters worse, Hera has it in for Pandy. None of the gods would dare defy Hera to help Pandy, would they? So, Pandy sets out, her two best friends at her side, to rescue mankind from the doom that has engulfed it. Her first task is to find Jealousy, and return it to the box. Pandy has a time limit in which to rid the world of these evils. Is there any way a maiden can accomplish such a daunting task?
PANDORA GETS JEALOUS is a funny, entertaining look at a familiar Greek tale. The characters are very modern and down-to-earth, including the gods who bicker like siblings. The first book in a series, PANDORA GETS JEALOUS introduces readers to a character and an adventure that they are sure to look forward to for many books to come!
February 10, 2019
Rounding up from 3.5. I read this shortly after reading the first book in the Goddess Girls series. It is clear that Pandora will get a book for each evil that she captures. In Book One she opens the box and is given the quest to capture all of the evils in six month's time. This story is quite humorous and clever at times, but also includes some deadly peril that will be more appropriate for older readers. An appropriate bridge between Goddess Girls and Percy Jackson.
February 10, 2025
I like this book a lot. Also, this book isn't great. Two things can be true.
I needed this right now. It's stupid, it's fun, and I don't really care about the flaws because I'm having a good time. I have very fond childhood memories of reading these books, I love the concept of this series, I know it improves over time, and nothing will get me to take my nostalgia goggles off. Plus, they remind me of my late grandmother, who very bravely listened to me talk about these books for hours and explain them from beginning to end. It is unclear to me how she stayed sane. Children are very bad at explaining things.
Quite frankly, due to the state of the US, I've been having a really hard time this year keeping up with my reading, or really anything I do for pleasure. I'm kind of ricocheting in between debilitating bouts of panic and as much activism as I can muster. I cannot get myself to focus on anything complicated in my downtime lately. Reading this just made stuff feel normal for a few minutes a day, and because it's a series for kids, it let me shut my brain off. I think the rest of the series will be useful going forward.
Yeah. Weird review. Solid children's series.
I needed this right now. It's stupid, it's fun, and I don't really care about the flaws because I'm having a good time. I have very fond childhood memories of reading these books, I love the concept of this series, I know it improves over time, and nothing will get me to take my nostalgia goggles off. Plus, they remind me of my late grandmother, who very bravely listened to me talk about these books for hours and explain them from beginning to end. It is unclear to me how she stayed sane. Children are very bad at explaining things.
Quite frankly, due to the state of the US, I've been having a really hard time this year keeping up with my reading, or really anything I do for pleasure. I'm kind of ricocheting in between debilitating bouts of panic and as much activism as I can muster. I cannot get myself to focus on anything complicated in my downtime lately. Reading this just made stuff feel normal for a few minutes a day, and because it's a series for kids, it let me shut my brain off. I think the rest of the series will be useful going forward.
Yeah. Weird review. Solid children's series.
April 17, 2010
I probably would've enjoyed this a lot more had it been a bit more serious, or geared towards an older crowd. Instead, it seems like a tween chick-lit answer to Percy Jackson, cashing in on its fame.
The dialogue of this book was probably the most aggravating part for me, but it was (like, totally) a short enough read, so I didn't suffer through it for long. I picked it up simply because it sounded like an interesting take on Pandora's Box.
Also, if you're looking for historical accuracies and what not, don't expect to find it here. I'm hardly an expert on it myself, but even I could tell how off it was. Everything was modernized in ancient ye olde fashion. (Someone on GoodReads actually described it perfectly: like Flintstones in Ancient Greece!)
Overall, it was a light quick read. Not great, or bad (mostly thanks to the rich mythology). Younger kids (especially tween girls) might like it, as it's really geared towards them. I, on the other hand, would never recommend this for Greek Mythology as a first choice. Percy Jackson still wins over this, by far.
The dialogue of this book was probably the most aggravating part for me, but it was (like, totally) a short enough read, so I didn't suffer through it for long. I picked it up simply because it sounded like an interesting take on Pandora's Box.
Also, if you're looking for historical accuracies and what not, don't expect to find it here. I'm hardly an expert on it myself, but even I could tell how off it was. Everything was modernized in ancient ye olde fashion. (Someone on GoodReads actually described it perfectly: like Flintstones in Ancient Greece!)
Overall, it was a light quick read. Not great, or bad (mostly thanks to the rich mythology). Younger kids (especially tween girls) might like it, as it's really geared towards them. I, on the other hand, would never recommend this for Greek Mythology as a first choice. Percy Jackson still wins over this, by far.
June 24, 2009
So it's about Pandora who's dad is Promethieuous and he stole fire from the Gods for mankind. Then as a punishment Zeus locks him to a rock, and a giant weird creature would beat him up everyday. Finally he was let go, and he had a daughter, Pandora. She was a gift from Zeus, but he gave Promethieous a box full of all of the bad things in life, like death, hate,Jealousness, Vanity, and stuff like that. Pandora later opens the box, and everything goes wrong. She has to fight to find the things she unleashed from the book and put them back in the box. She does one at a time, captures the things, I mean, you know just forget that sentence.
July 25, 2020
I cannot articulate enough how much I loved this book as a child and how much I still love it now.
PS: To all those naysayers saying this book is "not real literature" or a "lame, girl-power" knockoff of Percy Jackson, please...get back inside Pandora's box. She's missing one of the 7 Plagues. Thanks.
PS: To all those naysayers saying this book is "not real literature" or a "lame, girl-power" knockoff of Percy Jackson, please...get back inside Pandora's box. She's missing one of the 7 Plagues. Thanks.
April 20, 2009
This was a great book, it is about Pandora who accidentally opened a box with seven different kinds of evil inside. Pandora is haled before Zeus and ordered to find and capture all seven evils and put them back in the box. Or she will pay dearly.
I can not wait to get and read the next book "Pandora Gets Vain."
I can not wait to get and read the next book "Pandora Gets Vain."
March 25, 2011
This book seemed to jump out at me from the stacks of the library. I am a Classicist and love all things ancient Greek and Roman, so when I saw that this was an upbeat, modern fiction about Pandora opening the box, I thought I would give it a try.
The story takes place in Ancient Greece, with Pandora as a moody, awkward teenager who has recently turned 13. Her father, Prometheus, is a titan who was entrusted with a box full of sorrows, plagues, and hope. As part of his punishment for stealing fire years ago, he has to guard the box and ensures that no one opens it. We all know that it is Pandora who opens the box, but like with any good story, the entrainment is in the details of how the author handles it.
As Pandora's punishment, Zeus orders her to collect all of the evils that she has unleashed within six months. In this story, Pandora goes after the first plague, jealousy. The book is nicely set up for a series, one for each of the evils that Pandora needs to collect.
I enjoyed the book more than I thought I would. Although Pandora experiences a lot of teenage angst, she takes responsibility for her actions and works to correct them, which I thought was nice. Knowing so much about Greek mythology already made parts of this book quite funny and clever. There was also an interesting juxtaposition of ancient Greek culture with modern values.
Overall, this book is funny, easy to read, and has a cute take on giving Ancient Greek culture a modern twist. I would have no problem recommending it to the "tween" audience.
The story takes place in Ancient Greece, with Pandora as a moody, awkward teenager who has recently turned 13. Her father, Prometheus, is a titan who was entrusted with a box full of sorrows, plagues, and hope. As part of his punishment for stealing fire years ago, he has to guard the box and ensures that no one opens it. We all know that it is Pandora who opens the box, but like with any good story, the entrainment is in the details of how the author handles it.
As Pandora's punishment, Zeus orders her to collect all of the evils that she has unleashed within six months. In this story, Pandora goes after the first plague, jealousy. The book is nicely set up for a series, one for each of the evils that Pandora needs to collect.
I enjoyed the book more than I thought I would. Although Pandora experiences a lot of teenage angst, she takes responsibility for her actions and works to correct them, which I thought was nice. Knowing so much about Greek mythology already made parts of this book quite funny and clever. There was also an interesting juxtaposition of ancient Greek culture with modern values.
Overall, this book is funny, easy to read, and has a cute take on giving Ancient Greek culture a modern twist. I would have no problem recommending it to the "tween" audience.
April 7, 2008
This book ain't subtle. Obviously published to capitalize both on the tweeny-chicklet-lit boom and the success of The Lightning Thief, it's a pretty frothy mix of middle school angst and LOTS OF ANCIENT GREEK STUFF. It's the story of Pandora, if she were a school child.
I mean, every paragraph has something slipped in, usually in a cutesy or almost-feels-like-learning way. For example (adn these are all in the first few pages),
"I know what the school sundial says..."
"I wouldn't even qualify for a Nice Try stone tablet or honorable mention sheepskin."
"Again? Flames of Tartarus, that's the third time this week!"
"At that moment, Pegasus, an enourmous milky white horse, swept down..."
How good can historical ficiton if it just replaces modern day customs, personalities and objects with ye olde veneers? It's like the Flintstones!
I mean, every paragraph has something slipped in, usually in a cutesy or almost-feels-like-learning way. For example (adn these are all in the first few pages),
"I know what the school sundial says..."
"I wouldn't even qualify for a Nice Try stone tablet or honorable mention sheepskin."
"Again? Flames of Tartarus, that's the third time this week!"
"At that moment, Pegasus, an enourmous milky white horse, swept down..."
How good can historical ficiton if it just replaces modern day customs, personalities and objects with ye olde veneers? It's like the Flintstones!
June 13, 2023
I liked the idea of this book, especially since I love mythological retellings, but I didn’t really love the characters. Pandora and her friends have a very strange friendship that seems to be based on lots of teasing - borderline insulting. Then at one point Pandora’s mom is telling her to fix her hair and exercise to lose weight and it just does not seem like the message I want my kids to read, or really the message that any kid or preteen needs to read. I’ll pass on the rest of the series.
October 8, 2023
It's kinda funny how in all the Greek myth stuff I've read (literally just this and Percy Jackson for the most part) Hera isn't actually a good person/goddess
October 24, 2011
Pandora Gets Jealous
By Carolyn Hennesy
Published in 2008
The genre is mythology and fiction.
Thirteen year old Pandora, the daughter of the house of Prometheus opened a box releasing all the evils into the world. She is called before Zeus, who gives her only six months to gather all the evils up. Hera is out to harm Pandy because she beat her great-granddaughter in a competition. She is making Pandy’s journey really hard. She gave her a map but it is really hard to decipher and only works when you cry on it. All of the other goddesses and most of the gods, not Zeus or Hades, are helping Pandy and her friends in almost any way they can throughout the journey. Pandy captures jealousy in the deepest form and is on her way to Alexandria to capture vanity.
The theme of the story is to think hard before you act. Pandy did not think about she was doing before she acted so know she is on this journey throughout the world capture all the evils she let free. Hera makes it really difficult for her. If Pandy had only thought of what could have happened if the box was opened and how it could have changed the lives of everyone on the world, then none of this would have happened and the world would be a much better place. When Pandy thought first, and then decided to help the old lady who was Athena in disguise she was rewarded greatly. She got a net that can hold anything, a marble that can contact Athena and plentiful food. Also when Iole thought about what Zeus told Pandy and her family she found out that she and Alcie technically could help Pandy. You should always think before you act.
I really enjoyed this book. I think that the age group for this book would be children to young adults. The writing style of this book is confusing. The point of view is third person omniscient. This book is different from most books I read because it is an adventure that takes place in Greek mythology. I have read books based on Greek mythology before but most of them are very different. “I have to … to …think. Should I …open it? No ... there might be something else besides Hope … another evil. Better not take a … a … chance. I have to think!” This quote on page 75 proves my theme because Pandy knows she should have thought first.
I really liked this book because Pandy is about my age and I would do similar things that she does. The book has made me want to read the rest of the series. I want to read more books based on mythology also. The book affects me because the theme makes me think before I act. I enjoyed this book because it took me on an adventure.
By Carolyn Hennesy
Published in 2008
The genre is mythology and fiction.
Thirteen year old Pandora, the daughter of the house of Prometheus opened a box releasing all the evils into the world. She is called before Zeus, who gives her only six months to gather all the evils up. Hera is out to harm Pandy because she beat her great-granddaughter in a competition. She is making Pandy’s journey really hard. She gave her a map but it is really hard to decipher and only works when you cry on it. All of the other goddesses and most of the gods, not Zeus or Hades, are helping Pandy and her friends in almost any way they can throughout the journey. Pandy captures jealousy in the deepest form and is on her way to Alexandria to capture vanity.
The theme of the story is to think hard before you act. Pandy did not think about she was doing before she acted so know she is on this journey throughout the world capture all the evils she let free. Hera makes it really difficult for her. If Pandy had only thought of what could have happened if the box was opened and how it could have changed the lives of everyone on the world, then none of this would have happened and the world would be a much better place. When Pandy thought first, and then decided to help the old lady who was Athena in disguise she was rewarded greatly. She got a net that can hold anything, a marble that can contact Athena and plentiful food. Also when Iole thought about what Zeus told Pandy and her family she found out that she and Alcie technically could help Pandy. You should always think before you act.
I really enjoyed this book. I think that the age group for this book would be children to young adults. The writing style of this book is confusing. The point of view is third person omniscient. This book is different from most books I read because it is an adventure that takes place in Greek mythology. I have read books based on Greek mythology before but most of them are very different. “I have to … to …think. Should I …open it? No ... there might be something else besides Hope … another evil. Better not take a … a … chance. I have to think!” This quote on page 75 proves my theme because Pandy knows she should have thought first.
I really liked this book because Pandy is about my age and I would do similar things that she does. The book has made me want to read the rest of the series. I want to read more books based on mythology also. The book affects me because the theme makes me think before I act. I enjoyed this book because it took me on an adventure.
August 6, 2014
I read mythology a lot, and so thought I'd seen it all - modern day versions, comedy, poetic. Then along comes this. The premise is really creative - Pandora has to go put all the evils back into the box. Picked it up immediately when I saw it in the bookstore (note: some slight spoilers in the next paragraph).
At first, I wasn't sure that I'd like it. It opened with a lot of tween drama (stuff at school, the usual), but given the premise I figured it couldn't last forever. And it didn't., because Pandora opened the box. And then the volcano erupted under the school.
That highlights one of the few less interesting things (for me. I want to stress) about the book - the set-up. It last about half the book. However, that's from a guy who already knows mythology - most likely the target reader would appreciate all the background. And also, this is a seven-book series, and if the sample chapter is any indication, they jump right into it in book two. Another thing was that occasionally some of the conflict resolutions/consequences seemed light. But again, that may be because of the target audience - and the last thing I want to do is judge a book unfairly because it's not what I thought it should be!
Now to the good things, which are many. I love the way the gods are characterized, Hermes being a stand-out in particular. Another thing is how active they are in the story. This is full-on Homeric god and monster inclusion, where the humans are often actors in a much larger game. And the human characters are well done too. I could add more, but that would give away too much.
Looking forward to the next one!
At first, I wasn't sure that I'd like it. It opened with a lot of tween drama (stuff at school, the usual), but given the premise I figured it couldn't last forever. And it didn't., because Pandora opened the box. And then the volcano erupted under the school.
That highlights one of the few less interesting things (for me. I want to stress) about the book - the set-up. It last about half the book. However, that's from a guy who already knows mythology - most likely the target reader would appreciate all the background. And also, this is a seven-book series, and if the sample chapter is any indication, they jump right into it in book two. Another thing was that occasionally some of the conflict resolutions/consequences seemed light. But again, that may be because of the target audience - and the last thing I want to do is judge a book unfairly because it's not what I thought it should be!
Now to the good things, which are many. I love the way the gods are characterized, Hermes being a stand-out in particular. Another thing is how active they are in the story. This is full-on Homeric god and monster inclusion, where the humans are often actors in a much larger game. And the human characters are well done too. I could add more, but that would give away too much.
Looking forward to the next one!
March 10, 2011
I picked this book up to "screen" it for my 8 yr old daughter. It's a really cute idea, and a great intoduction to Greek Mythology. The character is very much a teenager, and the author has obviously tried to make it something todays generation can relate to, like making a conch shell gifted by Hermes very similar to a cell phone. My daughter is showing no interest at all in mythology, so I'll probably try giving it to her in a year or two. It was an interesting enough read to me, and I'll probably continue reading the series as I have time, but it's not one that gripped me so much that I have to rush out and get the next book right away. It had good moral themes that Pandora is learning and nothing I found objectionable. That's noot too bad for a book you're looking to give your child. I think she'll enjoy it in a year or two. The characters are teenagers, and I'm not sure she can relate as well to them, yet. My favorite, for some quirky reason, is one of Pandora's best friends who was standing too close to the box when it opened got a full dose of cursing and now walks with literally 2 left feet and now has"questionable language". Meaning she blurts out names of fruit like some would profanities. I wonder if I could start shouting "Pomegranites!" or "Figs!" every time I get angry.
March 1, 2016
I'm teaching a unit on myths right now and read this so I could recommend it to some kids who are getting really into Ancient Greece, but I probably won't be recommending it. It relies on a TON of background knowledge of Greek mythology while simultaneously remixing Greece to be semi-modern (think Flinstones of Ancient Greece as I read in another review) so it'll be confusing for any kid who isn't already well read on the subject.
Secondly, the writing just kind of sucks. It isn't simplistic and corny like some books for middle grade kids, it's just boring and unrealistic. The adventurous parts are predictable and not engaging at all because there's no sense of suspense from the author. The dialogue is painful. There's a character that "says lots of big words," so you'll get conversations like this:
"Please don't obfuscate the problem!"
"Ugh! I know obfuscate means to make something unclear, but can you use smaller words already?"
I thought maybe the author was trying to fit in some SAT words with hilariously obvious context clues/definitions. It was lame.
Secondly, the writing just kind of sucks. It isn't simplistic and corny like some books for middle grade kids, it's just boring and unrealistic. The adventurous parts are predictable and not engaging at all because there's no sense of suspense from the author. The dialogue is painful. There's a character that "says lots of big words," so you'll get conversations like this:
"Please don't obfuscate the problem!"
"Ugh! I know obfuscate means to make something unclear, but can you use smaller words already?"
I thought maybe the author was trying to fit in some SAT words with hilariously obvious context clues/definitions. It was lame.
June 7, 2020
Reread June 7th, 2020
Wow, this was really good! I haven't reread this series in a few years, but it was one of my favorites when I was younger. Pandy goes on some pretty exciting, but also somewhat heart wrenching and scary adventures as the series progresses. I like that she travels with her friends, and that she's able . I found the book throughly enjoyable - funny, exciting, entertaining, and full of emotion. I could really emphasize with Pandy's emotions throughout the story, which definitely enhanced my enjoyment of it. Overall, it was a well written book, and a quick read. 4.5 stars.
Wow, this was really good! I haven't reread this series in a few years, but it was one of my favorites when I was younger. Pandy goes on some pretty exciting, but also somewhat heart wrenching and scary adventures as the series progresses. I like that she travels with her friends, and that she's able . I found the book throughly enjoyable - funny, exciting, entertaining, and full of emotion. I could really emphasize with Pandy's emotions throughout the story, which definitely enhanced my enjoyment of it. Overall, it was a well written book, and a quick read. 4.5 stars.
March 3, 2010
This book has a wonderful premise, and I had moderate hopes for it since I wanted to include it in a unit on the Hero's Journey. One of the book's problems becomes clear right away, though. There are way too many characters, none of whom are developed, so it's hard to keep track of all of them. This problem only worsens as the book continues. The other thing that I found irritating was that the author's way of making Pandy sound like a modern girl was limited to putting "so" in front of the verbs. As for this modern reader, I am SO not compelled to read any others in the series.
September 22, 2015
Another fun addition to the many new Greek mythology fiction titles for kids. (Still doesn't beat Percy Jackson). 13-year-old Pandora (known as Pandy) gets in trouble when she accidentally releases the seven kinds of misery and evil into the world. She had only taken the box to school for a project! Zeus gives her six months to collect all the evils. Some laugh-out-loud parts, but there were places when the story dragged and there were just too many 'tears' to make the story believable.
July 17, 2019
A whimsical tale that tries to start a much larger adventure. Adolescent girls (especially ages 11-15) will likely find a lot in "Pandy" and her friends that they can relate to. The book does have its flaws as far as pacing and world-building, but the strengths are a book that tries to do something genuinely interesting (at least a spin I haven't seen before) with the broad and varied background of greek mythology.
May 22, 2009
<3 it!
if u like greek mythology this is about kinda modern greekmythology kinda! its cool
read it!
if u like greek mythology this is about kinda modern greekmythology kinda! its cool
read it!
August 22, 2011
I loved every part of it! It was one of the best books i've ever read and that's really saying something!
October 22, 2013
It is a really great book. A great starting. I like it a lot. The other books are better, for certainly a reason. Once she becomes familiar to capturing these evils, the intensity builds up.
January 3, 2019
I read this looong ago... I didn’t know that it was out of my list.
I bought 2 books of the series for my older one when she was not a teen yet...
It is a nice book. A good twist of Pandora legend.
I bought 2 books of the series for my older one when she was not a teen yet...
It is a nice book. A good twist of Pandora legend.
April 15, 2019
I Love this STORY
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2023
Pandora, the infamous first woman who opened Pandora’s box, is not a woman, nor the first woman here. Instead she is a teenage girl going to school in Athens who accidentally opens a certain little box. The world was already terrible, but it gets just a little bit worse. The box had seven representatives of negative emotions in it, which almost but not quite match up to the Seven Deadly Sins. In the first book, Pandy has to chase down Jealousy and put it back in the box.
This book is a good adventure, and I certainly read it at the right age to appreciate it. Pandy is helped out by her two friends, Alcestis the boy-crazy one and Iole the smart one. Iole isn’t portrayed all that realistically and I say this as an actual “nerdy one”. The goddess Hera is an utter bully in this series, which is only weird because Zeus isn’t. I think they’re both terrible, and that’s only the least of this series’s problems with mythology. This series isn’t bad, however, it is just for tweens and young teens.
This book is a good adventure, and I certainly read it at the right age to appreciate it. Pandy is helped out by her two friends, Alcestis the boy-crazy one and Iole the smart one. Iole isn’t portrayed all that realistically and I say this as an actual “nerdy one”. The goddess Hera is an utter bully in this series, which is only weird because Zeus isn’t. I think they’re both terrible, and that’s only the least of this series’s problems with mythology. This series isn’t bad, however, it is just for tweens and young teens.
July 15, 2017
I still remember the Christmas morning when I opened up my present and found the first two Pandora books waiting to whisk me away. I'm pretty sure I read both of them in the next couple of days, and after that, I gobbled up each and every book. I even pre-ordered them as I reached the end of the series. it was always a special day when the new ones arrived. At one point, after I got a friend into the series as well, we decided to email the author and to my dear little nerdy self she replied! It was highly possible I considered that the best day of my life 😉 I highly recommend these for any reader, especially girls interested in Greek Mythology.
January 11, 2023
Based on the Pandora’s Box myth, young Pandora accidentally opens the box with all the ills of the world and she (along with her two friends and her dog) must go and collect them and put them back in the box. Pandora Gets Jealous is the first in the series. It’s a very cute book, and often quite funny. The main characters are well rounded and have distinct voices and personalities. I found it to be quite enjoyable, and a quick read. It’s one that can be used as a family read aloud or given to kids to read on their own with no concerns. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Greek mythology.
December 29, 2021
This was a fun read. A little more high stakes & violent than I was expecting. I thought it was going to be more middle-school high-jinks than intense epic-adventure. I like that it’s giving young people a female-centered adventure story.
Some references to things I found to be anachronistic, like kids coloring in papyrus, which would have been very expensive, but I think it was there to make things more relatable to a modern reader.
It was a fun read and a great way to introduce young readers to Greek mythology.
Some references to things I found to be anachronistic, like kids coloring in papyrus, which would have been very expensive, but I think it was there to make things more relatable to a modern reader.
It was a fun read and a great way to introduce young readers to Greek mythology.
April 3, 2019
Pandora brings a box (THE box) to school for her project and when it accidentally gets opened, has to round up all of the bad stuff that escaped within a year . . . or else! Filled with tons of heart and humor, "Pandora Gets Jealous" is a fun, well-written story where the beguiling main characters face genuine peril. Author Hennesy knows what she's doing and keeps things moving along at just the right pace. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series. Recommended.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 275 reviews