Pandora Gets Vain (Pandora Series #2) » (Reprint)

Carolyn Hennesy is the author of Pandora Gets Jealous. A Los Angeles native, she has over twenty-five years’ experience in the entertainment industry, having appeared in more than two hundred films, TV shows, commercials, and live stage productions. In addition to her full-time acting and writing careers, Ms. Hennesy also teaches improvisational comedy and has become a flying trapeze artist. She lives in the Los Angeles area.

carolynhennesy.com

The craziest field trip ever continues as Pandora and her BFFs, Alcie and Iole, are on the hunt for the next evil, vanity, which is hiding in Egypt. But, as usual, the goddess Hera is so not helping and throws as many obstacles as she can in their way. It’s totally distracting (not to mention life-threatening!), and they keep getting pulled off course. Fortunately the other gods and goddesses aren’t nearly as nasty as Hera, and they secretly help out the gang whenever they can. Pandy and her friends (including a new, totally adorable boy-slash-bodyguard) see it all, from a wild thunderstorm at sea and a group of talking dolphins to an . . . um . . . eye-thingy monster that’s just really, really scary. It sounds crazy, but don’t worry: Pandy can handle it . . . right?

Children's Literature

This book is, like, soooo surprisingly good you really must recommend it to your local action-loving tween. Although I was skeptical at the outset, this book eventually won me over. An adventure-fantasy set in ancient Egypt, this second in a series features 13-year-old Pandora—yes, that Pandora—attempting to find and rein in the second of the seven vices she released after opening up her father Prometheus's forbidden box. Accompanied by her faithful friends Iole and Alcie and protected by a young Homer, Pandora finds herself overcoming one madcap series of adventures after another, despite the obstacles thrown her way by the goddess Hera. Young readers will no doubt relish the page-turning exploits of Pandy and her sidekicks. Educators may well appreciate the historic references to both Egyptian and Greek mythological gods and goddess. Purists will need to turn a blind eye to the girls' irreverent, toned-down, Valley-speak and the book's completely fantastical occurrences—talking rescue dolphins, shell-phone worried dads, transporting crystals, and invisible tents to name but a few. Still, one has to appreciate Pandy's determination to set things right, her loyalty and appreciation of her friends, and her bravery in the face of overwhelming odds. The book includes a glossary of gods, goddesses, and various things unique to ancient Egyptian culture. Although pure fantasy, this is a good read that young readers will no doubt enjoy, and if it gets them interested in mythology in the process, who will complain? Reviewer: Kris Sauer