"bloated!" He Cried. The Corresponding Hieroglyph Flew Through The Air, Bursting Against A Demon's Chest In A Spray Of Light. Instantly, The Demon Swelled Like A Water Balloon And Rolled Screaming Down The Pyramid. "flat!" Thoth Blasted Another Demon, Who Collapsed And Shriveled Into A Monster-shaped Doormat. "intestinal Problems!" Thoth Yelled. The Poor Demon Who Got Zapped With That One Turned Green And Doubled Over.

-Rick Riordan

Please Wait....
Translating....

"bloated!" He Cried. The

Rick Riordan

Topic

Pyramids

Light

Air

More From Rick Riordan

Even Strength Must Bow To Wisdom Sometimes.

Inspirational

Wisdom

Understanding

The First Lesson Every Child Of Athena Learned: Mom Was The Best At Everything, And You Should Never, Ever Suggest Otherwise.

Mom

Daughter

Children

Percy!” He Bellowed. He Dropped His Broom And Ran At Me. If You’ve Never Been Charged By An Enthusiastic Cyclops Wearing A Flowered Apron And Rubber Cleaning Gloves, I’m Telling You, It’ll Wake You Up Quick.

Wakes You

Gloves

Rubber

Percy Scowled. "i-i Know You." Nico Raised His Eyebrows. "do You?

Eyebrows

Raised

Son Of Neptune

I’d Been To The British Museum Before. In Fact I’ve Been In More Museums Than I Like To Admit—it Makes Me Sound Like A Total Geek. [that’s Sadie In The Background, Yelling I Am A Total Geek. Thanks, Sis.]

Museums

Yelling

Sound

Heroes!" Euryale Said With Disgust. "they Always Bring That Up, Just Like Our Mother! 'why Can't You Turn People To Stone? Your Sister Can Turn People To Stone.' Well, I'm Sorry To Disappoint You, Boy! That Was Medusa's Curse Alone. She Was The Most Hideous One In The Family. She Got All The Luck!" Stheno Looked Hurt. "mother Said I Was The Most Hideous.

Mother

Hurt

Sorry

I Was Wishing I'd Bought Some Of That Camp Half Blood Orange Thermal Underwear..." ?!?!

Blood

Orange

Wish

Five Syllables," Apollo Said, Counting Them On His Fingers. "that Would Be Real Bad.

Real

Would Be

Apollo

"cool" Leo Said. "i Always Wanted A Sister Who Could Beat Me Up."

Beats

Said

Wanted

It Takes Strength And Courage To Admit The Truth.

Courage

Honesty

Hey!" I Screamed, Waving The Jacket, Running To One Side Of The Monster. "hey, Stupid! Ground Beef!

Running

Stupid

Monsters

"anybody Have Money?" Frank Checked His Pockets. "three Denarii From Camp Jupiter. Five Dollars Canadian." Hedge Patted His Gym Shorts And Pulled Out What He Found. "three Quarters, Two Dimes, A Rubber Band And - Score! A Piece Of Celery." He Started Munching On The Celery, Eyeing The Change And The Rubber Band Like They Might Be Next.

Two

Pockets

Jupiter

Coach Hedge Came Pounding Up The Stairs With Hazel At His Hooves. “where Are They?” He Demanded. “who Do I Kill?” “no Killing!” Annabeth Ordered. “just Defend The Ship!” “but They Interrupted A Chuck Norris Movie!

Annabeth

Ships

Killing

I Started To Walk Away, But She [clarisse] Called Out, "percy?" "yeah?" "when You, Uh, Had That Vision About Your Friends..." "you Were One Of Them," I Promised, "just Don't Tell Anybody, Okay? Or I'de Have To Kill You." A Faint Smile Flickered Across Her Face "see You Later." "see You

Vision

Faces

Yeah

Are You Kidding?" She Looked At Me As If I'd Just Dropped From The Moon. Her Cheeks Were Bright Red. "what's The Problem Now?" I Demanded. "me, Go With You To The...the 'thrill Ride Of Love'? How Embarrassing Is That? What If Somebody Saw Me?" "who's Going To See You?" But My Face Was Burning Now, Too. Leave It To A Girl To Make Everything Complicated. "fine," I Told Her. "i'll Do It Myself." But When I Started Down The Side Of The Pool, She Followed Me, Muttering About How Boys Always Messed Things Up.

Girl

Boys

Moon

Maybe If He Did Really Well They'd Give Him Some Mouldy Apples.

Apples

Giving

Wells

So Beckendorf Was Pretty Popular?" Leo Asked. "i Mean-before He Blew Up?

Mean

One Down," Beckendorf Said. "about Five Thousand To Go." He Tossed Me A Jar Of Thick Green Liquid—greek Fire, One Of The Most Dangerous Magical Substances In The World. Then He Threw Me Another Essential Tool Of Demigod Heroes—duct Tape

Hero

Fire

Greek

I Held It Up, And Tried To Channel Happy Dog Thoughts Toward Cerberus- Alpo Commercials, Cute Little Puppies, Fire Hydrants.

Cute

Dog

Fire

My Name Is Percy Jackson. I'm Twelve Years Old. Until A Few Months Ago, I Was A Boarding Student At Yancy Academy, A Private School For Troubled Kids In Upstate New York. Am I A Troubled Kid? Yeah. You Could Say That.

New York

School

Kids

You Teach Combat, I Guess.” Aphros Threw Up His Hands In Exasperation. “why Does Everyone Assume That?” Leo Glanced At The Massive Sword On The Fish-guy’s Back. “uh, I Don’t Know.

Hands

Guy

Doe

Bob Says Hello," He Told The Stars. The Argo Ii Sailed Into The Night.

Stars

Night

Bob

Leo Took Out A Pen And Autographed The Arm Of One Of The Nymphs. “narcissus Is A Loser! He’s So Weak, He Can’t Bench-press A Kleenex. He’s So Lame, When You Look Up Lame On Wikipedia, It’s Got A Picture Of Narcissus—only The Picture’s So Ugly, No One Ever Checks It Out.

Nymphs

Ugly

Arms

I’ve Met Plenty Of Embarrassing Parents, But Kronos, The Evil Titan Lord Who Wanted To Destroy Western Civilization? Not The Kind Of Dad You Invited To School For Career Day.

Dad

School

Civilization

Briefly, The Nymphaeum Glowed With A Softer Light, Like A Full Moon. Piper Smelled Exotic Spices And Blooming Roses. She Heard Distant Music And Happy Voices Talking And Laughing. She Guessed She Was Hearing Hundreds Of Years Of Parties And Celebrations That Had Been Held At This Shrine In Ancient Times, As If The Memories Had Been Freed Along With The Spirits. 'what Is That?' Jason Asked Nervously. Piper Slipped Her Hand Into His. 'the Ghosts Are Dancing.

Memories

Party

Moon

You Drool When You Sleep.

Sleep

Annabeth

Percy Jackson And The Olympians

I'm Afraid Not." Hades Sighed. "my Son Here Convinced Me That Perhaps I Should Prioritize My List Of Enemies." He Glared At Me With Distaste. "as Much As I Dislike Certain Upstart Demigods, It Would Not Do For Olympus To Fall. I Would Miss Bickering With My Siblings. And If There Is One Thing We Agree On - It Is That You Were A Terrible Father.

Father

Sibling

Fall

She Would Always Be My Biggest What If.

What If

Ifs

The Real World Is Where The Monsters Are.

Life

Real

Monsters

I Suppose With So Many Things Suddenly Getting Better, The Things That Were Still Missing Hurt Even Worse.

Hurt

Missing

Get Better

Love Is No Game! It Is No Flowery Softness! It Is Hard Work- It Demands Everything From You- Especially The Truth. Only Then Does It Yield Results.

Hard Work

Love Is

Yield

Grover Was Sniffing The Wind, Looking Nervous. He Fished Out His Acorns And Threw Them Into The Sand, Then Played His Pipes. They Rearranged Themselves In A Pattern That Made No Sense To Me, But Grover Looked Concerned. "that's Us," He Said. "those Five Nuts Right There." "which One Is Me?" I Asked. "the Little Deformed One," Zoe Suggested. "oh, Shut Up.

Wind

Nuts

Patterns

Nothing Like Watching Your Relatives Fight, I Always Say.

Funny

Family

Humorous

Percy, Lesser Beings Do Many Horrible Things In The Name Of The Gods. That Does Not Mean We Gods Approve. The Way Our Sons And Daughters Act In Our Names... Well, It Usually Says More About Them Than It Does About Us.

Daughter

Mean

Son

And If Someone Doesn’t Believe In Any Afterlife?” I Asked. Walt Gave Me A Sad Look. “then That’s What They Experience.

Believe

Afterlife

Looks

I've Found Peace Here At The Co-op. You Could Stay With Us, If You Want. Become A Roflcopter.

Want

Found

Ifs

My Sister, With Her Ratty Red-highlighted Hair And Her Linen Pajamas And Her Combat Boots—how Could She Possibly Worry About Being Possessed By A Goddess? What Goddess Would Want Her, Except The Goddess Of Chewing Gum?

Hair

Worry

Boots

I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-algebra Teacher

Teacher

Algebra

The Afterlife Looks Different To Every Soul," He Said, "depending On Whatthey Believe. For That Guy, Egypt Must've Made A Strong Impression When He Was Young , Maybe." "and If Someone Doesn't Believe In Any Afterlife?" I Asked. Walt Gave Me A Sad Look. "then That's What They Experience.

Strong

Believe

Egypt

P.s. You'll Have To Meet With Dan's Principal When You Get Back. He Got In Trouble For Doing Ninja Moves In Class. Don't Worry. This Happens All The Time.

Moving

Class

Worry

Eat Bitter, Taste Sweet," Frank Said. "i Hate That Proverb." "but It's True. What Do They Call It These Days---no Pain, No Gain? Same Concept. You Do The Easy Thing, The Appealing Thing, The Peaceful Thing, Mostly It Turns Out Sour In The End. But If You Take The Hard Path---ah, That's How You Reap The Sweet Rewards. Duty. Sacrifice. They Mean Something.

Sweet

Pain

Hate

Armed With My Sword And Wand, I Was All Set For A Stroll Through The Swamp To Look For A Hungry Monster. Oh, Joy!

Joy

Monsters

Looks

How Do I Defeat Apophis?” “i’m So Glad You Asked!” Thoth Beamed At Me With His Multicolored Eyes. “unfortunately, I Can’t Tell You.” I Glanced At Walt. “do You Want To Kill Him, Or Should I?

Eye

Want

Defeat

What In The World Are You Thinking?” She Sounded Pretty Flustered. “i Try Not To Think,” Leo Admitted. “it Interferes With Being Nuts. Just Concentrate On Moving That Celestial Bronze. Echo, You Ready?

Moving

Thinking

Nuts

Chiron Probably Wanted Me To Say, Heck It Wa Nothing. I Eat Hellhounds For Breakfast. But I Didn't Feel Like Lying.

Lying

Breakfast

Hellhounds

So, You Wrecked Alcatraz Island, Made Mount St. Helens Explode, And Displaced Half A Million People, But At Least You're Safe." "yep, That Pretty Much Covers It.

Islands

People

Alcatraz

Here's A Tip, Alyconeus. Next Time You Choose The Biggest State For Your Home, Don't Set Up Base In The Part That's Only 10 Miles Wide. Welcome To Canada, Idiot.

Home

Canada

Leo Couldn't Help Smiling. "that Could Be Fun." "fun" She Said Unhappily. "blue Elephants." "blue Elephants." "kiss Me You Fool." "you Fool.

Fun

Kissing

Blue

The Olympians Were A Reminder That There Was Always Someone Better Than You, So You Shouldn't Get A Big Head.

Bigs

Reminders

Big Heads

For An Absurd Moment, I Wondered If Ammit Devoured The Hearts Of Wicked Cows, And If He Liked The Beefy Taste. - Carter Kane

Heart

Wicked

Cows

My Goal In The Classroom Was Always To Make Sure They Were Having So Much Fun That They Didn't Realize They Were Learning.

Fun

Goal

Realizing

We Speak With One Voice,” Walt Said. “especially On This Matter. No One Hurts Sadie Kane.

Hurt

Voice

Matter

Butch Hesitated. "annabeth's Okay. You Gotta Cut Her Some Slack. She Had A Vision Telling Her To Come Here, To Find A Guy With One Shoe. That Was Supposed To Be The Answer To Her Problem." "what Problem?" Piper Asked. "she's Been Looking For One Of Our Campers, Who's Been Missing Three Days," Butch Said. "she's Going Out Of Her Mind With Worry. She Hoped He'd Be Here." "who?" Jason Asked. "her Boyfriend," Butch Said, "a Guy Named Percy Jackson.

Cutting

Shoes

Worry

My Brother Broke Into A Toothy Grin. "yay! Your Brain Works!

Brother

Brain

Yay

So," I (percy) Said Glumly. "we're Going To Get A Ride From Your Brother, Huh?" Artemis's Silver Eyes Gleamed. "yes, Boy. You See, Bianca Di Angelo Is Not The Only One With An Annoying Brother. It's Time For You To Meet My Irresponsible Twin, Apollo.

Brother

Eye

Boys

You Must Forge Your Own Path For It To Mean Anything.

Mean

Olympus

Path

I Sat Up In Bed. "what Did He Say?" Tyson Groaned, Still Half Asleep. He Was Lying Facedown On The Couch, His Feet So Far Over The Edge They Were In The Bathroom. "the Happy Man Said...bowling Practice?" I Hoped He Was Right, But Then There Was An Urgent Knock On The Suite's Interior Door. Annabeth Stuck Her Head In--her Blonde Hair In A Rat's Nest. "disembowling Practice?

Lying

Men

Feet

You Sure About This?" I Asked Thalia. She Turned To Me. "amaltheia Leads Me To Good Things. The Last Time She Appeared, She Led Me To You." The Compliment Warmed Me Like A Cup Of Hot Chocolate. I'm A Sucker That Way. Thalia Can Flash Those Blue Eyes, Give Me One Kind Word, And She Can Get Me To Do Pretty Much Whatever.

Eye

Blue

Giving

My Glowing Form Was So Heavy, Its Feet Sank Into The Top Of The Tank. “sekhmet!” I Yelled. The Lioness Whirled And Snarled, Trying To Locate My Voice. “up Here, Kitty!” I Called. She Spotted Me And Her Ears Went Back. “horus?” ‘unless You Know Another Guy With A Falcon Head.

Glowing

Voice

Feet

I Held Out A Lead Figurine Of Hades—the Little Mythomagic Statue Nico Had Abandoned When He Fled Camp Last Winter. Nico Hesitated. "i Don’t Play That Game Anymore. It’s For Kids." "it’s Got Four Thousand Attack Power," I Coaxed. "five Thousand," Nico Corrected. "but Only If Your Opponent Attacks First." I Smiled. "maybe It’s Okay To Still Be A Kid Once In A While.

Kids

Winter

Games

Now, My Brethren!" Poseidon's Voice Was So Loud I Wasn't Sure If I Was Hearing It From The Smoke Image Or From All The Way Across Town. "strike For Olympus!

Voice

Way

Hearing

Let Me Get This Straight. Your Table Ran Away Because You Polished It With Windex?

Tables

Let Me

Ran

I Sailed On The Cold Air Currents Above The Rooftops Of Paris. I Could See The River, The Louvre Museum, The Gardens And Palaces. And A Mouse-yum. Hang On, Carter, I Thought. Not Hunting Mice.

Garden

Hunting

Museums

His Hair Was Permed And Gelled Like A New Jersey Girl's On Homecoming Night. Percy Jackson

Girl

Night

Hair

The Pinecone Is A Fearsome Tool Of Destruction! -bacchus

Tools

Destruction

Bacchus

No More Lastrygonians.” Ella Fluttered Down And Landed Next To Them. “six Minus Six Is Zero. Spears Are Good For Subtraction, Yep.

Zero

Down And

Yeah, Well,” Nico Said, “not Giving People A Second Thought…that Can Be Dangerous.

People

Giving

Yeah

Monsters,' Her Dad Said, A Tear Tracing His Cheek. 'i Live In A World Of Monsters.

Dad

Tears

Monsters

Relax," Chiron Told Me. "keep A Clear Head. And Remember, You May Be About To Prevent The Biggest War In Human History." "relax," I Said. "i'm Very Relaxed.

War

Clear Head

Remember You

Poseidon’s Trident Was Also All Over The Place, Since Peter The Great Wanted To Stress Russia’s Sea Power. I Especially Like The Trident On Top Of An Obelisk -- What A Great Egyptian/greek Mix Up!

Stress

Sea

Russia

I Think That Kids Have A Greater Capacity For Processing Things Than We Give Them Credit For.

Kids

Thinking

Giving

Just Curious How Much I'm Going For These Days," Leo Said. "i Mean, I Can Understand Not Being As Pricey As Percy Or Jason, Maybe...but Am I Worth, Like, Two Franks, Or Three Franks?

Mean

Two

Jason

As We Rose Over The Rooftops I Caught My Breath-well, If You Can Catch Your Breath Underwater.

Rose

Underwater

Rooftops

So You Can't Live In Manhattan?' She Asked. Amos's Brow Furrowed As He Looked Across At The Empire State Building. 'manhattan Has Other Problems. Other Gods. It's Best We Stay Separate.

Manhattan

Empires

Problem

He Was Rewarded With A Silver-and-red Can Of Soda. He Brandished It At The Dolphin Warriors As If Spraying Them With Bug Repellant. "behold!" Percy Shouted. "the God's Chosen Beverage. Tremble Before The Horror Of Diet Coke!" The Dolphin-men Began To Panic. They Were On The Edge Of Retreat. Percy Could Feel It.

Warrior

Men

Dolphins

I Gave Her A Smile That I Hoped Conveyed Something Like: Hey, You Know I’m On Your Side. Gods Are Such Jerks! But What Can You Do? Probably My Expression Actually Conveyed: It’s Not My Fault! Please Do Not Kill Me!

Expression

Your Side

Hey

A Half-blood Of The Eldest Gods, Shall Reach Sixteen Against All Odds And See The World In Endless Sleep The Hero's Soul, Cursed Blade Shall Reap A Single Choice Shall End His Days Olympus To Preserve Or Raze.

Hero

Sleep

Odds

The Wind Blowing Through My Ripped Clothes Was So Cold That I Felt Like A Percysicle.

Wind

Clothes

Cold

Stuff Has Become The Enemy. There Always Seems To Be More Of It Than I Have Storage In My House!

House

Enemy

Stuff

I Can See The Stars Again M'lady.

Stars

I Can

Zoe Nightshade

I See Murky Visions Of Other Gods And Rival Magic." That Really Didn't Sound Good. "what Do You Mean?" I Asked. "what Other Gods?" "i Don't Know, Sadie. But Egypt Has Always Faced Challenges From Outside –– Magicians From Elsewhere, Even Gods From Elsewhere. Just Be Vigilant." ~ruby & Sadie Kane About...? Possibly Greeks?

Mean

Egypt

Challenges

Nico, I've Seen A Lot Of Brave Things. But What You Just Did? That Was Maybe The Bravest.

Brave

Hades

House Of Hades

Being Turned Into A Lizard Can Really Mess Up Your Day.

Lizards

Mess

Huh," Leo Said. "well, If You Ever Get Off This Island And Want A Job, Let Me Know. You're Not A Total Klutz." She Smirked. "a Job, Eh?" Making Things In Your Forge?" "nah, We Could Start Our Own Shop," Leo Said, Surprising Himself. Starting A Machine Shop Had Always Been One Of His Dreams, But He'd Never Told Anyone About It. "leo And Calypso's Garage: Auto Repair And Mechanical Monsters.

Dream

Jobs

Islands

And If I Was Humming "happy Birthday" And Smiling Stupidly As I Fled For My Life—well, That Was Nobody's Business, Was It?

Humming

Wells

Ifs

Some Pain Shouldn’t Be Wished Away So Easily. It Has To Be Dealt With, Even Embraced.

Pain

That’s Narmer With The Spoon,” I Guessed. “angry Because The Other Bloke Stole His Breakfast Cereal?

Cereal

Spoons

Breakfast

That's Why We Live By A River. Occasionally, I Forget And Pat Lit On The Back--' 'i Hate That.' King Midas & Lit

Kings

Hate

Rivers

But If She'd Realized That Nine Desiccated Zombie Nymphs Would Be Waiting For Her, She Never Would Have Come Down Here.

Nymphs

Waiting

Zombie

The Baboon Is Driving,” I Noted. “should I Be Worried?

Driving

Worried

Baboons

Son Of Poseidon? East Asked. I Nodded. Took A Dip In The Styx? Hudson Asked. Yep. They Made Digusted Sounds. Well That's Perfect East Said. Now How Do We Kille Him?

Son

Perfect

Sound

A Hero Can Go Anywhere, Challenge Anyone, As Long As He Has The Nerve.

Hero

Long

Challenges

To Foreswear Romantic Love Forever. To Never Grow Up, Never Get Married. To Be Maiden Eternally.

Growing Up

Romantic Love

Forever

Chaos Is Impatient. It's Random. And Above All It's Selfish. It Tears Down Everything Just For The Sake Of Change, Feeding On Itself In Constant Hunger. But Chaos Can Also Be Appealing. It Tempts You To Believe That Nothing Matters Except What You Want.

Selfish

Believe

Tears

Tell The Sun And Stars Hello For Me.

Stars

Sun

Hello

You Set Us Up!” “no! I Swear—” Her Face Fell. “mel. Mel Must’ve Told Him.” “right,” I Grumbled. “blame Mel.

Faces

Blame

Swear

Frank Stared At Him. "unfair? You Can Breathe Underwater And Blow Up Glaciers And Summon Freaking Hurricanes-and It's Unfair That I Can Be An Elephant?" Percy Considered. "okay. I Guess You Got A Point. But The Next Time I Say You're Totally Beast-" "just Shut Up," Frank Said. "please." Percy Cracked A Smile.

Blow

Elephants

Underwater

I Would've Hit The Water Hard, But At The Last Second I Changed Into A Falcon. ~carter Kane

Water

Lasts

Changed

Nico Strode Forward. The Enemy Army Fell Back Before Him Like He Radiated Death, Which Of Course He Did. Through The Face Guard Of His Skull-shaped Helmet, He Smiled. "got Your Message. Is It Too Late To Join The Party?" "son Of Hades." Kronos Spit On The Ground. "do You Love Death So Much You Wish To Experience It?" "your Death," Nico Said, "would Be Great For Me." "i'm Immortal, You Fool! I Have Escaped Tartarus. You Have No Business Here, And No Chance To Live." Nico Drew His Sword-three Feet Of Wicked Sharp Stygian Iron, Black As A Nightmare. "i Don't Agree.

Party

Son

Army

I've Got This." Apollo Stepped Forward. His Fiery Armor Was So Bright It Was Hard To Look At, And His Matching Ray-bans And Perfect Smile Made Him Look Like A Male Model For Battle Gear. "god Of Medicine, At Your Service.

Medicine

Perfect

Battle

I Guessed His Name Was Face Of Horror. I Wondered How Long It Had Taken His Mom To Think Of That. Bob? No. Sam? No. How About Face Of Horror?

Mom

Taken

Thinking

Leo: “i Can’t Believe I Thought You Were Hot.” Khione’s Face Turned Red. “hot? You Dare Insult Me? I Am Cold, Leo Valdez. Very, Very Cold.

Believe

Hot

Red

The Set Animal’s Jaws Were Pried Open So Fast That It Yelped And Let Go Of My Arm. I Stood, Now Encased In A Magical Barrier Twice My Normal Size, And Kicked Leroy Into A Wall. Good! Said Horus. Now Dispatch The Beast To The Netherworld! Quiet Man. I’m Doing All The Work.

Letting Go

Wall

Animal

Just Keep Moving! We're Almost There." "almost Where?" Juno Chuckled. "all Roads Lead There Child. You Should Know That" "detention?" Percy Asked. "rome, Child, The Old Woman Said. "rome

Children

Moving

Rome

Five Shall Go West To The Goddess In Chains, One Shall Be Lost In The Land Without Rain, The Bane Of Olympus Shows The Trail, Campers And Hunters Combined Prevail, The Titan's Curse Must One Withstand, And One Shall Perish By A Parent's Hand

Rain

Hands

Land

I Think Anytime You're Writing To The Middle Grades, You're Writing To Young Readers Who Are Trapped In A Number Of Ways Between Two Worlds: Between Childhood And Adulthood, Between Their Friends And Their Parents.

Writing

Thinking

Two

Maybe That's Why He Had Started To Fear Suffocation. It Wasn't So Much Drowning In The Earth Or Sea But The Feeling That He Was Sinking Into Too Many Expectations, Literally Getting In Over His Head. Wow...when He Started Having Thoughts Like That, He Knew He'd Been Spending Too Much Time With Annabeth.

Sea

Expectations

Feelings

I Think I Write For Reluctant Readers. Of Course I Want Everyone To Enjoy My Books, But If The Kids In The Back Row Who Normally Don't Pick Up A Book Are Engaged With What I'm Writing, Along With The Kids Who Are Big Readers Anyway, Then I Really Feel Like I've Done My Job.

Jobs

Book

Writing

Where's The Glory In Repeating What Others Have Done?

Done

Glory

Coach Hedge Shouted, 'let The Movie Star Go, You Big Ugly Cupcake! Or I'm Gonna Plant My Hoof Right Up Your...

Stars

Cupcakes

Ugly

Curse Hermes And His Multi-vitamins!

Vitamins

Hermes

Curse

Carter Started Down The Stairs, But I Grabbed His Arm. “hang On. What About Traps?” He Frowned. “traps?” “didn’t Egyptian Tombs Have Traps?” “well…sometimes. But This Isn’t A Tomb. Besides, More Often They Had Curses, Like The Burning Curse, The Donkey Curse—” “oh, Lovely. That Sounds So Much Better.

Lovely

Sound

Burning

Imagine Jumping Into A Pit Of Boiling Acid. Now Multiply That Pain Times Fifty." -percy

Pain

Jumping

Pits

You Can't Call A Ninja Lord Dweeb.

Ninja

Lord

Thalia Had Been Turned Into A Pine Tree When She Was 12. Me... Well, I Was Doing My Best Not To Follow Her Example. I Had Nightmares About What Poseidon Might Turn Me Into If I Were Ever In The Verge Of Death—plankton, Maybe. Or A Floating Patch Of Kelp.

Tree

Might

Example

Well That Was Sucktastic

Wells

Fortunately, We Did Most Of Our Athletic Stuff Inside, So We Didn't Have To Jog Through Tribeca Looking Like A Bunch Of Boot-camp Hippie Children.

Children

Hippie

Athletic

I Couldn't Believe I'd Come This Far, Lost Tyson, Suffered Through So Much, Only To Fail - Stopped By A Big Stupid Monster In A Baby-blue Tuxedo Kilt. Nobody Was Going To Swat Down My Friends Like That! I Mean... Nobody, Not Nobody. Ah, You Know What I Mean.

Baby

Stupid

Believe

Love And War Always Go Together. They Are The Peaks Of Human Emotion! Evil And Good, Beauty And Ugliness

War

Evil

Together

Maybe It's Okay To Still Be A Kid Every Once In A While.

Kids

Okay

Stills

What Did He Say?" Hazel Asked. "with The Cussing Removed? He Said He Can Get Us To The Top," Percy Replied.

Said

And I Was Holding Someone Who Was Destined To Be My Best Friend, Or Possibly My Worst Enemy.

Worst Enemy

My Best Friend

Destined

Must’ve Been Hard On Your Mom,” Frank Said. “i Guess We’ll Do Anything For Someone We Love.” Hazel Squeezed His Hand Appreciatively. Nico Stared At The Cobblestones. “yeah,” He Said Bitterly. “i Guess We Will.

Mom

Hands

Cobblestone

Poseidon Held Out His Arms And Gave Me A Hug. I Realized, A Little Embarrassed, That I'd Never Actually Hugged My Dad Before. He Was Warm—like A Regular Human—and He Smelled Of A Salty Beach And Fresh Sea Air.

Beach

Dad

Sea

I (percy) Set Nico On Guard Duty With Beckendorf And The Stoll Brothers, Figuring He'd Be Safely Out Of The Way. ... "what's Happening?" Nico Demanded, Trying To Climb Up Next To Me.

Brother

Trying

Way

What Are You Talking About?" Narcissus Demanded. "i Am Amazing. Everyone Knows This." "amazing At Pure Suck," Leo Said. "if I Was As Suck As You, I'd Drown Myself. Oh Wait, You Already Did That.

Talking

Waiting

Said

All Da Ladies Love Leo!!

Lady Love

I Looked Across The River To Manhattan. It Was A Great View. When Sadie And I Had First Arrived At Brooklyn House, Amos Had Told Us That Magicians Tried To Stay Out Of Manhattan. He Said Manhattan Had Other Problems--whatever That Meant. And Sometimes When I Looked Across The Water, I Could Swear I Was Seeing Things. Sadie Laughed About It, But Once I Thought I Saw A Flying Horse. Probably Just The Mansion's Magic Barriers Causing Optical Illusions, But Still, It Was Weird.

Horse

Views

Rivers

George Unhinged His Jaw And Coughed Up A Little Plastic Bottle Filled With Chewable Vitamins. "you're Kidding," I Said. "are Those Minotaur-shaped?" Hermes Picked Up The Bottle And Rattled It. "the Lemon Ones, Yes. The Grape Ones Are Furies, I Think. Or Are They Hydras? At Any Rate, These Are Potent."

Thinking

Bottles

Hydra

I Think Kids Will Read More Good Books Than We Can Possibly Produce.

Book

Kids

Thinking

Hazel Blinked. “two Gods Had A Horse For A Kid?” “long Story.

Horse

Kids

Two

My Fatal Flaw Is Hubris. The Brown Stuff They Spread On Veggie Sandwiches? No, Seaweed Brain. That's Hummus. Hubris Is Worse. What Could Be Worse Than Hummus?

Brain

Sandwiches

Stuff

Neither Torch Nor Dagger," Annabeth Said Firmly. "there Is A Third Test, Which I Will Pass." "a Third Test?" The Pater Demanded. "mithras Was Born From Rock," Annabeth Said, Hoping She Was Right. "he Emerged Fully Grown From The Stone, Holding His Dagger And Torch." The Screaming And Wailing Told Her She Had Guessed Correctly. "the Big Mother Knows All!" A Ghost Cried. "that Is Our Most Closely Guarded Secret!" Then Maybe You Shouldn't Put A Statue Of It On Your Altar, Annabeth Thought.

Mother

Rocks

Secret

Chiron Insisted That We Talk About The Labyrinth In The Morning Which Is Like 'hey, Your Life's In Mortal Danger. Sleep Tight!

Morning

Sleep

Labyrinth

Percy’d Heard Stories About Amputees Who Had Phantom Pains Where Their Missing Legs And Arms Used To Be. That’s How His Mind Felt—like His Missing Memories Were Aching.

Pain

Memories

Missing

We'd Just Released A Zebra In Las Vegas.

Zebras

Vegas

Las Vegas

I Think The More You Understand Myths, The More You Understand The Roots Of Our Culture And The More Things Will Resonate. Do You Have To Know Them? No, But Certainly It Is Nice To Recognise How Deeply These Things Are Embedded In Our Literature, Our Art.

Art

Nice

Thinking

Part Of Their Problem Was Percy. He Fought Like A Demon, Whirling Through The Defender's Ranks In A Completely Unorthodox Style, Rolling Under Their Feet, Slashing With His Sword Instead Of Stabbing Like A Roman Would, Whacking Campers With The Flat Of His Blade, And Generally Causing Mass Panic.

Feet

Style

Panic

The World May Need Fixing, But It's Worth Preserving.

May

Fixing

Needs

Most Of Set’s Forces Were Running Towards Our Boat, Screaming And Throwing Rocks (which Tended To Fall Down And Hit Them, But No One Says Demons Are Bright).

Running

Fall

Rocks

Hermes Rolled His Eyes. "surely You've Seen Network Tv Lately. It's Clear They Don't Know Whether They're Coming Or Going. That's Because Janus Is In Charge Of Programming. He Loves Ordering New Shows And Cancelling Them After Two Episodes. God Of Beginnings And Endings, After All. Anyway, I Was Bringing Him Some Magic Doormats, And I Was Double-parked -" "you Have To Worry About Double-parking?" "will You Let Me Tell The Story?" "sorry."

Sorry

Eye

Two

I Said Hello To The Poodle.

Poodles

Hello

Said

"all Roads Lead There Child. You Should Know That." "detention?"

Children

Should

Just Keep Moving

If My Mom Told One More Story About How Cute I Looked In The Bathtub When I Was Three Years Old I Was Going To Burrow Into The Snow And Freeze Myself To Death.

Cute

Mom

Years

Love Was The Most Savage Monster Of All.

Monsters

Savages

I Grabbed A Pair Of Glowing Red Legs.

Glowing

Legs

Red

Blackjack," Percy Said, "this Is Piper And Jason. They're Friends." The Horse Nickered. "uh, Maybe Later," Percy Answered. Piper Had Heard That Percy Could Speak To Horses, Being The Son Of The Horse Lord Poseidon, But She'd Never Seen It In Action. "what Does Blackjack Want?" She Asked. "donuts," Percy Said. "always Donuts.

Horse

Son

Olympus

He Gave Me The Brochure. It Was About The Hunters Of Artemis. The Front Read, A Wise Choice For Your Future! Inside Were Pictures Of Young Maidens Doing Hunter Stuff, Chasing Monsters, Shooting Bows. There Were Captions Like: Health Benefits: Immortality And What It Means For You! And A Boy-free Tomorrow! "i Found That In Annabeth's Backpack," Grover Said. I Stared At Him. "i Don't Understand." "well, It Seems To Me… Maybe Annabeth Was Thinking About Joining." I'd Like To Say I Took The News Well. The Truth Was, I Wanted To Strangle The Hunters Of Artemis One Eternal Maiden At A Time.

Wise

Mean

Boys

"he Mentioned It!" One Of The Ghosts Whimpered.

Rome

Ghost

Suspecting And Knowing Are Not The Same.

Knowing

I'm The Son Of Jupiter, I'm A Child Of Rome, Consul To Demigods, Praetor Of The First Legion. I Slew The Trojan Sea Monster, I Toppled The Black Throne Of Kronos, And Destroyed Titan Krios With My Own Hand. And Now I'm Going To Destroy You Porphyrion, And Feed You To Your Own Wolves." "wow, Dude," Leo Muttered, "you Been Eating Red Meat?

Children

Son

Rome

I'll Show Them 'love Is Worthless,'" Silena Beauregard Grumbled As She Strapped On Her Armor. "i'll Pulverize Them!

Love Is

Armor

Shows

He Scowled At Jason. "and Please, I Don't Like Being Touched. Don't Ever Grab Me Again.

Jason

Hades

Please

If You Were A God, How Would You Like Being Called A Myth, An Old Story To Explain Lightning? What If I Told You, Perseus Jackson, That Someday People Would Call You A Myth, Just Created To Explain How Little Boys Can Get Over Losing Their Mothers?

Mother

Boys

People

I Tried To Imagine How Things Could Get Much Worse. The Gods Were In The Midwest Fighting A Huge Monster That Had Almost Defeated Them Once Before. Poseidon Was Under Siege And Losing A War Against The Sea Titan Oceanus. Kronos Was Still Out There Somewhere. Olympus Was Virtually Undefended. The Demigods Of Camp Half-blood Were On Our Own With A Spy In Our Midst. Oh, And According To The Ancient Prophecy, I Was Going To Die When I Turned Sixteen—which Happened To Be In Five Days, The Exact Same Time Typhon Was Supposed To Hit New York. Almost Forgot That.

New York

War

Fighting

I Didn't Understand How. But The Toilets Had Responded To Me. I Had Become One With The Plumbing.

Toilets

Plumbing

It's Useless To Lecture A Human.

Useless

Lectures

Humans

Heroes Like You Always Have A Weak Spot. We Just Have To Find It, And Then We Can Kill You. Won't That Be Lovely? Have A Cheese 'n' Wiener!

Hero

Lovely

Weak Spots

Brother Dear,” I Said, “did Your Soul Leave Your Body While Amos Was Talking, Or Did You Actually Hear Him? Egyptian Gods Real. Red Lord Bad. Red Lord’s Birthday: Very Soon, Very Bad. House Of Life: Fussy Magicians Who Hate Our Family Because Dad Was A Bit Of A Rebel, Whom You Could Take A Lesson From. Which Leaves Us—just Us—with Dad Missing, An Evil God About To Destroy The World, And An Uncle Who Just Jumped Off The Building—and I Can’t Actually Blame Him.” I Took A Breath. [yes, Carter, I Do Have To Breathe Occasionally.]

Brother

Uncles

Dad

Now-what’s Our Game Plan?” Coach Hedge Belched. He’d Already Had Three Espressos And A Plate Of Doughnuts, Along With Two Napkins And Another Flower From The Vase On The Table. He Would’ve Eaten The Silverware, Except Piper Had Slapped His Hand. “climb The Mountain,” Hedge Said. “kill Everything Except Piper’s Dad. Leave.” “thank You General Eisenhower,” Jason Grumbles.

Dad

Flower

Hands

I Saw 'the 39 Clues' As A Potential Vehicle For Doing Some Education In A Fun Way - To Take Some Of These Amazing Stories From History, Dust Them Off And Make Them Alive.

Fun

Dust

Stories

Percy," My Mom Said. "i Give You My Blessing." "be Safe Brother!" Tyson Pleaded. "enchiladas!" Grover Said. I Wasn't Sure Where That Came From, But It Didn't Seem To Help Much.

Mom

Brother

Blessing

I Hate It When People Let Me Down, When Things Are Temporary. I Think That's Why I Want To Be An Architect." "to Build Something Permanent," I Said. "a Monument To Last A Thousand Years.

Hate

Thinking

Years

Hi, This Is Ganymede, Cup-bearer To Zeus, And When I'm Out Buying Wine For The Lord Of The Skies, I Always Buckle Up!

Wine

Sky

Alcohol

The Old Women Only Stuck Around This Long Out Of A Sense Of Duty. Your Mom Was The Same Way. That's Why I Loved Her. She Put Her Duty First, Ahead Of Evverything.

Mom

Long

Way

As He Fell Toward The Highway, A Horrible Scenario Flashed Through His Mind: His Body Smashing Against An Suv's Windshield, Some Annoyed Commuter Trying To Push Him Off With The Wipers. "stupid 16-year-old Kid Falling From The Sky! I'm Late!

Stupid

Fall

Kids

In The Center Stood A Marble Alter, Where A Kid In A Toga Was Doing Some Sort Of Ritual In Front Of A Massive Golden Statue Of The Big Dude Himself:jupiter The Sky God, Dressed In A Silk Xxxl Purple Toga, Holding A Lightning Bolt. "it Doesn't Look Like That," Percy Muttered. "what?" Hazel Asked. "the Master Bolt," Percy Said. "what Are You Talking About?" "i-" Percy Frowned. For A Second, He'd Thought He Remembered Something. Now It Was Gone. "nothing, I Guess.

Kids

Talking

Sky

Don't Stay In One Place Too Long. It Was The Only Way To Stay Ahead Of The Sadness.

Sadness

Long

Way

You're A Demigod Percy, Half God And Half Mortal!

Half

Demigods

Mortals

A Weapon, I Told Horus. I Need A Weapon. I Reached Into The Duat And Pulled Out An Ostrich Feather. “really?” I Yelled. Horus Didn’t Answer

Ostriches

Needs

Answers

Lacy Had Warned Me About Drew The First Day Of School. Apparently The Two Of Them Had Gone To Some Summer Camp Together––blah, Blah, I Didn't Really Listen To Teh Details––and Drew Had Been Just As Much A Tyrant There. ~sadie Kane, About Lacy And Drew Of Aphrodite Cabin.

Summer

School

Tyrants

Egyptians Believe In The Power Of The Sunrise. They Believe Each Morning Begins Not Just A New Day, But A New World.

Morning

Believe

New Day

Why Would Roman Gods Want To Date Chinese Canadians?

Chinese

Want

Roman Gods

It Will Make You Powerful. But It Will Also Make You Weak. Your Prowess In Combat Will Be Beyond Any Mortal's, But Your Weaknesses, Your Failings Will Increase As Well." You Mean I'll Have A Bad Heel?" I Said. "couldn't I Just, Like, Wear Something Besides Sandals? No Offense.

Powerful

Mean

Weakness

Zia Turned Toward Us, Her Expression Grim. “i Will Show You To Your Quarters. In The Morning, Your Testing Begins. We Will See What Magic You Know, And How You Know It.” I Wasn’t Sure What She Meant By That, But I Exchanged An Uneasy Look With Sadie. “sounds Fun,” Sadie Ventured. “and It We Fail This Test?” Zia Regarded Her Coldly. “this Is Not The Sort Of Test You Fail, Sadie Kane. You Pass Or You Die.

Morning

Fun

Expression

Desjardins Was Literally Fuming. His Tattered Robes Still Smoked From Battle. (carter Says I Shouldn’t Mention That His Pink Boxer Shorts Were Showing, But They Were!)

Battle

Boxers

Shorts

Percy," My Father Said, "what Exactly Do You Mean?" "kronos Couldn't Have Risen If It Hadn't Been For A Lot Of Demigods Who Felt Abandoned By Their Parents," I Said. "they Felt Angry, Resentful, And Unloved, And They Had A Good Reason.

Father

Mean

Parent

This Is The Wilderness School. 'where The Kids Are Animals

School

Kids

Animal

Great. I've Made A Friend.

Made

Jason Muttered "and I Saw Something...really Terrible." "that Was Hera," Thalia Grumbled, "her Majesty, The Loose Cannon." "that's It, Thalia Grace," Said The Goddess. "i Will Turn You Into And Aardvark, So Help Me-" "stop It, You Two," Piper Said. Amazingly, They Both Shut Up.

Two

Grace

Jason

Travis: The Aphrodite Kids Were Ripping Each Other’s Clothes And Throwing Lipstick And Jewellery. It Was Like A Rabid Herd Of Wild Bratz.

Kids

Clothes

Aphrodite

I Have Strong Feelings For You, I Just Haven't Decided If Their Positive Or Negitive Yet.a

Strong

Feelings

Havens

The Ancient Egyptians Were Not Fools, Carter. They Built The Pyramids. They Created The First Great Nation State. Their Civilization Lasted Thousands Of Years.” “yeah,” I Said. “and Now They’re Gone.

Years

Civilization

Pyramids

Either The Kid Was Naturally Hyper Or He Was Hopped Up On Enough Caffeine To Give A Heart Attack To A Water Buffalo.

Heart

Kids

Giving

When I Write, I'm Still Imagining A Kid Reading It On Paper. I Read E-books When I Travel, But In General I Still Prefer Holding An Old-fashioned Book In My Hands. There's A Special, Tactile Experience.

Book

Reading

Writing

Percy Pushed On His Side Furiously And The Crack Closed. His Eyes Blazed With Anger. She Hoped He Wasn’t Mad At Her, But If He Was She Couldn’t Blame Him. If It Keeps Him Going, She Thought, Then Let Him Be Angry.

Eye

Mad

Cracks

Jumping Out A Window Five Hundred Feet Above Ground Is Not Usually My Idea Of Fun. Especially When I'm Wearing Bronze Wings And Flapping My Arms Like A Duck.

Fun

Jumping

Wings

Jason Always Tried To Build A Good Relationship With His Team. He'd Learned The Hard Way That If Somebody Was Going To Have Your Back In A Fight, It Was Better If You Found Some Common Ground And Trusted Each Other. But Nico Wasn't Easy To Figure Out.

Team

Fighting

Good Relationship

Isis And Horus," He Said. "i See You've Found New Bodies.

Isis

Body

Found

Your Destiny Grows Clearer, Jason Grace. When The Choice Comes Again- Storm Or Fire- Remember Me. And Do Not Despair.

Destiny

Fire

Choices

My Dear Young Cousin, If There's One Thing I've Learned Over The Eons, It's That You Can't Give Up On Your Family, No Matter How Tempting They Make It.

Family

Cousin

Giving Up

Glancing Back I Got My First Clear Look At The Monster. He Was Seven Feet Tall, Easy, His Arms And Legs Like Something From The Cover Of Muscle Man Magazine-bulging Biceps And Triceps And A Bunch Of Other 'ceps, All Stuffed Like Baseballs Under Vein-webbed Skin. He Wore No Clothes Except Underwear-i Mean, Bright White Fruit Of The Looms.

Baseball

Mean

Men

Mark My Words, Nothing Smells Worse Than Burned Scorpion.

Smell

Scorpions

Mark

For A Moment, Percy Actually Remembered What It Was Like To Be Happy. He Had An Amazing Girlfriend. They Could Have A Future Together.

Girlfriend

Together

Moments

There!" Apollo Pointed. "long Island, Dead Ahead. Let's Slow Down, Dear. 'dead' Is Only An Expression.

Islands

Expression

Long

We Heard The Army Before We Saw It. The Noise Was Like A Cannon Barrage Combined With A Football Stadium Crowd- Like Every Patriots Fan In New England Was Charging Us With Bazookas.

Football

Army

Fans

See You On The Other Side. -percy Jackson

Sides

My Understanding Of Magic Is Fairly Straightforward. Hit Enemies With A Sword Until They’re Dead. If They Rise Again, Hit Them Again. Repeat As Necessary. It Worked Against Set.

Understanding

Magic

Enemy

Survive First. Figure Out Crayon Drawing Of Destiny Later.

Destiny

Drawing

Firsts

Fighting Giants Was One Thing. Bacchus Making Into A Game Was Something Else.

Fighting

Games

Giants

Understanding Quotes: Their Essence and Application

Quotes, or quotations, are powerful tools in communication, encapsulating ideas, emotions, and wisdom in concise expressions. They serve various purposes across different contexts, from academic writing to everyday conversation.

1. Defining Quotes

A quote is a repetition of someone else's statement or thoughts. It can be a direct replication of words spoken or written by another individual, often used to support arguments, provide evidence, or convey profound insights.

2. The Importance of Quotes

2.1. Enhancing Credibility

Incorporating quotes from authoritative sources can bolster the credibility of your work. By referencing experts or primary sources, you demonstrate thorough research and a solid foundation for your arguments.

2.2. Providing Evidence

Quotes serve as concrete evidence to support claims. In academic and professional writing, they validate points made, offering readers a basis to trust the information presented.

2.3. Conveying Emotions and Perspectives

Quotes can encapsulate emotions and perspectives succinctly. They allow writers to express complex feelings or viewpoints through the words of others, often more eloquently than paraphrasing.

3. Types of Quotes

3.1. Direct Quotes

Direct quotes involve copying the exact words from a source, enclosed in quotation marks. They are used when the original wording is significant or particularly well-expressed.

3.2. Indirect Quotes (Paraphrasing)

Indirect quotes restate the original message in your own words. While not enclosed in quotation marks, they still require proper attribution to the original source.

3.3. Block Quotes

Block quotes are lengthy direct quotations, formatted as a separate block of text. They are typically used for quotes exceeding a certain length, varying by citation style. For instance, in APA style, quotes longer than 40 words are formatted as block quotes.

4. Proper Usage of Quotes

4.1. Contextual Relevance

Ensure that the quote you choose is relevant to the topic and adds value to your content. Avoid inserting quotes solely for decorative purposes.

4.2. Integration into Your Writing

Seamlessly integrate quotes into your writing. Introduce them appropriately and follow up with analysis or commentary to connect them to your main points.

4.3. Attribution and Citation

Always attribute quotes to their original authors and provide proper citations according to the required style guide (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).

5. Common Mistakes to Avoid

5.1. Overusing Quotes

Relying too heavily on quotes can overshadow your voice. Use them sparingly to support your arguments, not replace them.

5.2. Lack of Analysis

Presenting a quote without analysis or explanation can leave readers questioning its relevance. Always follow up with your interpretation or discussion.

5.3. Misquoting or Taking Out of Context

Ensure that quotes are accurate and not taken out of context, as this can mislead readers and undermine your credibility.

6. Quotes in Different Contexts

6.1. Academic Writing

In academic writing, quotes are used to support arguments, provide evidence, and engage with existing literature. Proper citation is crucial to avoid plagiarism.

6.2. Journalism

Journalists use quotes to provide firsthand accounts, add authenticity, and present multiple perspectives within a story.

6.3. Literature and Creative Writing

In literature, quotes can be used to convey character voices, themes, and stylistic elements. They enrich narratives and provide depth to storytelling.

7. Punctuation and Formatting

Understanding the correct punctuation and formatting of quotes is essential:

Quotation Marks: Always enclose direct quotes within quotation marks.

Punctuation Placement: In American English, periods and commas are placed inside quotation marks, while colons and semicolons are placed outside.

Block Quotes: For longer quotes, format them as block quotes without quotation marks, and indent the entire block.

8. Ethical Considerations

Ethical use of quotes involves accurate representation, proper attribution, and respect for intellectual property. Misuse can lead to plagiarism, which carries serious academic and professional consequences.

9. Tools for Managing Quotes

Utilize tools like citation generators and plagiarism checkers to manage quotes effectively. These tools help ensure proper formatting and originality in your writing.

Conclusion

Quotes are invaluable in enriching content, providing evidence, and conveying complex ideas succinctly. When used appropriately, they enhance the quality and credibility of your writing. Always ensure relevance, proper integration, and ethical usage to maximize their impact.

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Jacques Yves Cousteau

Marjory Stoneman Douglas