I Pressed Play And Started Up Chiron's Favorite--the All-time Greatest Hits Of Dean Martin. Suddenly The Air Was Filled With Violins And A Bunch Of Guys Moaning In Italian. The Demon Pigeons Went Nuts. They Started Flying In Circles, Running Into Each Other Like They Wanted To Bash Their Own Brains Out.

-Rick Riordan

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I Pressed Play And

Rick Riordan

Topic

Running

Italian

Air

More From Rick Riordan

I Guess It Wasn't Everyday They See A Yellow Lifeboat With No Engine Going A Hundred Knots An Hour, Manned By Three Kids.

Kids

Yellow

Everyday

Six Minus Six Is Zero. Spears Are Good For Subtraction Ella Said

Zero

Six

Subtraction

Elections Only Happen In Two Ways," Reyna Said. "either The Legion Raises Someone On A Shield After A Major Success On The Battlefield-and We Haven't Had Any Major Battles-or We Hold A Ballot On The Evening Of June 24, At The Feast Of Fortuna. That's In Five Days." Percy Frowned. "you Have A Feast For Tuna?

June

Two

Battle

In The Old Legends, Arachne Had Gotten Into Trouble Because Of Pride. She’d Bragged About Her Tapestries Being Better Than Athena’s, Which Had Led To Mount Olympus’s First Reality Tv Punishment Program: 'so You Think You Can Weave Better Than A Goddess?' Arachne Had Lost In A Big Way.

Pride

Reality

Thinking

I'm A Teacher Still, But With A Much Larger Classroom.

Teacher

Attitude

Teaching

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

Blood

Orange

Wish

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

Very Well! It Shall Be As You Say. But My Son, Pray This Works. I Am Praying. I'm Talking To You, Right? Oh...yes. Good Point. Amphitrite - Incoming!

Son

Talking

Praying

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

School

Kids

Animal

The Eidolons Started Pounding On The Door. 'who Is It?' Leo Called. 'valdez!' 'valdez Who?

Doors

She Often Had To Remind Herself That She Couldn't Do Everything Alone. She Wasn't Always The Best Person For The Job. Sometimes She Got Tunnel Vision And Forgot About What Other People Needed.

Jobs

Tunnels

People

Not Knowing Is Half The Fun," Aphrodite Said, "exquisitely Painful Isn't It? Not Being Sure Who You Love And Who Loves You? Oh, You Kids! It's So Cute I'm Going To Cry!

Cute

Fun

Love You

Leo Had Seen Tia Callida In Action; She Liked Knives, Snakes And Putting Babies In Roaring Fires. Yeah, Definitely Let's Unleash Her Rage. Great Idea.

Baby

Fire

Knives

He Remembered His Home Now, And That Gave Him New Determination To Succeed. He Was Fighting For Two Camps Now -- Two Families.

Determination

Home

Fighting

Nico, You Can Do This," Jason Said. "it Might Be Embarrassing, But It's For The Scepter." Nico Didn't Look Convinced. In Fact He Looked Like He Was Going To Be Sick. But He Squared His Shoulders And Nodded. "you're Right. I- I'm Not Afraid Of A Love God." Favonius Beamed. "excellent! Would You Like A Snack Before You Go?

Snacks

Sick

Jason

Which Reminded Me...i Still Owed The Gods A Debt. "you're A Genius," I (percy) Told Annabeth.

Annabeth

Genius

Debt

Scrawny? Baby, I Invented Scrawny. Scrawny Is The New Sizzling Hot.

Baby

Nymphs

Hot

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

Once He'd Even Reprogrammed The Electronic Billboards In Time Square To Read: All Da Ladies Luv Leo... Accidentally, Of Course.

Squares

Times Square

Billboards

"something Was Wrong With Luke," Annabeth Muttered, Poking At The Fire With Her Knife. "did You Notice The Way He Was Acting?" "he Looked Pretty Pleased To Me," I Said. "like He'd Spent A Nice Day Torturing Heroes." "that's Not True! There Was Something Wrong With Him. He Looked... Nervous. He Told His Monsters To Spare Me. He Wanted To Tell Me Something." "probably, 'hi, Annabeth! Sit Here With Me And Watch While I Tear Your Friends Apart. It'll Be Fun!"

Fun

Nice

Hero

I Remembered The Myth About Andromeda And How She Had Been Chained To A Rock By Her Own Parents As A Sacrifice To A Sea Monster. Maybe She'd Gotten Too Many F's On Her Report Card Or Something.

Sacrifice

Rocks

Sea

The Whole Campfire Idea Freaked Piper Out. It Made Her Think Of That Huge Purple Bonfire In The Dreams, And Her Father Tied To A Stake. What She Got Instead Was Almost As Terrifying: A Sing-along.

Dream

Father

Thinking

We Swallowed A Few Bites-not To Much Scince The Food Of The Gods Can Burn You To Ashes Is You Overindulge. I Guess Thats Why You Don't See Many Fat Gods

Ashes

Fats

Bites

Nico Di Angelo Came Into Olympus To A Hero's Welcome, His Father Right Behind Him, Despite The Fact That Hades Was Only Supposed To Visit Olympus In Winter Solstice. The God Of The Dead Looked Stunned When His Relatives Clapped Him On The Back. I Doubt He'd Ever Got Such An Enthusiastic Welcome Before.

Father

Hero

Winter

The Most Important Thing Whenever We're Connecting Kids To Books, Is That We Try To Match The Book To The Kid And Make Sure That Reading Is A Fun, Rewarding Experience Outside The Classroom.

Fun

Book

Reading

Just Because You Don't See Me Doesn't Mean I Wasn't There

Mean

I Didn't Answer, But, Please - Nothing Is Obvious With Boys. For Such Simple Creatures, They Are Quite Baffling.

Boys

Simple

Answers

Caught In A Bad Romance. Whoaaa-oh-ooooh!" Nellie Wailed Along To The Xm Radio Blaring From The Enormous Speakers. "can I Uncover My Ears Now?" Dan Called From The Back, Where He Was Reclined Across The Leather Seat. "has Nellie Stopped Her Lady Gag Me Impression?

Romance

Ears

Radio

Most Problems Look Worse Than They Are. Nothing Is Unfixable.

Looks

Problem

Annabeth's Voice Caught On The Word Friend. Percy Was A Lot More Than That. Even Boyfriend Really Didn't Cover It. They'd Been Through So Much Together, At This Point Percy Was Part Of Her--a Sometimes Annoying Part, Sure, But Definitely A Part She Could Not Live Without.

Voice

Together

Annabeth

Nut Shrugged. "set Had Always Been Set, For Better Or Worse. But He Is Still Part Of Our Family. It Is Difficult To Lose Any Member Of Your Family . . . Is It Not?

Nuts

Members

Difficult

Gods Tend To Be Selfish. Even When They're Helpful, They Always Have Their Own Motives. That's Why You Have To Be Careful About Trusting Them.

Selfish

Helpful

Be Careful

I Can See Hope Inside It." Rachel Ran Her Fingers Over The Ceramic Designs. "so Fragile.

Design

Ceramics

Fingers

Coach," Annabeth Said, "it Was An Accident. We Were Talking, And We Fell Asleep." "besides," Percy Said, "you're Starting To Sound Like Terminus." Hedge Narrowed His Eyes. "is That An Insult, Jackson? 'cause I'll-i'll Terminus You, Buddy!

Eye

Talking

Sound

Being A Hero Doesn’t Mean You’re Invincible. It Just Means That You’re Brave Enough To Stand Up And Do What’s Needed.

Hero

Mean

Brave

The Last Thing I Wanted To Do Was Blow Up Another School.

School

Blow

Lasts

Whats Up, Seaweed Brain?

Brain

Seaweed

Leo: I'm Almost Out Of Gas! Woah, That Came Out Wrong. I Meant The Burning Kind!

Burning

Kind

Gas

Things Will Work Out - Maybe Just Not The Way You Plan

Work Out

Way

Things Will Work Out

I'd Love To Tell You I Had Some Deep Revelation On My Way Down, That I Came To Terms With My Own Mortality, Laughed In The Face Of Death, Et Cetera. The Truth? My Only Thought Was: Aaaaggghhhhh!

Way

Faces

Revelations

Artemis Must Be Present At The Solstice," Zoe Said. "she Has Been The Most Vocal On The Council, Arguing For Taking Action Against Kronos's Minions. If She Is Not There, The Gods Will Decide Nothing. We Will Lose Another Year Of War Preparations." Are You Sugesting The Gods Have Trouble Acting Together, Young Lady?" Dionysis Asked. Yes, Lord Dionysis." Mr.d Nodded. "just Checking. Your Right, Of Course. Carry On.

War

Years

Preparation

Be Careful Of Love. It'll Twist Your Brain Around And Leave You Thinking Up Is Down And Right Is Wrong.

Love

Thinking

Brain

It Was If The City Knew About Percy's Dream Of Gaea. It Knew That The Earth Goddess Intended On Razing All Human Civilization, And This City, Which Had Stood For Thousands If Years, Was Saying Back At Her: You Wanna Dissolve This City, Dirt Face? Give It A Shot. In Other Words, It Was The Coach Hedge Of Mortal Cities- Only Taller.

Dream

Years

Civilization

I Have To Be Careful. My Readers Are Very Detail-oriented, And If I Make A Mistake They'll Call Me On It.

Mistake

Details

Call Me

He's Nuts" Bianca Said "we Need To Jump Off This Cliff" I Said "oh Nice Idea!! Your Nuts Too

Nice

Nuts

Ideas

Thank Artemis, It Is You! That Little Scar On Your Lip--you Tried To Eat A Stapler When You Were Two!" ... Hedge Nodded Like He Approved Of Jason's Taste. "staplers--excellent Source Of Iron.

Two

Iron

Jason

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

Earthshaker, Stormbreaker, Father Of Horses. Hail, Perseus Jackson, Son Of The Sea God

Horse

Father

Son

He Nodded Nervously. ‘he Looks Like A Magician. I Hate Magicians. They Usually Have Rabbits.’ I Stared At Him. ‘you’re Scared Of Bunnies?’ ‘blah-hah-hah! They’re Big Bullies. Always Stealing Celery From Defenceless Satyrs.

Hate

Bully

Rabbits

Zeus Looked Like A Really Buff, Really Angry Hippie.

Hippie

Zeus

Angry

The Name Says It All. That's Where Dad (hades) Tries Out His New Punishment Ideas, But He Says The Traditional Ones Still Work Best: The Lava Flows, The Minefields Full Of Exploding Surprises, Burning At The Stake, Running Naked Through Cactus Patches... You Name It, We've Got It Here - Nico Di Angelo

Running

Dad

Punishment

Ptah? Son Of Ptooey? What Is He God Of Spitting? I Asked

Son

I Turned And Faced The Olympians. "we Need A Shroud," I Announced, My Voice Cracking. "a Shroud For The Son Of Hermes.

Son

Voice

Needs

To A Degree, The Greek And Roman Mythological Heroes Are Just The First Superheroes. They Appeal To Children For Much The Same Reason. These Gods And Heroes May Have Powers, But They Get Angry And They Do The Wrong Thing. They Are Human Too.

Children

Hero

Greek

Oh, By The Way…” Jason Glanced At Percy. “i Resigned My Office, Gave Frank A Field Promotion To Praetor. Unless You Want To Contest That Ruling.” Percy Grinned. “no Argument Here.” “praetor?” Hazel Stared At Frank. He Shrugged Uncomfortably. “well… Yeah. I Know It Seems Weird.” She Tried To Throw Her Arms Around Him, Then Winced As She Remembered Her Busted Ribs. She Settled For Kissing Him. “it Seems Perfect.” Leo Clapped Frank On The Shoulder. “way To Go, Zhang. Now You Can Order Octavian To Fall On His Sword.

Fall

Kissing

Order

[piper] Rushed To Get Dressed. By The Time She Got Up On Deck, The Others Had Already Gathered—all Hastily Dressed Except For Coach Hedge, Who Had Pulled The Night Watch. Frank’s Vancouver Winter Olympics Shirt Was Inside Out. Percy Wore Pajama Pants And A Bronze Breastplate, Which Was An Interesting Fashion Statement. Hazel’s Hair Was All Blown To One Side As Though She’d Walked Through A Cyclone; And Leo Had Accidentally Set Himself On Fire. His T-shirt Was In Charred Tatters. His Arms Were Smoking.

Fashion

Winter

Night

The Dead Aren't Scary. They Are Just Sad.

Scary

Leo Scratched His Head. “well I Dunno About Enchiladas-“ “enceladus,” Piper Corrected. “whatever. But Old Potty Face Mentioned Another Name. Porpoise Fear, Or Something?” “porphyrion?” Piper Asked. ”he Was The Giant King, I Think.

Kings

Thinking

Names

Cabin Fifteen Does That To Everyone," Annabeth Warned. "if You Ask Me, This Place Is Even More Dangerous Than The Ares Cabin. At Least With Ares, You Can Learn Where The Land Mines Are." "land Mines?

Land

Doe

Cabins

I Know You'll Do What's Best For Annabeth." "how Can You Be Sure?" "because She'd Do The Same For You.

Annabeth

Knows

I Picked Up Pandora's Jar. The Spirit Of Hope Fluttered Inside, Trying To Warm The Cold Container. "hestia," I Said, "i Give This To You As An Offering." The Goddess Tilted Her Head. "i Am The Least Of The Gods. Why Would You Trust Me With This?" "you're The Last Olympian," I Said. "and The Most Important." "and Why Is That, Percy Jackson?" "because Hope Survives Best At The Hearth," I Said. "guard It For Me, And I Won't Be Tempted To Give Up Again."

Giving Up

Offering

Important

I Like To Remind Teachers That Even Though They're All Overwhelmed And Overloaded, And It's Easy To Get Burned Out, It Really Is About The Kids. It Only Takes One Good Teacher To Change A Life - One Time, And One Book. That's What Happened When I Was A Kid. I Had One Good Teacher That Came In At The Right Time And Turned Me Into A Writer. So Never Lose Sight - You Could Be That Teacher.

Teacher

Book

Kids

Yay!” Tyson Went Around The Couches And Gave Everyone A Big Hug—even Octavian, Who Didn't Look Thrilled About It.

Hug

Yay

Looks

This Is Graceland. Home Of The Most Famous Musician In The World.” “michael Jackson Lived Here?” “no, Dummy,” Carter Said. “elvis Presley.

Home

Musician

World

Look, I Didn't Want To Be A Half-blood.

Blood

Looks

Half

Frank Had Decided That Whatever His Fate Was, He Wouldn’t Worry About It. He Would Just Do The Best He Could To Help His Friends.

Fate

Worry

Helping

Percy Was Getting Tired Of Water. If He Said That Aloud, He Would Probably Get Kicked Out Of Poseidon’s Junior Sea Scouts, But He Didn’t Care.

Tired

Sea

Water

Rachel: You're A Half-blood, Too? Annabeth: Shhh! Just Announce It To The World, How About? Rachel: Okay. Hey, Everybody! These Two Aren't Human! They're Half Greek God!...they Don't Seem To Care.

Two

Blood

Greek

We Can’t Make A Portal—” “we’ve Got A Flying Boat,” Carter Offered.

Flying

Portal

Boat

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

Of Course, Annabeth Wouldn't Be Able To Breathe, But At The Moment, That Seemed Like A Minor Problem.

Annabeth

Able

Problem

A Person's Shadow Stood For His Legacy, His Impact On The World. Some People Cast Hardly Any Shadow At All. Some Cast Long, Deep Shadows That Endured For Centuries.

Impact

Long

People

My Girlfriend: Sophomore Honors Student, Demigod, And — Oh, Yeah — Head Architect For Redesigning The Palace Of The Gods On Mount Olympus In Her Spare Time.

Girlfriend

Honor

Olympus

Maybe—just Maybe—sadie Had My Best Interests At Heart. (i Just Caught Her Making Faces At Me, So Maybe Not.)

Heart

Faces

Sadie

You're Alive!" Percy Said To The Others. "the Giants Said You Were Captured. What Happened?" Leo Shrugged. "oh, Just Another Brilliant Plan By Leo Valdez. You'd Be Amazed What You Can Do With An Archimedes Sphere, A Girl Who Can Sense Stuff Underground, And A Weasel." "i Was The Weasel," Frank Said Glumly.

Girl

Giants

Alive

I Named My Camel Katrina. She Was A Natural Disaster. She Slobbered Everywhere And Seemed To Think The Purple Streak In My Hair Was Some Kind Of Exotic Fruit. She Was Obsessed With Trying To Eat My Head. I Named Walt's Camel Hindenburg. He Was Almost As Large As A Zeppelin And Definitely As Full Of Gas.

Thinking

Hair

Purple

Leo Got Up And Brushed Himself Off. "i Hate That Guy". He Offered Jason His Arm Like They Should Go Skipping Together."i`m Dylan. I`m So Cool, I Want To Date Myself, But I Can`t Figure Out How! You Want To Date Me Instead? You`re So Lucky!" "leo" Jason Said "you`re Weird

Hate

Guy

Together

I Always Love It When I Hear Back From Kids Who Say They Discovered Percy Jackson And Now Wear Their Learning Difference As A Badge Of Honour.

Kids

Differences

Badges

Piper Gripped His Hand And Followed Him, “if I Fall, You’re Catching Me.” “uh, Sure.” Jason Hoped He Wasn’t Blushing. Leo Stepped Out Next. “you’re Catching Me, Too, Superman. But I Ain’t Holding Your Hand.

Fall

Hands

Jason

Far, Far Below, Red Liquid Bubbled. Blood? Lava? Evil Ketchup? None Of The Posibilities Were Good.

Blood

Evil

Red

Please Excuse Jason From Eternal Damnation. He Has Had Amnesia.

Damnation

Jason

Excuse

Sounds Like A Plan Worthy Of Athena.

Sound

Athena

Worthy

Leo Grabbed The Neasrest Thing He Could Find- A Porta-potty Seat- And Threw It At The Face. Leve Me Alone!

Faces

Potty

Me Alone

Coach Hedge Grunted Like He Was Pleased To Have An Excuse. He Unclipped The Megaphone From His Belt And Continued Giving Directions, But His Voice Came Out Like Darth Vader's. The Kids Cracked Up. The Coach Tried Again, But This Time The Megaphone Blared: "the Cow Says Moo!

Kids

Voice

Giving

'you're Dionysus,' I Said. 'the God Of Wine.' Mr. D Rolled His Eyes. 'what Do They Say These Days, Grover? Do The Children Say "well Duh!"?' 'y-yes, Mr. D.' 'then, "well, Duh!" Percy Jackson. Did You Think I Was Aphrodite, Perhaps?' 'you're A God.' 'yes, Child.' 'a God. You.'

Children

Wine

Eye

You Both Passed Out,” Percy Said. “i Don’t Know Why, But Ella Told Me Not To Worry About It. She Said You Were…sharing?” “sharing,” Ella Agreed. She Crouched In The Stern, Preening Her Wing Feathers With Her Teeth, Which Didn’t Look Like A Very Effective Form Of Personal Hygiene. She Spit Out Some Red Fluff. “sharing Is Good. No More Blackouts. Biggest American Blackout, August 14, 2003. Hazel Shared. No More Blackouts.” Percy Scratched His Head. “yeah…we’ve Been Having Conversations Like That All Night. I Still Don’t Know What She’s Talking About.

Night

August

Talking

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

Running

Stupid

Monsters

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

Girl

Night

Hair

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

"you Are Okay?" He Asked. "not Eaten By Monsters?" "not Even A Little Bit." I Showed Him That I Still Had Both Arms And Both Legs, And Tyson Clapped Happily. "yay!" He Said. "now We Can Eat Peanut Butter Sandwiches And Ride Fish Ponies! We Can Fight Monsters And See Annabeth And Make Things Go Boom!" I Hoped He Didn't Mean All At The Same Time, But I Told Him Absolutely, We'd Have A Lot Of Fun This Summer.

Summer

Fun

Mean

She'd Also Called Me Brave...unless She Was Talking To The Catfish.

Talking

Brave

Catfish

He Crossed The Street Toward The Man In The Trench Coat, Which Left Me With Two Choices: Follow My Dad And See What Was Going On, Or Do What I Was Told. I Decided On The Slightly Less Dangerous Path. I Went To Retrieve My Sister

Dad

Men

Two

Am I A Troubled Kid? Yeah, You Could Say That.

Kids

Yeah

The Way Leo Figured It, He Spent More Time Crashing Than He Did Flying. If There Was A Rewards Card For Frequent Crashers, He'd Be, Like, Double Platinum Level.

Flying

Cards

Levels

Now, I Figured That The Built-up Gas In Most Boys' Locker Rooms Was Enough To Cause An Explosion, So I Wasn't Surprised When The Flaming Dodgeball Ignited A Huge Whooooooom!

Boys

Dodgeball

Lockers

Let The World Honor You, My Huntress. Live Forever In The Stars.

Stars

Forever

Honor

The Truth Is Harsh." Anubis Said. "spirits Come To The Hall Of Judgement All The Time, And They Cannot Let Go Of Their Lies. They Deny Their Faults, Their True Feelings, Their Mistakes.......right Up Until Ammit Devours Their Souls For Eternity. It Takes Strength And Courage To Admit The Truth.

Letting Go

Mistake

Lying

If I've Got The Powers Of A God, Then Why Am I So..." "lame?" Sadie Suggested. "shut Up," I Said.

Lame

Shut Up

Sadie

You’re That Lady,” Leo Said. “the One Who Was Named After Caribbean Music.” Her Eyes Glinted Murderously. “caribbean Music.” “yeah. Reggae?” Leo Shook His Head. “merengue? Hold On, I’ll Get It.” He Snapped His Fingers. “calypso!

Eye

Calypso

Reggae

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

Done

Glory

The Images From The Book You Make In Your Head Are Always Going To Be The Best Images.

Book

Being The Best

Contrary To What You Might Think, I Don't Spend Every Waking Hour Thinking About Boys." "just Most Waking Hours?

Boys

Thinking

Might

Can We Just Call Them Storm Spirits?” Leo Asked. “venti Makes Them Sound Like Evil Espresso Drinks.

Espresso

Evil

Storm

You Began Your Journey Here As A Pup. Now You Must Find Your Way Back. A New Quest, A New Start.

Journey

Pups

New Start

I Told You I Try Not To Live In The Past And Nothing Could Change The Fact That My Mum Was Gone. But I’m A Liar. The Truth Was, I’d Had One Dream Ever Since I Was Six: To See My Mum Again. To Actually Get To Know Her, Talk To Her, Go Shopping, Do Anything. Just Be With Her Once So I Could Have A Better Memory To Hold On To.

Dream

Memories

Liars

I Could Have Killed You.” “or I Could Have Killed You,” Percy Said. Jason Shrugged. “if There’d Been An Ocean In Kansas, Maybe.” “i Don’t Need An Ocean—” “boys,” Annabeth Interrupted, “i’m Sure You Both Would’ve Been Wonderful At Killing Each Other. But Right Now, You Need Some Rest.” Food First,” Percy Said. “please?

Ocean

Boys

Kansas

If I'm Going To Survive, It Won't Be Because I Have A Lion-skin Cloak. I'm Not Hercules.

Skins

Lions

Cloaks

I Survive All Those Battles," She Growled, "and I Get Defeated By A Stupid Chunk Of Rock!

Stupid

Rocks

Battle

I Can’t Believe How Much This Place Has Grown,” Hazel Muttered. The Taxi Driver Grinned In The Rearview Mirror. “been A Long Time Since You Visited, Miss?” “about Seventy Years,” Hazel Said. The Driver Slid The Glass Partition Closed And Drove On In Silence.

Believe

Glasses

Mirrors

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

Leo Valdez Deserved A Special Punishment," She [khione] Said. "i Have Sent Him To A Place From Which He Can Never Return.

Punishment

Special

Return

Gods Have Great Power, But Only Humans Have Creativity, The Power To Change History.

Creativity

Great Power

Humans

A Little Background: Annabeth Used To Adventure With Hermes's Son Luke. Over Time, Annabeth Developed A Crush On Luke. As Annabeth Got Older, Luke Developed Feelings For Her, Too. Luke Turned Evil. Hermes Blamed Annabeth For Not Preventing Luke From Turning Evil. Annabeth Blamed Hermes For Being A Rotten Dad And Giving Luke The Capacity To Become Evil In The First Place. Luke Died In War. Hermes And Annabeth Blamed Each Other. Confused? Welcome To My World.

Crush

Dad

Confused

You Seem To Be Clean," Terminus Decided. "do You Have Anything To Declare?" "yes," Percy Said. "i Declare This Is Stupid.

Stupid

Clean

Said

Yeah! Bring It On, Lake!

Lakes

Yeah

Coaches

There Was Tyson Moving Into The Poseidon Cabin, Giggling To Himself Every Fifteen Seconds And Saying, "percy Is My Brother?" Like He'd Just Won The Lottery. Aw, Tyson," I'd Say. "it's Not That Simple.

Brother

Moving

Simple

Yes,' She Said. 'the Great Prophecy Has Begun.' Pandemonium Broke Out.

Broke

Said

Pandemonium

Think About Isis,” Jaz Repeated. “and Sadie…there Is A Purpose. You Taught Us That. We Choose To Believe In Ma'at. We Create Order Out Of Chaos, Beauty And Meaning Out Of Ugly Randomness. That's What Egypt Is All About. That's Why Its Name, Its Ren, Has Endured For Millennia. Don't Despair. Otherwise Chaos Wins.

Believe

Winning

Thinking

The Sea Does Not Like To Be Restrained.

Sea

Doe

Somewhere Behind Me, Zia Yelled, "hippo!" Which I Thought Was A Little Late. She Stumbled Toward Me Over The Rocking Deck, The Tip Of Her Staff On Fire. Our Ghostly Pal Setne Floated Behind Her, Grinning With Delight. "there Is It!" Setne Shook His Diamond Pink Rings. "told Ya Apophis Would Send A Monster To Kill You." "you're So Smart!" I Shouted. "now, How Do We Stop It?

Smart

Fire

Monsters

Why Can't You Place A Blessing Like That On Us?" I Asked. "it Only Works On Wild Animals." "so It Would Only Affect Percy," Annabeth Reasoned. "hey!" I Protested.

Animal

Blessing

Annabeth

The Friday Before Winter Break, My Mom Packed Me An Overnight Bag And A Few Deadly Weapons And Took Me To A New Boarding School.

Mom

Friday

School

Well, I Hope You Like It Here, Leo. It Used To Be .......really Nice.

Nice

You Like It

Used

So Let Me Get This Straight,” Carter Said. “the Two Guys You Liked—one Who Was Dying And One Who Was Off-limits Because He’s A God—are Now One Guy, Who Isn’t Dying And Isn’t Off-limits. And You’re Complaining.

Two

Guy

Dying

Wouldn't That Put A Twist In Your Toga?

Twists

Togas

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

Cheers, Carter. At Least You Have The Sense To Hand Me The Microphone For Important Things. Honestly, He Drones On And On About His Plans For The Apocalypse, But He Makes No Plans At All For The School Dance. My Brother's Priorities Are Severely Skewed.

Brother

Cheer

School

Is A Knife Evil? Only If The Wielder Is Evil.

Knives

Evil

Ifs

Don't Decide Yet," Hephaestus Advised. "wait Until Daybreak. Daybreak Is A Good Time For Decisions.

Decision

Waiting

Good Times

You Know What Would Help This Boy?" Demeter Mused. "farming." Persephone Rolled Her Eyes. "mother-" "six Months Behind A Plow. Excellent Character Building.

Mother

Character

Eye

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

Your Uncle," Poseidon Sighed, "has Always Had A Flair For Dramatic Exits. I Think He Would've Done Well As The God Of Theater.

Uncles

Thinking

Done

I Should’ve Been Very Cross With Anubis. Kissing Me Without Permission—the Nerve!

Kissing

Anubis

Nerves

Sometimes Wisdom Came From Strange Places, Even From Giant Teenaged Goldfish.

Strange Places

Giants

Goldfish

I Love New York. You Can Pop Out Of The Underworld In Central Park, Hail A Taxi, Head Down Fifth Avenue With A Giant Hellhound Loping Behind You, And Nobody Even Looks At You Funny.

New York

Central Park

Giants

Big Brothers Are The Ones Who Are Supposed To Pull Their Punches. Little Sisters—well, We Should Be Able To Hit As Hard As We Like, Shouldn’t We?

Brother

Little Sister

Littles

What Horrible Things Would You Have To Do In Your Life To Get Woven Into Hades's Underwear?

Underwear

Woven

Adhd

When Luke Had Descended Into The River Styx, He Would've Had To Focus On Something Important That Would Hold Him To His Mortal Life. Otherwise He Would've Dissolved. I Had Seen Annabeth, And I Had A Feeling He Had Too. He Had Pictured That Scene Hestia Showed Me—of Himself In The Good Old Days With Thalia And Annabeth, When He Promised They Would Be A Family. Hurting Annabeth In Battle Had Shocked Him Into Remembering That Promise. It Had Allowed His Mortal Conscience To Take Over Again, And Defeat Kronos. His Weak Spot—his Achilles Heel—had Saved Us All

Hurt

Rivers

Focus

Well . . . Sure Good To Be Together Again. Arguing. Almost Dying. Abject Terror. Oh, Look. It's Our Floor.

Together Again

Dying

Looks

I Enjoy Writing For Both Kids And Adults, Though I Think I'm Better At Children's Stories Because I Was A Teacher For So Long, And I Know That Audience Well. The Process Is No Different Whether I'm Writing For Children Or Adults. Really, The Elements Of Making A Good Story Are The Same.

Teacher

Children

Writing

You Put The Set Animal In Your Locker? Do You Know How Much Strength That Requires?” “yeah,” I Said. “i Was There.

Animal

Lockers

Yeah

Knowledge Of Any Value Can't Be Given. It Must Be Sought And Earned

Given

Values

Come On," I Said. "i've Got Some Questions For Thoth. And Then I'm Going To Punch Him In The Beak.

Beaks

Said

I Realized That Anyone Who Dared To Hurt Me Would Suffer His Full Wrath, And Walt Wasn’t Going To Hold Him Back.

Hurt

Wrath

Suffering

Sometimes It Is Better To Have Someone You Mistrust Close To You, So That You Can Keep An Eye On Him - Chiron

Eye

Sometimes

Mistrust

But She Wondered Why Beautiful Things Had To Be Wrapped Up With Evil History. Or Was It The Other Way Around? Maybe The Evil History Made It Necessary To Build Beautiful Things, To Mask The Darker Aspects.

Beautiful

Evil

Way

Good Job On Percy Jackson I Read All Of Them 8 Times And Have Listened 42 Times And Still Not Bored Thanks.

Jobs

Bored

Thanks

Die Human, Die!! Die Nasty Polluting Person!!!!' Yelled Grover. I Turned Him So He Faced Me. He Kept On Clicking His Plastic Gun Towards Me As If I Was Part Of The Game.

Gun

Games

Nasty

She (annabeth) Put Her Hand On My Spine, And My Skin Tingled. I (percy) Moved Her Fingers To The One Spot That Grounded Me To My Mortal Life. A Thousand Volts Of Electricity Seemed To Arc Through My Body.

Hands

Skins

Body

I Love To Read And You Should Read Percy Kackson & The Olympians The Last One The Best

Lasts

Should

Love To Read

I Got Ready For Bed And Crawled In. The Covers Were Comfortable And Warm, But The Pillow Was Just Too Weird. It Gave Me Neck Cramps, So I Put It On The Floor And Went To Sleep Without It. My First Big Mistake.

Mistake

Sleep

Bed

Run!” Piper Said. “we Are Running!” Jason Picked Up The Speed. “run Better!” Leo Shouted.

Running

Jason

Speed

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 Could Hear Hopefulness In Her Voice, But Also Doubt. She Was Waiting For Me To Admit The Obvious: I'd Forgotten. I Was Toast. I Was Boyfriend Roadkill. Just Because I Forgot, You Shouldn't Take That As A Sign I Didn't Care About Annabeth. Seriously, The Last Month With Her Had Been Awesome. I Was The Luckiest Demigod Ever. But A Special Dinner... When Had I Mentioned That? Maybe I'd Said It After Annabeth Kissed Me, Which Had Sort Of Sent Me Into A Fog. Maybe A Greek Gos Had Disguised Himself As Me As And Made Her That Promise As A Prank. Or Maybe I Was Just A Rotten Boyfriend.

Fog

Voice

Waiting

Calm Down, Horus Said. "don't Tell Me To Calm Down!" Bast Frowned. "i Didn't." "talking To Him!" I Pointed At My Forehead.

Talking

Calm

Said

Hey Grover! Thorn's Kidnapping Us! He's A Poisonous Spike-throwing Maniac! Help!

Hey

Helping

Throwing

Who's The Other Kid In The Photo?' He Asked. 'the Sandy-haired Guy.' Annabeth's Expression Tightened. Touchy Subject. 'that's Luke,' She Said. 'he's Dead Now.

Kids

Expression

Guy

Have You Ever Noticed How Parents Can Go From The Most Wonderful People In The World To Totally Embarrassing In Three Seconds?

Relationship

People

Parent

Staying Silent, Staying Away From Him... That Was The Hardest Thing I've Ever Done.

Done

Silent

Hardest

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

You're The Last Olympian,' I Said. 'and The Most Important.' And Why Is That, Percy Jackson?' Because Hope Survives Best At The Hearth,' I Said.

Important

Lasts

Pandora

Meat!" He Said Scornfully. "i'm A Vegetarian." You Eat Cheese Enchiladas And Aluminum Cans," I Reminded Him. Those Are Vegetables.

Vegetables

Meat

Aluminum Cans

Good Luck, Boss. Don't Let'em Turn You Into Horse Meat! (blackjack)

Horse

Good Luck

Boss

Um ,sorry. I Cant Read The Last Line." "fish. Have You Stolen Any Fish From The Holy Lakes?" "i Lived In Kansas..so ..no

Sorry

Lakes

Kansas

Leo Felt Trapped. He’d Once Been Stuck In A Cave On Top Of Pikes Peak, Surrounded By A Pack Of Werewolves. Another Time He’d Been Stuck In An Abandoned Factory With A Family Of Evil Cyclopes. But This — Standing In An Open Clearing With A Dozen Pretty Girls — Was Much Worse.

Girl

Evil

Caves

Does Truth Have A Moral?

Truth

Doe

Moral

Tyson! Thank The Gods, Annabeth Is Hurt!" "you Thank The Gods That She Is Hurt?" He Asked, Puzzled.

Hurt

Annabeth

Tyson

And It Was Pretty Much The Best Underwater Kiss Of All Time.

Kissing

Underwater

Poseidon

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

You Deal With Mythological Stuff For A Few Years, You Learn That Paradises Are Usually Places Where You Get Killed.

Years

Labyrinth

Stuff

If You Ever Leave Me Again,’ She Said, Her Eyes Stinging, ‘i Swear To All The Gods-‘ Percy Had The Nerve To Laugh. Suddenly The Lump Of Heated Emotions Melted Inside Annabeth. ‘consider Me Warned,’ Percy Said. ‘i Missed You, Too.

Eye

Laughing

Nerves

If You’re Listening To This, Congratulations! You Survived Doomsday. I’d Like To Apologize Straightaway For Any Inconvenience The End Of The World May Have Caused You. The Earthquakes, Rebellions, Riots,tornadoes, Floods, Tsunamis, And Of Course The Giant Snake Who Swallowed The Sun—i’m Afraid Most Of That Was Our Fault. Carter And I Decided We Should At Least Explain How It Happened.

Congratulations

Earthquakes

Snakes

I Try Very Hard To Be Annoying. Don’t Insult My Ability To Annoy.

Trying

Insult

Annoying

Once I Got Over The Fact That My Latin Teacher Was A Horse, We Had A Nice Tour, Though I Was Careful Not To Walk Behind Him. I'd Done Pooper-scooper Patrol In The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade A Few Times, And, I'm Sorry, I Did Not Trust Chiron's Back The The Way I Trusted His Front.

Teacher

Horse

Sorry

I Guess It Started In London, The Night Our Dad Blew Up The British Museum.

Dad

Night

Museums

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

When She Kissed Me, I Had The Feeling My Brain Was Melting Right Through My Body.

Feelings

Brain

Annabeth

Shut Up, Me" Leo Said Out Loud. "what?" Piper Asked. "nothing," He Said. "long Night. I Think I'm Hallucinating. It's Cool.

Night

Thinking

Long

Your Lifeline...oh, The Burning Stick. Right." Leo Resisted The Urge To Set His Hand Ablaze And Yell: Bwah Ha Ha!

Hands

Burning

Sticks

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

They [percy And Annabeth] Held The Doors Shut As The Elevator Shuddered And The Music Played, While Somewhere Below Them, A Titan And A Giant Sacrificed Their Lives For Their Escape.

Doors

Giants

Annabeth

Happy Birthday!' I Yelled, 'now, Shut Up!

Shut Up

Horus

Leo Waited While The Fish Centaur Put Away His Supplies. Aphros's Lobster-claw Horns Kept Swimming Around In His Thick Hair, And Leo Had To Resist The Urge To Try And Rescue Them.

Swimming

Hair

Trying

Then She Did Something That Really Surprised Me. She Blinked Back Tears And Put Out Her Arms. I Stepped Forward And Hugged Her. Butterflies Started Turning My Stomach Into A Mosh Pit. "hey, It's... It's Okay." I Patted Her Back. I Was Aware Of Everything In The Room. I Felt Like I Could Read The Tiniest Print On Any Book On The Shelves. Annabeth's Hair Smelled Like Lemon Soap. She Was Shivering.

Book

Butterfly

Hair

That Is Exactly How People Beat Chinese Handcuffs. They Turn Into Iguanas.

Iguanas

People

Chinese

When In Doubt, Start From The Top. -jason Grace

Grace

Doubt

Jason

Honestly, I Thought I Was Going To Be A Kite Forever, Suffocating Inside A Little Feathery Prison. And He Had The Nerve To Make Fun!

Fun

Forever

Nerves

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

A General Never Shows Despair. He Instills Confidence In His Troops. He Leads Them Forward, Even Into The Mouth Of Death.

Leadership

Despair

Troops

I Turned And Found Dionysus Standing There, Still In His Black Suit. Walk With Me,” He Said. Where To?” I Asked Suspiciously. Just To The Campfire,” He Said. “i Was Beginning To Feel Better, So I Thought I Would Talk With You A Bit. You Always Manage To Annoy Me.” Uh, Thanks.

Feel Better

Black

Suits

All I Could Think Of Was That The Teachers Must've Found The Illegal Stash Of Candy I'd Been Selling Out Of My Dorms Room. Or Maybe They'd Realized I Got My Essay On Tom Sawyer From The Internet Without Ever Reading The Book And Now They Were Going To Take Away My Grade. Or Worse, They Were Going To Make Me Read The Book.

Teacher

Book

Reading

You'd Think Getting Chopped Into A Million Pieces And Cast Into The Darkest Part Of The Underworld Would Give Him A Subtle Clue That Nobody Wanted Him Around.

Thinking

Giving

Pieces

Our Problems Started In Dallas, When The Fire-breathing Sheep Destroyed The King Tut Exhibit.

Kings

Fire

Sheep

Polyphemus Stiffened. "who Said That?" "nobody!" Annabeth Yelled. That Got Exactly The Reaction She'd Been Hoping For. The Monster's Face Turned Red With Rage. "nobody!" Polyphemus Yelled Back. "i Remember You!" "you're Too Stupid To Remember Anybody," Annabeth Taunted. "much Less Nobody.

Stupid

Remember You

Remembers You

I May Be Biased, But I Think Jackals Are Cute And Cuddly, Even If They Were Known For Digging Up Graves In Ancient Egypt.

Cute

Thinking

Egypt

Despicable Creatures, Vultures: Without A Doubt The Most Disgusting Birds Ever. I Suppose They Served Their Purpose, But Did They Have To Be So Greasy And Ugly? Couldn't We Have Cute Fuzzy Rabbits That Cleaned Up Roadkill Instead?

Cute

Bird

Doubt

I Have Some Extra Costumes-" "no!" Ephialtes Snapped, And For Once Percy Was In Agreement.

Agreement

Costumes

Extras

You Promised You Would Protect Her Nico Said. He Might As Well Have Stabbed Me With A Rusty Dagger.it Would've Hurt Less Than Reminding Me Of My Promise.

Hurt

Promise

Daggers

We Wandered The Halls Of An Infinite Magic Nursing Home, Led By A Hippo Nurse With A Torch. Really, Just An Ordinary Night For The Kanes.

Home

Nursing

Night

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

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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