Pandora Gets Vain (The Mythic Misadventures)

From School Library Journal Grade 4–7—Pandora and her friends continue their quest to recover the evils that were accidentally released from her box. Here, the young protagonists travel to Egypt to track down vanity. Along the way, they encounter sea storms, helpful dolphins, ancient tombs, and a caravan of wonders, all the while being threatened by the plotting goddess Hera. Although set in classical times, this fantasy reads more like a current-day adolescent adventure. The characters use contemporary teenage idioms, making the text accessible to readers, and a glossary of gods, historical figures, and other relevant terms is provided. Classical Greek and Egyptian religion and history tread lightly in the story's background, and certain elements have been modernized (Pandy uses a conch shell much like a cell phone). Action is balanced with dialogue and description, and a tongue-in-cheek tone casts a whimsical light upon the overall events. Less successful are brief scenes depicting sword-wielding Arab men who spout sexist remarks, seemingly reinforcing negative stereotypes. Still, the smoothly written narrative makes this a suitable choice for larger libraries serving fans of fantasy and mythology.—