Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Greek gods help Ohio kid dodge family curse in wild quest.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Descending from Mount Olympus to Athens, Ohio, in a cool RV, DR. ZEUS (slinging thunderbolts and sporting cool shades), accompanied by teenage Hermes in his flying gold Nikes, orders up a raft of Greek food and comes to the rescue of a family threatened by a dire, ancient prophecy. As 7th grade looms, 12-year-old Nick Andino (from 48 generations of Greeks) is dealing with a lot, most of it stemming from the death of his beloved dad a year earlier. His mom and grandfather are struggling to keep the family diner and owe thousands in back rent. The landlords are mean and their son is a bully. But, as Zeus now reveals, there's much worse: unless Nick can go back and fulfill an ancient prophecy, all 48 generations of his family will vanish, never having existed. Luckily, he can time travel. Luckily, Zeus and Hermes are there to help. Sorta.
Is It Any Good?
James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts spin a wild tale of Greek gods in Athens, Ohio, coming to the aid of a bereaved family and making an unlikely hero of a homeschooled, bullied 12-year-old. As Dr. Zeus does his thing, there's a desperate quest to fulfill an ancient prophecy, involving time travel, a mayhem-wreaking cyclops, assorted squabbling gods and dirty tricks, with fast action, puzzle-solving, slapstick humor and snarky dialogue. Brandon Dorman's black-and-white illustrations, often full-page, bring the characters and action to life, and fans of Greek mythology will get a kick out familiar gods in the Midwest.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about stories like Dr. Zeus, where characters from mythology turn up in our modern-day world. Why do you think this is such a popular theme? What would you do if one of them suddenly turned up in your life?
Have you ever had to deal with a bully? What did they do, how did you feel, and what did you do about it?
After a year of homeschool, Nick isn't sure about going back to the classroom. Do you think you would prefer homeschool or regular school? What would be great, and what might not, whichever you pick?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Adventures , Fantasy ( Magic , Monsters ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Empathy , Humility , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : jimmy patterson
- Publication date : January 26, 2026
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 352
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : February 19, 2026
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