Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fun bonus Percy quest is also about big life transitions.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In THE CHALICE OF THE GODS: PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS, BOOK 6 Percy is in an alternative high school in New York City for his senior year to help him graduate on time. He and Annabeth Chase have plans to attend New Rome University in California and he doesn't want to get left behind. He only makes it through two classes before a Nereid guidance counselor puts a wrench in his plans. Didn't Percy know he needed three recommendation letters? Lucky for Percy -- or maybe not -- his dad Poseidon put his name on the Olympian Quest Board. "Percy Jackson Will Do Your Quests (in exchange for college recommendation letters)." It's not long before he gets his first request, and it's a doozy: Find the Chalice of the Gods before Zeus finds out it's missing and all Hades breaks loose. This sends Percy, Annabeth, and Grover to the curious realms of vengeful minor gods all over New York to get the job done.
Is It Any Good?
Fans of the Percy Jackson universe will be thrilled with this bonus quest that's all about preparing for new beginnings. Percy is psyching himself up for college in his senior year like many teens do, but with the extra challenge and danger of being a demigod attached. The Chalice of the Gods is full of symbolism surrounding what we all leave behind at the end of high school and our hopes about what's to come. Percy meets Hebe, the goddess of youth, and her opposite. He even gets a startling real-life reminder of what it was like to be eight years old because he makes Hebe mad. Readers of Book 5, The Last Olympian, know that Percy already turned down immortality. He's tempted with it once again and guess what? The mini-quests that make up the larger quest have a lighter feel in this add-on story -- for once the whole world isn't ending -- but they are exceedingly fun, especially when killer chickens are involved. The moments with Percy's family and Annabeth balance out the chicken chaos with some poignancy. We know why Percy is fighting for a somewhat normal transition to college and like always, we wish everyone's favorite demigod the very best.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the changes Percy faces in The Chalice of the Gods. How does the fear of not graduating help him see what he truly wants? What big life changes have you faced -- a new school, a big move, a new family member -- and what did you do to prepare?
How are some life changes like a quest? Percy shows his usual amount of courage and perseverance and even faces decisions that show his integrity. Do you find those qualities in yourself when you make big life changes?
Percy, Annabeth, and Grover use teamwork often in this story, but at the end it's Percy who's the one who needs the recommendation letters and he's the one to face the most danger. How would this story have been different if this was Annabeth's quest? Or Grover's?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Friendship , School ( High School ) , Animals ( Ocean Creatures )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Integrity , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Disney-Hyperion
- Publication date : September 26, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 288
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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