A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
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Educational Value
a little
Plenty of Greek immortals, now living in New York City, get cameos. Most notable newbies to the series are Hebe, goddess of youth; Ganymede, cup bearer to Zeus; and Geras, god of old age. A number of places in and around New York are described including the Saw Mill River in Yonkers where there is a real "Daylighting" project underway to uncover it.
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Positive Messages
a lot
Embrace getting older and moving onto new stages of life -- being forever young or immortal is a chore. A reminder of the joys of family dinners, smoothies with friends, and other daily rituals, especially when a big life change is imminent.
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Positive Role Models
a lot
Percy may not be the most focused study partner, but he is determined to graduate and does whatever it takes for his recommendation letters, even putting himself in grave danger. He shows courage and perseverance as the tasks before him get harder. It takes integrity and good communication to face his toughest opponent, the god of old age, and Percy wins his respect.
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Diverse Representations
a little
Percy and all the demigods have ADHD and its advantages and disadvantages are discussed often. Percy has a stepdad and Annabeth lives on her own at 17 as she attends school. Main characters, as described in previous books, are White.
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Violence & Scariness
a little
The demigods face threats to their lives, but most have a silly fantasy bent. Killer chickens and poisonous horned serpents give chase. An angry god threatens death in a wrestling match. Another angry god tries to drown Percy in a whirlpool and Percy hits his head on a rock.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
very little
Mild kissing. The usual talk in this series about gods siring children with mortals. Talk about how handsome Zeus finds Ganymede, his male cup bearer.
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Products & Purchases
a little
Repeated mentions of Jolly Ranchers candy and an indirect mention of Skittles with a chapter entitled, "I Taste the Rainbow and It's Pretty Nasty." Arcade games named including Dance Dance Revolution.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Chalice of the Gods is technically the sixth book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, but chronologically the Heroes of Olympus series takes place between Book 5 (of Percy Jackson and the Olympians) and this book, and The Trials of Apollo series comes right after this book. To keep up with the general story, you really only have to read The Lightning Thief, but the more Percy you read, the more references to other adventures and characters you'll understand, and there are many. As usual, the demigods face threats to their lives, but most have a silly fantasy bent. Killer chickens and poisonous horned serpents give chase. An angry god threatens death in a wrestling match and another angry god tries to drown Percy in a whirlpool. Messages will feel profound to kids embarking on big life changes like Percy, who is a senior and contemplating moving away for college. He embraces getting older and reminds us of the joys of family dinners, smoothies with friends, and other daily rituals.
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.
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?
