2024 NATIONAL MEDAL
for Museum and Library Service Finalist

Go The Distance: a Twisted Tale

Jen Calonita
Audience: 
Subject: 
Book Rating: 
4
Average: 4 (1 vote)

About This Book

What if Meg had to become a god?

After Hercules proves he's a true hero and regains his godship, all seems right in the world. That is, until Zeus tells Meg that she can't be with Hercules because she's, well, mortal. Luckily, Hera has a solution, offering Meg a chance to prove herself worthy of a spot on Mt. Olympus--as a god. All Meg has to do is complete a mysterious quest.

The mission? Oh, just to rescue her ex's current wife from the Underworld. The ex-boyfriend she saved by selling her soul to Hades. The ex-boyfriend who immediately moved on to someone else while she was stuck in the Underworld. Can Meg put her past behind her and use her quick-wit to defeat monsters and gods alike, including the nefarious Hades? Will she finally figure out her place and contribution to the world? Or will her fear of commitment have her running away from an eternity of godhood with Herc?

Reviews

Anonymous

4

Go The Distance: a Twisted Tale by Jen Calonita

Go The Distance: a Twisted Tale by Jen Calonita is a fractured fairytale, combining the Disney Movie "Hercules" and the Greek myth about Hercules. It was told from the perspective of Megara. Meg is a sassy character from the movie, portrayed as an independent woman. However, in mythology, Meg was Hercules’ wife, and known as a symbol of undeserved tragedy. In this story, after Hercules was granted his immortality again, he refused it so he could be with Meg. After unsuccessful reasoning with Zeus, Hera offers Meg a quest to prove she is worthy of standing at Hercules’ side. This book was a fractured fairytale/fantasy with beautiful characterization. It was an interesting way to combine classic Greek myths with modern ideas. It also included complete characters, with realistic flaws. They made mistakes and were forced to deal with the consequences. I loved how Meg’s internal monolog displayed things that Hercules’s perspective never did. It dived deeper into her childhood and how she learned to cope with it. Meg works through her past relationships while trying to pave the way for new ones. Trust and the importance of vulnerability are common themes in this book. This book was a pretty fast and easy read, with a font that’s on the bigger side and large margins. It’d probably work for ages 9+. If you liked any books by Rick Riordan, then you'll love this book. It also makes a great sequel/alternate ending to the Disney movie, but you don't have to watch it to understand this book.

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