SPKennedydeLacy-+The+Goddess+Test

//** The Goddess Test **// //** by Aimee Carter **//



BECOME IMMORTAL OR DIE TRYING

Aimee Carter, author

Fun Information!

The Goddess Test was Carter's first novel for young adults.

Here is an interview with YA Book Reviews and Carter (AC) about the mythology aspect of the book: http://www.goddesstesttrilogy.com/  YABR: "In The Goddess Test series, it relies heavily on mythology, is this something that you have always been interested in? How did you come up with this concept?"

 AC: "I've loved mythology from an early age, and the reason I chose to focus on the myth of Hades and Persephone was the character of Hades in the myths. He's such a neutral character, except for this one terrible incident where he kidnaps her. I wanted to explore what made him do that - I wanted to know more, and much of the plot of The Goddess Test stemmed from that."

Characters // Kate- // cautious. dedicated. miserable. loner. // Kate's Mom- // ill. dying. caring. wants best for daughter. // Henry- // dark. tortured. mesmerizing. sweet. caring. genuine. sincere. // Ava- // bubbly. flirtatious. blond. fun. nonstop talker. // James -// bold. direct. true friend. // The Council- // Kate's future.

Book Review and Summary **A welcome new voice in YA literature.**,May 5, 2011 By Lori Katz "Librarylady"

In order to give her dying mother more time and one last chance to say goodbye to her, Kate agrees to spend six months with Henry. She also agrees to take a test that will determine if she is worthy of becoming immortal, marrying Henry and ruling the Underworld along side him for eternity. In this version of a Greek myth, Henry is Hades, once married to Persephone. For nearly a century Henry has been trying to replace Persephone and every possible girl has been mysteriously murdered. Agreeing to the deal for purely selfish reasons at first, Kate slowly falls in love with Henry.
 * This review is from: The Goddess Test (Harlequin Teen) (Paperback)**

Kate is a loving daughter having spent four years taking care of her dying mother. While she doesn't have many friends she is loyal to those she has. She is a very likable girl. Henry is god what else can I say! Ava is easy to dislike and James is someone I'd like to get to know better.

Aimee Carter has written a book very different from other mythology retellings. She is a new voice in YA literature, and a very welcome one. Having read this book a while ago but not blogging right away I've recently reread it and enjoyed it as much as the first time. The second time around I understood the beginning much more clearly. I look forward to the next installment and hope to get to know James a little more and wonder if a love triangle is being created. Recommended for fans of mythology, romance, and contemporary fiction. Read as an ebook arc courtesy of Harlequin Teen via Netgalley.

4 out of 5 stars (219 customer reviews)
 * Average Customer Review

Persephone and Hades Myth I have provided a link to click on if you are unfamiliar with the strange love story of these two. [|Persephone and Hades]



Lesson Plan Ideas: 1. Bulletin board- in small groups students will create bulletin boards about the different events through out the book. For example, the first may show Kate and her dying mother moving to Eden and Kate's first few days of school and who she meets. Another board could be Ava's prank on Kate. These displays can be however the students wish, but students are required to have something that is able to be flipped up to reveal a short paragraph about that person/event along with the significance. After each group has created their piece they will do presentations to the class and then hang up their board. This is meant to be a very colorful and dramatic presentation.

2. Students are assigned to read the book The Goddess Test. After they have finished they will be given the challenge of going back through the story and finding proof of why each God/Goddess on the council played the character they did. For example, Henry is Hades because he rules the underworld.

3. Students are broken up into seven pairs or seven small groups. After reading the book we find out that Kate's seven tests are the Seven Deadly Sins. In the small groups or pairs the students are to come up with a test that they would conduct and judge for the sin assigned to them. For example, for the sin of gluttony how would the group test Kate? The groups are to make any kind of visual presentation for the class that they want (a power point, a poster, a game etc). Students will share these presentations with the class.

4. Journal writing is a great way for students to express themselves. An idea related to this book is have students write about their fears, for example Kate's biggest fears were loosing her mother and swimming/water. The students could brainstorm ideas and goals of ways to accomplish their fears and write them down. If this is too personal or challenging for the class, another idea is responding to prompt questions about the book that the teacher creates. Some examples could be: What challenges did Kate face and why? How did she overcome her fears? Did reading this story change your ideas about the Hades and Persephone myth, why or why not? How did knowing about mythology help you relate to the story?

5. For a hands on tactile lesson, students could construct a design, using sugar cubes or another item they choose, of what the students think Eden Manor looks like. Students can include people there, the surroundings, and a general layout of what it looks like using descriptions from the story. This is meant to be a creative, fun and educational project helping students use the text for as reference.

**Valuable in the Classroom: (great idea from Andi Matecki's page)**

Can be relatable to students in the classroom: *balancing stressful home life with school and having a "personal" life *balancing priorities and responsibility *feeling like you have no control over your life *dealing with bullies and cliques *making friends in a new environment *internal conflict and external conflict *crushes and first loves *personal growth

* making difficult choices and dealing with the consequences * having courage and confidence in yourself when things are out of your hands * death as a part of life

Monomyth // Call to Adventure- // Ava's encouragement to make friends - Kate's mom's life could be saved // Threshold Crossing- // Entering Eden Manor //Belly of the Whale-// Being in Eden Manor and accepting nothing will ever be the same //Road of Trials-// Kate's constant supervision - The 7 tests Kate will face without her knowing //Meeting with the God-// Getting close to Henry // Temptress- // Spiked drinks causing lust between Henry and Kate // Ultimate Boon- // Seeing her mother every night alive and well in dreams //Refusal of the Return-// Kate does not want to leave Eden; which would mean letting her mother die and not seeing Henry // Crossing the Return Threshold- // Kate must face the council, and pass in order to ever return and remember her time in Eden Manor //Master of the Two Worlds-// Kate is now free to move back and forth between the real world and Eden Manor