The Trials of Apollo by Rick Riordan

I found this book on my local Target shelf and almost lost my mind. The same reaction that my husbands middle school students had when he mentioned that a new Riordan book was out. Somehow this gem escaped the notice of many fans. A fact that Hyperion books should definitely be called out on the carpet for.

Riordan returns to a fast pace of action and teen confusion in this story with a twist. Focused this time on the gods perspective, readers get an insight into Apollo as he is turned into a mortal teenage boy...with acne. Riordan lets us into the thoughts and feelings of the Gods.

Riordan does an excellent job letting us see the pain of the Gods, why they would act arrogantly, and how time can feel differently when 70 years ago feels like only a year or two. He also gets us, and Apollo, thinking about how being a mortal can effect our ability to accomplish tasks with traits such as courage, perseverance, and hope.