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147th out of 198 books
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58 voters
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Dusssie
Dusie always knew puberty was going to be confusing, but she never realized it was going to be catastrophic--until she wakes up one morning to find that her hair has turned into a writhing mass of slithering snakes and discovers the real truth about her family: her mother is a Gorgon--right out of Greek mythology--and she was named after her mother's younger siste...more
Hardcover, 176 pages
Published
October 2nd 2007
by Walker Books for Young Readers
(first published 2007)
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This is a fun, fluffy book that took me only slightly more than an hour to read. Light on substance, but a good distraction with a unique and clever premise.
Dusie, short for Medusa, has just discovered the hard way that her mother is one of the mythological gorgons and that she was named after her aunt, the Medusa who was killed by Perseus hundreds of years ago. She learned all of this by waking up one morning and finding that her head had sprouted 27 serpents overnight. Her mother ...more
Dusie, short for Medusa, has just discovered the hard way that her mother is one of the mythological gorgons and that she was named after her aunt, the Medusa who was killed by Perseus hundreds of years ago. She learned all of this by waking up one morning and finding that her head had sprouted 27 serpents overnight. Her mother ...more
In the vein of The Percy Jackson series. This book has a female protagonist, Dussie, who grows snakes on her head, in place of her hair. She is the half human niece of Medusa. The story opens with her getting her period, a turn off for any self respecting young male reader. Apparently,the becoming of a woman is what triggered the change into her half gorgon self. The story does have its own flair, though, if the reader can get beyond the Percy Jackson comparison. The characters are likable...more
I liked the idea of this book better than the execution of the idea. It might have been the "creep factor" which turned me off a bit. I literally could no read this with the dust jacket on the book. I am so snake phobic I avoid the reptile house at the zoo, much to the amusement of my children. But I digress...
Dusie is a pretty typical teenage girl and that voice shows through in the narratve. When she reaches puberty she realizes she is from a family of gorgons and is the...more
Dusie is a pretty typical teenage girl and that voice shows through in the narratve. When she reaches puberty she realizes she is from a family of gorgons and is the...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Despite a few instances of profanity which were totally unnecessary (and without which, I could've handed this book to my 12-year-old daughter...as it is, I can't), I really liked this book. I didn't think I would. The cover isn't very appealing, and also kind of scary to someone who doesn't love snakes. I didn't see how Dusie would ever deal with such a horrible event as waking up with snakes on her head!
But as time went on, her character really grew and changed and I loved how...more
But as time went on, her character really grew and changed and I loved how...more
I think the best part of this book was how Springer essentially tells a story about adolescence in girls - how uncomfortable, embarrassing, awkward, & ugly you feel - in this way, Dusie Gorgon is going through what every girl does, maybe just a little more so. Dusie discovers all is not as she thought when, shortly after her first period, she wakes up to find her hair has been replaced by snakes. Sure enough, her mother reveals that she was named after her deceased aunt, Medusa. Now Dusie realiz...more
The day after Dussie starts her period and becomes a woman, she wakes up with a head full of snakes. Her mother has never told her that her name is short for Medussa, as in the Gorgon in greek mythology with the head full of snakes. Dussie is horrified as is her mother who was hoping that since Dussie is half mortal, she wouldn't get the snakes. Things get even more interesting when Dussie accidentally turns a boy to stone when he makes her mad.
A great story for young girls about ...more
A great story for young girls about ...more
Reviewed by Cana Rensberger for TeensReadToo.com
Every young girl looks forward to the day she will "become a woman" with much excitement and some trepidation. But when thirteen year-old Dusie gets her period, she has more to fear than simply feeling fatter, or wondering if the boys will be able to tell. She has sprouted snakes on top of her head! Twenty-seven of them, to be exact.
Now she knows why her artsy mother has always worn a turban upon her head. Why did...more
Every young girl looks forward to the day she will "become a woman" with much excitement and some trepidation. But when thirteen year-old Dusie gets her period, she has more to fear than simply feeling fatter, or wondering if the boys will be able to tell. She has sprouted snakes on top of her head! Twenty-seven of them, to be exact.
Now she knows why her artsy mother has always worn a turban upon her head. Why did...more
One of those two stars is for the cover alone--because it's one of my favorite covers ever. I still love the cover, even though I really didn't love the book.
Once again, Greek myths come to life in New York City... This time it's Dusie, normal 13 yr old, waking up to find out that she's grown a headful of snakes. Her mom and aunts are Gorgons...
Dusie has to figure out how to live with a headful of unruly snakes, deal with the resentment she feels for her mother, unpetrify the ...more
Once again, Greek myths come to life in New York City... This time it's Dusie, normal 13 yr old, waking up to find out that she's grown a headful of snakes. Her mom and aunts are Gorgons...
Dusie has to figure out how to live with a headful of unruly snakes, deal with the resentment she feels for her mother, unpetrify the ...more
Marilyn
rated it
Recommends it for:
no one but appropriate for 7th - 8th grade
Shelves:
fantasy-sci-fi,
youngadultfiction
When I finished this heavy handed message novel I wanted to throw it across the room! The author tried too hard to be funny, without any humor whatsoever. I hated the way the snakes talked - way too many esses for this reader. It really wasn't worth even the little time it took to read. Watch Penelope instead and get the same message and slightly more humor (and also a more interesting love story).
Can you imagine waking up one day and snakes have replaced the hair on your head? Or heading to school and one look at your school crush turns him into stone? Being related to Medusa is a huge burden to carry! Fun story with lots of humor and suspense.
Savannah brought this book home from school. It was a short book and an easy read, but the message, that when you accept who you are, you become beautiful -- well that, was very well done and done in a very fun way.
This story was very cute, comical and entertaining. The relationship between Dusie and her snakes was intriguing and strange. Hearing internal voices in your head, or rather, snippets from the exterior part of your head, would be creepy and bothersome. Yet with Dusie, the snakes designed the structure of her well-rounded character. The internal beauty of Dusie out-shined the intimidating appearance in the eyes of her friends and family. An important ideal was threaded in the text: in order ...more
Recommended for middle through high school. Should appeal to kids who liked The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, girls more than boys. The protagonist is a 13-year-old girl who discovers that she is half-human, half-Gorgon (Dusie is short for Medusa) when she sprouts snakes instead of hair the day after she gets her first period. (Minor discussion of her period may turn off younger male readers, especially as it is mentioned in the second paragraph of the book.) Learning to cope with this un...more
Kind of obnoxious, and I didn't really like any of the characters -- except for maybe the snakes that bit Dussie. The story was okay.
13 year old learns the hard way she's half Gorgon when her hair turns to snakes overnight. Fun and well-written
I teach 7th grade reading to girls in a public school and am always looking for great books to add to my library. This book was given to me and I loved it! It is a very cute story about a young lady who wakes up the morning of her "change" with a head full of snakes. She soon finds out that her mother is a goddess and that she is half-goddess. Through the adventures of accidentally turning her crush into stone, meeting an unexpected friend, and trying to find a way to get rid of th...more
It was a great book on learn that you need to be happy with you
A young girl wakes up to the ultimate in bad hair days. Her hair has turned into snakes. That when she learns her mom is actually the sister of Medusa. Dusssie is then on a quest to get rid of the snakes. It won't be easy especially as she and the snakes share a telepathic link. She does have the help of a riddle to lose she has to win to win she has to loosen.
A good novel about growing up and learning not only how to accept yourself but, to also becoming more aware of other peo...more
A good novel about growing up and learning not only how to accept yourself but, to also becoming more aware of other peo...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Very repetitive throughout the story.
Keeps you wondering! Great twists.
It's good, just kinda corny
Cute young adult story.
Delightful!
Wow! I can't believe that I read that in a day! I loved it!
view all 3 comments
Poor Dusssie-
The onset of puberty is tough for every girl, but Dussie gets snakes on her head to go along with it. Since Dussie's full name is Medusa Gorgon, perhaps she should have expected it. It's bad enough that she can't go to school and hang out with her friends, but then the snakes start talking to her. No great depths are plunged here, but its original and creative, and has a nice message of forgiveness and self-acceptance that isn't too heavy handed.
The onset of puberty is tough for every girl, but Dussie gets snakes on her head to go along with it. Since Dussie's full name is Medusa Gorgon, perhaps she should have expected it. It's bad enough that she can't go to school and hang out with her friends, but then the snakes start talking to her. No great depths are plunged here, but its original and creative, and has a nice message of forgiveness and self-acceptance that isn't too heavy handed.
I might have called this book more of a middle grade book rather than a YA one, even though in deals with puberty. The writing is easy to get through, and I just really liked this story. The mythology elements are light, but present (and honestly, no matter what they said in the book, I would notice someone named Medusa Gorgon, and be a little suspicious) and the characters feel real.
Are gorgons the next vampires/werewolves/fairies?
No. Really, no.
Also, it is a sad state of affairs in education that anybody, ANYBODY could be surprised when Medusa Gorgon, daughter of Euryale Gorgon, a sculptor of life-like people statues, and niece of Stheno Gorgon, turns out to have a head full of snakes. Really, you did not see that coming? Any of you?
No. Really, no.
Also, it is a sad state of affairs in education that anybody, ANYBODY could be surprised when Medusa Gorgon, daughter of Euryale Gorgon, a sculptor of life-like people statues, and niece of Stheno Gorgon, turns out to have a head full of snakes. Really, you did not see that coming? Any of you?
slight but entertaining fable about accepting one's teenage self. which is especially hard when your mother is literally a gorgon and you turn the boy you like to stone.
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Nancy Springer has published forty novels for children, young adults, and adults, including fantasy, magical realism, mystery, contemporary, and women's fiction. Her work has received numerous awards, including two Edgar Allen Poe awards from the Mystery Writers of America. A longtime resident of Pennsylvania, Springer enjoys wildflowers, birdwatching, and fishing.
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