Pandora Gets Lazy

Mythic Misadventures #3

by Carolyn Hennesy

Pandora is completely distraught after Hera kidnapped her beloved dog Dido, and can barely think about getting to the Atlas Mountains to capture the next evil, Laziness. But with the fate of the world still in her hands, Pandy can't afford to get lazy herself. Full of humor, sharp dialog and cinematic storytelling, Pandora Gets Lazy is another fun adventure in the Pandora series.

Genres: Fantasy, Mythology, Middle Grade, Childrens, Adventure, Young Adult, Greek Mythology

280 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Carolyn Hennesy, a Los Angeles native, has been in over 100 theatrical productions spanning the LA., regional and international theatre scenes. Having trained at American Conservatory Theatre and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London as well as earning a dramatic scholarship to the California State University at Northridge, she has played such distinguished houses as the Mark Taper Forum, Arizona Theatre Company, Odyssey Theatre, Lobero Theatre and Geary Stage. She also studied with the Groundlings in the early ‘90s and became a member of the Sunday Company. From there she moved to the main company at the ACME Comedy Theatre where she performed for 5 years to critical acclaim. Carolyn is the 2000 recipient of the prestigious Natalie Schafer Award for Outstanding Comedic Actress given by the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle and has been featured as an “Actor’s Actor” in the industry publication Backstage-West. She recently won the Ovation Award for her work in “The Fan Maroo” (Theatre of NOTE) and was an NAACP Award nominee for her ensemble work in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” (Sacred Fools).

Notable theatre credits include: the long running and critically acclaimed “It’s Just Sex” (Zephyr Theatre), “Equinox” (Odyssey Theatre), “Two Rooms” (Santa Barbara Theatre Company), “View of the Dome” (Egyptian Arena Stage), “Tongue of a Bird” and “Nothing Sacred” (Mark Taper Forum), “The Heidi Chronicles” (Arizona Theatre Company), “Dangerous Liaisons,” “Julius Caesar,” and “The Lion In Winter” (Knightsbridge), and her one-woman show “Carolyn Hennesy’s Big Leap” (HBO Workspace). Films include “Terminator 3,” “Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde,” “The Cougar Club,” “Sublime,” “the Believers” and “Click”.

Television work includes many regular, guest star and recurring roles in everything from episodics to sit-coms, but she can now regularly be seen on ABC’s daytime drama “General Hospital” in the role of “Diane Miller,” Port Charles’ smart and sassy mob lawyer. In addition to a full-time acting career, Carolyn is also an author, proud shop-a-holic, unabashed foodie, teaches improvisational comedy, speaks American Sign Language (fairly well!) and studies the flying trapeze.

But more important than any of this: she is the fabulously happy new wife of actor Donald Agnelli.

Reviews

[Emma (of South Woobeewoo) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, I wasn’t planning on reviewing all of these, but I have something to say: this book is really gross. Oh my god guys it’s so gross. The location of Laziness is so freaking nasty. The descriptions of it. The idea of a parasite with teeth disguised as a nose hair makes me want to throw up. As I started this, I was wondering why I couldn’t remember nearly as much as the first two; it turns out child-Emma was actually really smart and put up a mental block that I now regret tearing down :) I will be thinking about this for weeks. Something about this icks me out more than extreme horror. Never reading this again.

The story becomes darker and the writing and tone matures with it. This one also finds a good balance of the anachronistic jokes/children’s series lightheartedness with the actual emotional aspects of the plot. I would probably give it a 4. BUT THEN I REMEMBER THE NOSE HAIR.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed by JodiG. for TeensReadToo.com

Pandora Atheneus Andromaeche Helena, "Pandy" to her friends and family, has already saved the world from Vanity and Jealousy. The fact that she let them loose on the world in the first place is really just a tiny detail.

Pandy is the only daughter of the Titan, Prometheus, and she is in trouble with Zeus. Due to an unfortunate incident at school, all the evils of the world have been released from a box that was entrusted to her father. Zeus has ordered that Pandora find each of them in order to save the world, and her family. Pandy, along with her friends Alcie, Iole, and Homer, are now headed to the Atlas Mountains to capture Laziness.

The goddess Hera, wife of Zeus, is still determined that Pandora will fail on her quest. This time Hera has taken Pandy's dog, Dido. But, while the other gods are sympathetic to Pandy, nobody would dare to interfere with Zeus or Hera. Not right out in the open anyway.

Early on this journey, Pandy becomes separated from her friends. She befriends two young boys on her way and finds herself captured and chained to them. Unknown captors are leading Pandy to an unknown destination, and she is surrounded by danger every step of the way.

While Pandy is being led through the dark and dangerous path to the mountain Jbel Toubkal, Alcie, Iole, and Homer find themselves aboard the ship Syracusa with problems of their own. They are on the ship with one of the evils and now they must capture Misery on their own.

And, high in the Atlas Mountains, Pandy will come face to face with her uncle, Atlas. It is the fate of Atlas to hold up the heavens but something has changed and human men are being forced to carry his load. Once again, it is up to Pandy to save her friends, her family, and every human on earth while finding the evils of the world. All while her time is quickly running out.

The MYTHIC MISS-ADVENTURE series are books about ancient places and characters with a very humorous and modern touch. The first two books in the series, PANDORA GETS JEALOUS and PANDORA GETS VAIN, offer an introduction and further adventures of Pandy and her friends, but each book can be enjoyed just as much on its own.

PANDORA GETS LAZY is as funny and adventurous as the previous books and Pandora and her friends are even more endearing with each book.

[Megan (sporadic hiatus due to law school) · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite one so far. It was very clever in plotline and how things became… what they were. I never could have guessed!

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another terrific book in the series. The girls are maturing, and so is the story. Pandy had a lot of weight on her shoulders (punny, but I can't tell you why) and is stepping up bravely. She gets separated from the other kids, and her beloved dog Dido, but manages to go on with her quest through some very difficult circumstances. The other kids manage to find adventures on their own before they are all reunited to tackle capturing Lazy. This was a smart, fun adventure for late juvenile and early YA readers, light enough not to be too scary for sensitive kids but with just enough meat to be interesting and thoughtful.

[Karen Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

*takes a deep breath*
*screams from the rooftops*
THIS SERIES SHAPED MY ENTIRE CHILDHOOD WITH ITS GIRL POWER MYTHOLOGY-ESQUE THEMES AND IT IS SO UNDERRATED IT IS A CRIME
Why did I not rate it 5 stars? Because the next novel in sequence (Pandora Gets Heart) is going to claim that spot. I'm sorry. I don't make the rules.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book better than the second one. It starts off right where #2 left off. Where as Pandora Gets Vain started kind of slow.

I also like how the author, Carolyn Hennesy, alternates back and forth to what is happening with Pandora's friends and other stuff.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I kind of forgot about the dog, even though I remember a lot of stuff about this book. Pandy and her friends have to go to the Atlas Mountains, where Pandora’s uncle Atlas has to hold up the sky. The thing is, Laziness has taken ahold of Atlas, so the sky is falling. I love the mountainous geography of Jbel Toubkal (which is still called Jbel Toubkal even though this book is probably set before Arabs named the mountain). It is pretty scary how people are being squished to carry the sky, even if I am tired about hearing of African people in trouble by now. This book was predictable, but still good.

[Sandy Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exhausting.

Considering this book is about laziness, I'm worn out and sore just reading it! Ms. Hennessey did a wonderful job describing what our fearless adventurers are going through and even the "misery" they face while tracking down this particular evil. Now I find myself lusting after the next book. 😉

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the growth of the characters! This book was the most entertaining to me plot-wise and felt like it had good stakes.

I’m picky about main characters and I’d say that Pandey is fairly tolerable and easy to root for. Definitely a fun romp and especially for its target audience of middle grade readers.

Also, is it just me or is Hermes kinda hot in this...

[Hailey Wang · Rating 5 out of 5]

13-year-old Pandora sets off to find laziness. On her way, she gets separated, so she travels to find Laziness while Iole and Alcie with a tiny help from Homer find Misery. They catch Misery and put it in a small box. Later they meet up again and together, they find laziness.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

glad I get to read more of this series

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s amazing to see just how much Pandora and her friends matured in this book! They’ve all changed so much from when we first met them, it really makes me smile.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Mythic Misadventures series by Carolyn Hennesy, featuring an adolescent named Pandy and her friends and family.

In this third story of the saga, Pandy ventures to meet her uncle Atlas, but also discovers a sense of responsibility and a fondness for caring for younger children who need her help. The story is quite dramatic and even violent, but ends well.

The narrative is filled with tween dialogue that I'm sure many girls of this age will empathize with, but actually makes me cringe. Still, our girls are fascinated by the series and have read all of the books in quick succession.

I appreciate the mythological references and like the fact that Pandora must go on an adventure, not unlike the male Greek heroes. I also like that she has the support of her friends along the way (and occasionally the Gods and even her dad).

I started reading the paperback version (ISBN13 9781599904818) of this book, but it was coming due at our local library, so I finished the story by reading this ebook version on my iPad.

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

If this were Wordmasters, Pandora Gets Lazy would be to a glass of lemonade, as a classic is to a glass of water (not that classics are bland or anything). It was relaxing, sweet, spunky, humorous, and light. In a way, you can compare this series to Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series. It's sarcastic, and uses modern teenage slang, which gives the plotline a very relaxed mood, despite the action that goes on within the pages of the book. Some of the things that go on are absolutely ridiculous, which makes the story less predictable than most. And all the light-hearted interactions with the gods are amusing. The only complaint I have is that at times, the story gets a bit too childish. Hera acts like a stuck up child, and Atlas was subdued much too easily. But that’s to be expected from a children’s/preteen’s book. Read the first two if you haven’t already. I actually quite enjoyed them.

[Brandy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a difficult story to follow without the context of the previous books. The first mention of Laziness--the evil Pandora is tracking down--happens two-thirds of the way through the book, and there are no references in this story to how Pandy and her friends know where they're heading. (Readers can infer that this information was included at the end of the previous book, as the final chapter of this book shows them looking at a map that tells them where to find the next evil.) There are occasional references to previous events, but recaps are non-existent, leaving new readers mystified by the characters' teasing in-jokes and concerns, and abilities. Fans of mythological-adventure stories may pick this series up, but would be better served by Riordan's Percy Jackson series or Ursu's Chronus Chronicles.

[Ana Perkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book might be the first time they really went dark in this series which is not saying much sense it is only book three but I love it either way. The characters are not only well developed but the side characters are even better I think. Atlas is adorable and the brothers are good representation of younger children. I think this book is very eerie compared to the other two by a long shot just by how sad and dark it gets throughout the book but it has niece humour I think that can keep it at a low profile unless you really start digging deeper in the text. Is this the book for you I can not tell you but I can give my opinion and suggest you read it yourself so you can make your own.

[Jaeda Coleman]

As Pandora tried searching for the seven evils, she discovers a trait about herself. Laziness! She finds herself away from all her friends and family because she never wants to do anything. She has to find it within herself to do what she has to do. This is a great book to read to children. It teaches them to do what is needed to be done at an early age. It prevents them from being lazy and thinking it is okay. I would recommend this book to others whom have children who is just starting to become active only because it shows them and teaches them exactly what they need to do.

[Dayna Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third book in the Pandora series. Pandy and her friends become separated as they begin their search for laziness. Pandy must travel to the mountain where her Uncle Atlas lives alone and hope that by herself she can return laziness to the box. Will she ever find her friends or is she doomed to continue the quest on her own? If you are enjoying this series you will like this installment as well. A cute way to get girls interested in Greek mythology.

[Mishal Syed · Rating 4 out of 5]

* read this as a child, just reread *

- This installment of the series is a little weaker than the first two books, and it combines utter silliness with extremely dark topics like slavery and human trafficking. There's a little less action and a lot more waiting around in this story, which is annoying, and I didn't enjoy the period in which the girls were separated from each other. But this was still fun and I'm remembering why I loved this series so much lol

[Diane ~Firefly~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm enjoying this series. Pandy and her friends are pretty cool and the people they meet on the quest are interesting. This books has Pandy separated from her friends for a majority of it, but she makes some new friends before they become slaves. She also gets to meet her uncle, Atlas this time around. Good, fun YA series for the younger audience.

[Terri Pray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third in the series of Pandora stories. Very much aimed at tween and early teen girls, but a fast, fun read. Pandora, by this point, has matured a little bit, thinking before she acts some of the time, which is why I do think this series has potential for tween/early teen girls.

It's one I'll be recommending to my now 12 year old daughter, as I believe she'll enjoy them.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mythic Misadventures, book three.

Pandy and her friends set out to visit her Uncle Atlas, where they intend to capture Laziness. Unfortunately, Pandy finds herself alone, while her friends find trouble of their own. Will the friends succeed in reuniting and recapture Laziness before the heavens collapse?

[Amber Daphne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book the author Carolyn Hennesy is such a great story
writer she goes from working on daytime show general hospital into an
author I love it so much i got it at the library the book i will read
more and more

[Clarissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one got pretty dark--for a juvenile read. But it was pretty gripping, as well. Pandy truly evolves in this series... realistically and in a manner you would hope for your own daughter. I'm really glad to be reading this with Harley.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book keeps readers on their toes it has things no one would expect and it has things that people have been dying to see happen. If people are not sure they want to continue this series my answer to them would be DEFINITELY finish the series!

[Katie R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay-- I know I'm about seven years older than the recommended age, but I'm getting a hoot out of these.

Why are people getting upset about the mythology? It's mythology ~~~ It can get interpreted anyway the author wants to??

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit that while I only started this series because I feel like I need to read every book I own, it's growing on me. The characters are becoming more mature and taking on deadlier and more serious escapades with every book.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

need to get my hands on this book

[Mollie!]

I met the author in April. She was in Leagally Blonde 2: Red, White, and Blonde- THE best movie ever!

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

When i read this book, I couldn't stop. Deadly soldiers, a haunting black wall, and Pandy's lazy Uncle Atlas can't stop these three girls (and Homer).