I really enjoyed this book. Riordan peppered a great plot with fantastic psychosocial commentary about youth homelessness and technology in culture. Very well done. I love watching how the gods of ancient cultures are modernized in his work and, while Percy Jackson's books remain my favorites by Riordan, this book was fantastic and I cannot wait until the next one.

Edit to add: Having just finished the book for the second time, this time 2 years after my mother died unexpectedly and suddenly, I have to say Riordan writes grief really well.

Wow. Ellen Hopkins has done it again. It's been a minute since I have plowed through a book in a weekend, and I so miss being 12 and, like Cal, reading 3 books a week. This book is amazing. The emotions are real - the exploration of grief and loss, of belonging and family dynamics, of trauma and healing and hope is all so well done. A must for anyone working with traumatized youth who want to step into their skin for a bit, see the world through their eyes - and a must for other kids who may encounter those traumatized youth. Ellen ended her author's note, in part, with "I hope this book will plant seeds of empathy for kids with behavioral problems they can't always control. [....] They want to fit in, even when it's difficult for them to tamp down their emotions. They deserve a deeper look and another chance. And another. And another." That is the heart and soul of this book. Even though it only took me about three hours to plow through, I'll surely be thinking about it for a while, and I felt the full gamut of emotions as I devoured it.

I adore the plot, but I love the social commentary even more. I love how topical the books are, and yet how they dive into the quintessential aspects of adolescence.

This is a really good resource for parents with kids in early recovery. I was hoping for a little more literature on helping parents with minors who are still in active addiction, but for what it is, the book is good. It is gentle, while also reinforcing that parents can reclaim their lives and step out of their child's addictive behaviors while still being an active parent. Some things seem "easier said than done," but, especially if you are working with a professional while working through the steps, they seem doable for parents.

Lovely ending to a fantastic story-arc. I have loved every second of my journey with Riordan, from 12-year-old Percy in Lightning Thief all the way through to the epic conclusion that I never could have imagined. The lessons on love, on humanity, on boundaries, and on our own limits in changing others are many and they are well-done. The social worker in me LOVED seeing the arc of Meg and her progress with her stepfather.