Muse Squad: The Cassandra Curse
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- $3.99
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- $3.99
Publisher Description
The first in an action-packed debut middle grade fantasy duology about a Cuban American girl who discovers that she’s one of the nine Muses of Greek mythology. Perfect for fans of The Serpent’s Secret, the Aru Shah series, and the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.
Callie Martinez-Silva didn’t mean to turn her best friend into a pop star. But when a simple pep talk leads to miraculous results, Callie learns she’s the newest muse of epic poetry, one of the nine Muses of Greek mythology tasked with protecting humanity’s fate in secret.
Whisked away to Muse Headquarters, she joins three recruits her age, who call themselves the Muse Squad. Together, the junior muses are tasked with using their magic to inspire and empower—not an easy feat when you’re eleven and still figuring out the goddess within.
When their first assignment turns out to be Callie’s exceptionally nerdy classmate, Maya Rivero, the squad comes to Miami to stay with Callie and her Cuban family. There, they discover that Maya doesn’t just need inspiration, she needs saving from vicious Sirens out to unleash a curse that will corrupt her destiny.
As chaos erupts, will the Muse Squad be able to master their newfound powers in time to thwart the Cassandra Curse . . . or will it undo them all?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Life takes an unexpected turn for 11-year-old Miami native Calliope "Callie" Martinez-Silva after a deadly train ride sets in motion a series of strange events: the appearance of a cryptic, time-stopping woman; Callie's shy best friend, Raquel Falc n, auditioning for America's Next Star; and Callie discovering a portal under her bed that transports her to London. It's all because Callie is the newest muse of epic poetry one of the nine from Greek mythology after the death of the previous one, her tia Annie. At Muse Headquarters, the Victoria and Albert Museum, she meets three junior muses: British Thalia (comedy), Chicago-born Nia (science), and New Delhi resident Mela (tragedy). Their first assignment as a group is to protect one of the "heroes and artists, scientists and makers" whom the muses inspire from evil sirens determined to sabotage them and doom humankind. Despite occasionally slow pacing, Acevedo successfully deploys a mixture of imagination and sincerity in this magical duology opener with a message of art's importance and awakening the hero within. The book does best in weaving global themes of inclusivity "inspiration knows no borders" as well as exploring family and friendship with heart. Ages 8 12.
