Dusssie

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 and funny. The plot has its own twists and challenges for the heroine. Dussie's coming of age is unique and touching. She even grows to appreciate her mother!! It also takes place in New York City. I enjoyed this book and will recommend it to my female 6th grade students. Older girls might not be into the story. Boys would like it if it weren't for the whole period thing on the first page. I wouldn't even try to convince them. I laughed out loud in some parts.

Dusie Gorgan, the star of DUSSSIE, never expected puberty to be like this! Maturity brings about startling changes: snakes for hair, for one thing! Nancy Springer deftly weaves substantial mythology into this present day story of Medusa "Dusie" Gorgan, whose absent father is a mortal and whose mother is a goddess. This stand-alone book would be a great stepping stone into Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians series or a companion volume for those who enjoyed THE LIGHTNING THIEF. A strong heroine, plenty of humor and a creative (and non-deadly) ending make this great for 'tweens.

While reading this book, I found it simple and fairly straight-forward. A new twist on a story written at least a million times before. But in getting to the end, I really fell in love with this book. The resolution was perfect. I would definitely recommend this to a friend.

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 didn't her mom warn her? She's so angry with her mother, yet desperately needs her. She turns that anger on Troy, the boy with eyes of tarnished silver who is simply flirting by trying to touch her hair. Her snakes strike out to protect her with disastrous results. They turn him to stone! Dusie confides in an old man named Cy, who offers to help. He creates a potion that will kill her snakes without harming Dusie. But does Dusie still want to get rid of them? Can she ever find true love with a head full of snakes? Does she need them to help her undo the damage they've caused? Dusie gets to know each of her snakes, and, in the process, learns more about herself. DUSSIE by Nancy Springer is a creative novel which plays with the coming of womanhood in a delightfully unexpected way. If Dusie can find her way through the mysterious changes of puberty, surely a mere mortal reader can. This was a fast, pleasurable read, one I recommend to all young ladies coming of age. If your head gets that crawly feeling, it just might be snakes! Reviewed by: Cana Rensberger