The Trials of Apollo: The Dark Prophecy
#2 of 5 in The Trials of Apollo Series
on Goodreads (130,673)
What’s inside...
The second book in The Trials of Apollo series where Apollo, the Greek god of the sun, is cast down from Olympus. After being turned into a human, he must learn to survive in the modern world until he can somehow find a way to regain Zeus's favor. Apollo, an awesome god turned awkward mortal, journeys across North America with some demigod friends on his quest to regain Zeus's favor in Book Two of Rick Riordan's uproarious Trials of Apollo series. Zeus has punished his son Apollo--god of the sun, music, archery, poetry, and more--by casting him down to earth in the form of a gawky, acne-covered sixteen-year-old mortal named Lester. The only way Apollo can reclaim his rightful place on Mount Olympus is by restoring several Oracles that have gone dark. What is affecting the Oracles, and how can Apollo/Lester do anything about them without his powers? After experiencing a series of dangerous--and frankly, humiliating--trials at Camp Half-Blood, Lester must now leave the relative safety of the demigod training ground and embark on a hair-raising journey across North America. Fortunately, what he lacks in godly graces he's gaining in new friendships--with heroes who will be very familiar to fans of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Heroes of Olympus series. Come along for what promises to be a harrowing, hilarious, and haiku-filled ride.
Character compass
Apollo/Lester Papadopoulos
Meg Mccaffrey
Leo Valdez
Calypso
Josephine
Emmie
Lityerses
Commodus
Percy Jackson
Apollo
Meg Mcaffrey
Discussion points
What do you think motivates Apollo throughout his journey in 'The Dark Prophecy'?
How do the friendships in the book impact the decisions Apollo makes? Can you relate to that?
What challenges does Apollo face and how does overcoming them change him?
If you were in Apollo’s shoes, how would you handle the situations he faced?
What lesson did you learn from Apollo's adventures that you can apply in your own life?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to think about the qualities of Apollo as a character, discussing both his strengths and weaknesses.
Highlight key moments in the story where Apollo has to make important decisions and discuss what your child would do in a similar situation.
Use examples from the book to talk about the importance of resilience and how characters adapt to new challenges.
Discuss the theme of friendship and teamwork, asking your child to share personal experiences that relate to these themes.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Resilience in the face of adversity
Explanation: Throughout 'The Dark Prophecy', Apollo faces numerous challenges but continues to strive towards his goal, demonstrating immense resilience.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the importance of perseverance and continue to work towards their goals despite difficulties, enhancing their problem-solving skills and emotional strength.
Example Lesson: Importance of teamwork
Explanation: Apollo relies on his friends for support and assistance. This collaboration is a key factor in overcoming the obstacles they encounter.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the value of cooperating with others, sharing responsibilities, and leveraging individual strengths to achieve a common goal.
Example Lesson: Learning from mistakes
Explanation: Apollo, once an infallible god, now in a human form, makes mistakes and learns from them, which aids in his growth and character development.
Real-World Application: Children learn that making mistakes is a natural part of learning and personal growth. It encourages them to embrace challenges as opportunities to learn.
Example Lesson: Empathy and understanding
Explanation: Apollo’s human experiences help him develop a greater sense of empathy and understanding towards others, traits he lacked as a god.
Real-World Application: This highlights the importance of empathy, teaching children to understand and share the feelings of others, nurturing their emotional intelligence.
Example Lesson: Courage to face truth
Explanation: Apollo confronts uncomfortable truths about his past actions as a god and takes responsibility for them.
Real-World Application: This lesson teaches children the courage to face truth and accept responsibility, fostering honesty and integrity in their personal and social interactions.