Reading Response #5 - "The Mark of Athena"

   In this book "The Mark of Athena" seven demigods go out on a quest to save ancient Rome and basically their world and the mortal world. They have all been brought together by an ancient prophecy  that tells; seven demigods shall go forth and try to save Rome. But the trick is the Roman and Greek camps must unite and well they have never been able to do that. Romans and Greeks have never gotten along. Each person in the book has there own personal thoughts and ways they see the story. One girl in particular, Annabeth, is very troubled. She is a daughter of Athena and legend tells all children of Athena that have tried to find this sacred item have failed and usually go mad or die. When Annabeth finally starts to put the pieces together she discovers she is the key piece to fix the relationship between greeks and Romans. But what she must find is very difficult and is guarded by the thing Athena's children fear most. Will the demigods be able to make it to Rome and save ancient Rome and their world? Will Annabeth face the Mark of Athena?
   In this book Annabeth, one of the seven demigods on the quest, is sent on the journey to reclaim what the Romans stole from the Greeks long ago. Athena has been searching and sending her children to go find the missing item. When Annabeth first receives the quest from her mother, her mother is in her Roman form, Minerva, Athena hates this form and Romans. Annabeth calls Athena Minerva and Athena snaps "Don't call me that!" Annabeth tries to calm her down and says "It's me Annabeth your daughter." Athena responds and says "Yes, my children will avenge me. They must destroy those dishonorable copycat Romans. Follow the Mark of Athena, avenge me." At first Annabeth tries to throw away the coin or the Mark. She believes her mother should be wise like her Greek form is but Minerva is clouded by revenge and anger, she is not thinking straight. Annabeth is brought awful nightmares. But one line of the prophecy haunts Annabeth more than anything else, "Wisdoms daughter walks alone." This line is like a person putting you down or giving you doubt, people try to tell you to shake it off but you really can't, it nags you. This line sums up Annabeth's journey and the worst thing is if your on a journey and you must do it alone, your on your own.
    In the middle of the story Annabeth starts to put the pieces together. She discovers that if she finds this missing item she could make peace between Greeks and Romans and if Greeks and Romans are united they can save Rome from an evil goddess that threatens to kill both sides. But the more Annabeth thinks about the lines of the prophecy the more scared she gets. She must face her worst fear alone, no help at all. The oracle says to Annabeth  "Wisdom's daughter walks alone, The Mark of Athena burns through Rome." Which means as soon as Annabeth gets to rome she is basically all on her own, she has six other people with her and she can't get help for a single one of them, even her boyfriend Percy. That must be awful to have to face a challenge and get no help at all even by the people you love most. But Annabeth is determined she want the rival to end between the Greeks and the Romans. She wants to save Rome, even if she must go on a journey she doesn't want to go on and she doesn't get any help. People can feel so alone even when they are surrounded by so many people, this is because you know certain things you must do alone, there are just certain things only you can help yourself with.
     In the book "The Mark of Athena" seven demigods are sent on what seems like impossible quest. Meanwhile it seems other people have their very own quest on top of that. Annabeth has been chosen to follow the Mark of Athena. A quest she did not want , but her mother gave it to her in her enraged Roman form. Then on top of Annabeth's difficult , unwanted quest she must do it alone. No one can help her and she must face what all of Athena's children fear most. Imagine trying to face what you fear most but wait there's more, you have to do it alone. You can't ask anyone for help even the people you love most and even if you did ask for help they actually really couldn't help you, you are all on your own. This is what Annabeth is going through, she is sent on this side quest to do on her own. She can't back down she is now determined.