Go the Distance by Maci Middleton

Setting #1: Ancient Greek Villages

mm080 — 2024-02-06 14:18:03 UTC

The first quarter of the book and all of the flashbacks take place in a Greek village much like this one.

Setting #2: Koufonisia Island

mm080 — 2024-02-06 14:26:35 UTC

Meg's first task on her quest is to find Athena's flute which is on the island Koufonisia where she must fight a flying Empusa for the flute.

Rating

mm080 — 2024-02-06 14:29:03 UTC

I give this book 5 stars, because I really enjoyed it. This is the first time I have read a book by Jen Calonita, and I love her writing style. This book, even though, it is fictional taught a lot of good life lessons as well.

mm080 — 2024-02-12 13:54:50 UTC

This relates to the story, because throughout Meg's journey she is forced to keep looking back at her past and realize that she can overcome it. Meg's past experience with a flute was not very good, but in order for her to complete her quest she learned how to push past the pain and sorrow, so that her goal could be accomplished.

mm080 — 2024-02-13 00:35:15 UTC

This photo relates to the book, because Meg had to go through a lot of hardships and she had had her heart broken many times. Her father left her and her mother, her mom died, and her first love, Aegeus left her after a week of her leaving (at least that is what she thought).

Theme

mm080 — 2024-02-13 13:53:29 UTC

The author believes that when you are in a relationship with someone it is okay to ask for help. In Go the Distance, Megara learns that relationships are give-and-take. Aphrodite taught her that a relationship takes two people, so you do not have to rely on yourself. You do not need to worry about looking weak when you ask for help, because both people are asking for assistance.

Important Quote #1

mm080 — 2024-02-13 13:58:03 UTC

"When you find someone worthy of your love, letting them help you is also powerful. ...Love means it's okay to lean on one another." -Aphrodite (the Greek god of love), page 211

This quote is important to the story line, because it shows Meg that she does not have to always try to figure things out on her own. Near the end of the book, when everything looks hopeless, Meg remembers Aphrodite's words and she calls someone to help her.

Setting #3: Acheron (The river leading into the Underworld)

mm080 — 2024-02-13 14:09:03 UTC

Meg, Phil, and Pegasus float along this river to get to the Underworld. They face a lot of challenges: a waterfall, no wind for their sail, Meg deciding to be reckless, and a fight with giant Stymphalian birds.

Important Quote #2

mm080 — 2024-02-14 00:50:22 UTC

"You're a big, tough girl. You tie your own sandals and everything." -Thea (Meg's mom), page 45

This quote is very important to the story, because this is the last thing Thea told Meg before she died. Meg's whole life up to then had been Thea telling her, “you do not need and man” and “do not rely on anyone but yourself”. After her mom's death, Meg went through her whole life thinking she had to do everything by herself, until she met Aegeus. When Aegeus was on his death bed, Meg prayed to the gods to heal him, and the only one who responded was Hades. Meg sold her soul to the devil, literally, to save her boyfriends life. After months of time on Earth, Aegeus moved on to a sweet woman named Katerina. Hades tricked Meg that she had only been in the Underworld for a week and Aegeus was already in love with someone else. This moment was when Meg was certain that her mother's words were true. Until, she met Wonder Boy, Hercules.

Letter to the Author

mm080 — 2024-02-14 01:02:35 UTC

Dear Jen Calonita,

I would like to start off by saying, you are an amazing writer! This is an excellent book. I love the lesson that you are try to teach. This book kept me on the edge of my seat. I think this is definitely, and I am not just saying this, my favorite Disney Twisted-Tales book. I think Meg's backstory makes a lot of sense, and it is very creative. I will not be able to watch the movie the way I did before.

I think it was very clever to go back to Persephone from the beginning of the book. I kind of forgot that she existed, but then it made a lot more sense. I am going to be honest when Hades said, “Per”, after Meg first arrived in the Underworld, I had no idea who he was talking to. Lastly, I think that having Thea take care of Layla, at the end, was a very smart idea. I actually thought of it myself when I realized Layla would have to stay in the Underworld.

Thank you for your time,

Maci Middleton

Setting #5: Asphodel Meadows (in the Underworld)

mm080 — 2024-02-14 01:28:25 UTC

Asphodel Meadows is the “middle” level of the Underworld. Katerine, Aegeus’s wife that died in the Titan attack, is in Asphodel Meadows, and so is Meg’s mom, Thea. Meg meets Layla and Katerina in a poppy field, much like the one in the image above.

mm080 — 2024-02-14 01:33:18 UTC

This relates to Go the Distance, because for three quarters of the book Meg has a “girl power” mindset. She thinks that she is a tough girl, which she is, but she thinks that because she is a tough girl she does not need assistance from anyone, even other women. Aphrodite soon teaches Meg that it is not a weak thing to ask for help.

I have learned that it is not bad to have the “girl power” mindset, but you also need men in the world. You cannot do everything by yourself, no matter how badly you want to.

Setting #4: Mount Olympus

mm080 — 2024-02-14 01:37:56 UTC

The book opens with Hercules and Meg arriving to Mount Olympus, right after Hercules finished his battled with the Titans. The first couple of chapters in the book take place on Mount Olympus. Meg makes her deal with Hera, and Zeus expresses his feeling on Megara and Hercules’s relationship. In the end, Mount Olympus is Meg’s home for the rest of eternity.