Pheme the Gossip
by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams
Grades 3-7; Genre - Mythology/Folklore; GRL S-T; AR pts. 5.0
As the goddess girl of rumor and gossip, Pheme prides herself on being "in the know" and having the most up-to-date info on anyone and everyone at Mount Olympus Academy.
Comprehension Questions
Chapter 1
- What part of speech is, “being caught red handed”? Idiom
- Use this phrase in your own sentence. “His mom caught him red handed, reaching into the cookie jar.”
Chapter 2
- Summarize this chapter. Pheme couldn’t make the red go away and stuck her hands in her pockets; she bumped into Athena and her friends; she ran outside and met the boy who stowed away on Hermes cart p.24
Chapter 3
- Describe Pheme. One of 13 kids; has red hair; is a goddess; has a gift of spreading rumors; when she speaks, the words puff out of her mouth and float above her head; works in the office of the school; is the floor monitor for her floor; is always looking for gossip to spread; snoops in rooms to find gossip; wants to be chosen to write in the Scrollazine magazine p.40
Chapter 4
- Would you trust Pheme to keep your secret? Why, or why not? Listen to your child’s answer
Chapter 5
- Is Pheme being a good friend to Phaeton in this chapter? Why, or why not? No; she’s only helping him to help herself, selfish motives; he doesn’t want people to know who his father is and she’s telling everyone p.86
Chapter 6
- Describe Athena’s attitude toward Pheme for reading her diary. She forgives her and won’t tell her dad p.115
Chapter 7
- Summarize this chapter. Pheme saw Phaeton using Artemis’s chariot and couldn’t tell her because of the no gossip spell Athena put on her p.120
Chapter 8
- How did Pheme manipulate the teacher to let her keep her notebook with her drawing? She lied and said it was part of her assignment; she incorporated it into her project p.153
Chapter 9
- Why did Pheme decide she needed to tell Zeus about Phaeton? She was worried about Earth getting destroyed; she stopped being concerned for herself p.180
Chapter 10
- How are Athena and Pheme showing signs of friendship? They are helping each other and watching out for each other p.193
Chapter 11
- What gave Pheme courage to help Phaeton? Athena’s gratitude from the time Pheme saved her p.209
- Do you have an experience you look back on that helps give you courage or strength? Explain. Listen to your child’s answer
Chapter 12
- Do you agree with Eros that gossip is necessary? Why, or why not? Good news is good, but gossip is not good; gossiping hurts people’s feelings and they don’t trust you anymore p.230
Chapter 13
- How did Pheme show courage in this chapter? She told Zeus everything p.234
Epilogue
- Summarize this ending. Pheme was asked to be the writer for the gossip column p.251