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The Trials of Apollo, Book Three: The Burning Maze — Content Guide for Parents

By Rick RiordanDisney Electronic Content2018-05-01ISBN 9781368001434448 pages
The Trials of Apollo, Book Three: The Burning Maze

Themes present

Violence
Scary content
Religious themes
Profanity
Climate change
Sexual identity
LGBTQ+ themes

Not found

Racial/cultural contentGender roles

Content themes

Factual summary of themes present in this book. No opinion — just the facts.

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Religious themes

PRESENT

Contains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.

About this book

The formerly glorious god Apollo, cast down to earth in punishment by Zeus, is now an awkward mortal teenager named Lester Papadopoulos. In order to regain his place on Mount Olympus, Lester must restore five Oracles that have gone dark. But he has to achieve this impossible task without having any godly powers and while being duty-bound to a confounding young daughter of Demeter named Meg. Thanks a lot, Dad. With the help of some demigod friends, Lester managed to survive his first two trials, one at Camp Half-Blood, and one in Indianapolis, where Meg received the Dark Prophecy. The words she uttered while seated on the Throne of Memory revealed that an evil triumvirate of Roman emperors plans to attack Camp Jupiter. While Leo flies ahead on Festus to warn the Roman camp, Lester and Meg must go through the Labyrinth to find the third emperor--and an Oracle who speaks in word puzzles--somewhere in the American Southwest. There is one glimmer of hope in the gloom-filled prophecy: The cloven guide alone the way does know. They will have a satyr companion, and Meg knows just who to call upon. . . .

Frequently asked questions

  • Is The Trials of Apollo, Book Three: The Burning Maze appropriate for a 7-year-old?

    The narrative includes significant violence, such as Caligula ordering the cutting out of hearts and tongues, and features two sad and violent deaths that are mourned by the characters. Additionally, there are threats of disembowelment from creatures in the story. The book contains elements that could be considered scary, such as the presence of monstrous creatures and the threat of violence, including disembowelment. The high-action sequences and dark themes may evoke fear or tension in younger readers.

  • Does The Trials of Apollo, Book Three: The Burning Maze have violence?

    The narrative includes significant violence, such as Caligula ordering the cutting out of hearts and tongues, and features two sad and violent deaths that are mourned by the characters. Additionally, there are threats of disembowelment from creatures in the story.

  • Does The Trials of Apollo, Book Three: The Burning Maze have scary content?

    The book contains elements that could be considered scary, such as the presence of monstrous creatures and the threat of violence, including disembowelment. The high-action sequences and dark themes may evoke fear or tension in younger readers.

  • Does The Trials of Apollo, Book Three: The Burning Maze have religious themes?

    The book incorporates elements of Greek and Roman mythology, featuring characters such as Apollo and Meg, who is the daughter of Demeter. The narrative includes references to mythological creatures and themes, reflecting the religious context of these ancient cultures.

  • Does The Trials of Apollo, Book Three: The Burning Maze have racial/cultural content?

    While the series features a diverse cast of characters, race is not a central theme or plot point in 'The Burning Maze'. The discussions of diversity in the series primarily focus on character backgrounds rather than explicit racial themes.

  • Does The Trials of Apollo, Book Three: The Burning Maze have profanity?

    The characters occasionally use mild profanities, substituting them with names of Greek gods and places, such as 'what the Hades'. There is also name-calling among characters, indicating a casual use of language.

  • Does The Trials of Apollo, Book Three: The Burning Maze have climate change?

    The story addresses themes of environmental destruction, including references to climate change, droughts, and wildfires in California. Characters like Grover and Meg are involved in discussions about nature and its preservation, indicating a focus on climate issues.

  • Does The Trials of Apollo, Book Three: The Burning Maze have sexual identity?

    The book addresses sexual orientation through Apollo's bisexuality, which is presented in a casual manner. The narrative discusses his past relationships with both male and female characters, although the focus on sexual themes may vary compared to other books in the series.

  • Does The Trials of Apollo, Book Three: The Burning Maze have gender roles?

    The book does not actively discuss or critique gender roles. While it features characters of different genders, the narrative does not promote or challenge traditional gender expectations.

  • Does The Trials of Apollo, Book Three: The Burning Maze have lgbtq+ themes?

    Apollo, the protagonist, is openly bisexual, and this aspect of his character is addressed in a straightforward manner throughout the series. However, some reviews suggest that 'The Burning Maze' features less LGBTQ+ content compared to other books in the series, indicating a varying focus on these themes.