Nick Andino isn’t exactly “hero” material. He’s perfectly happy working at his family’s Greek diner, pining over his crush, and avoiding his bully. His life isn’t very exciting…until destiny comes calling.
Dr. Zeus, the over-the-top king of the gods, zooms into town with a quest that Nick must complete to save Andinos past and present from being erased from history. Accompanied by a fast-talking Hermes, Nick journeys back to ancient Greece, where his ancestors await—along with new friends and a whole host of Greek gods and monsters. Can Nick be the hero the Andinos need, or will his story be another Greek tragedy?
Dr. Zeus is a middle‑grade fantasy adventure filled with comedic moments. It’s reminiscent of the Percy Jackson books with its blending of Greek mythology, modern life, and a fast-paced, hilarious race-against-time narrative! With elements of time travel, ancient gods, and quirky magical mishaps, this book is perfect for middle grade fans or anyone who loves feel‑good adventure stories that are full of heart!
The story follows twelve‑year‑old Nick Andino—an average, shy kid working at his family’s Greek diner in Athens, Ohio, while hopelessly crushing on his friend Daisy. His world flips upside down when Dr. Zeus, king of the gods, arrives with an urgent mission: Nick must journey back to ancient Greece to save his family’s line (and himself) from disappearing forever. Dr. Zeus’s son, the god Hermes, becomes Nick’s secret sidekick and mentor on his journey against monsters and gods!
Nick’s coming-of-age and journey of self-discovery are the real heart of the story. He starts off as an insecure kid who’d rather avoid trouble than take risks. Once he’s thrust into the mission to save his family, the “reluctant hero” trope is very pronounced, and he feels more real, relatable, and lovable! As the story unfolds, he slowly steps out of his comfort zone, faces fears (both monsters and bullies), and shows real courage. Meanwhile, Zeus’s larger-than-life personality and his son Hermes’s trickster ways and playful commentary add comic relief and force Nick to be braver and more confident. Nick’s dialogue with his widowed mom and loving grandpa is heartfelt and authentic—and will pull at the heartstrings of readers, especially towards the end!
What makes this book so binge‑worthy is its relentless pacing and magical adventures in Ancient Greece. The short, punchy chapters are packed with humor, action, and mythology. Nick constantly being jolted back in time, exactly to where he last left off, feels like jumping back into a paused video game after you’ve gained insight on how to proceed to the next level! And all the exciting challenges and clever twists will keep readers turning pages! The ending wraps everything up in a satisfying way with action-packed triumph, pleasing emotional arcs, and a hopeful outlook!
Anyone who’s enjoyed James Patterson’s other middle grade books or the popular Percy Jackson series will absolutely love this book! It’s also a great option for mythology lovers or anyone who enjoys a lighthearted magical quest filled with comedy and heart!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of Dr. Zeus is a fun, immersive listen read by award-winning narrator Mark Sanderlin, who’s renowned for his middle grade narration, including many previous middle grade titles from James Patterson!
Sanderlin portrays protagonist Nick with a youthful, earnest-sounding voice that perfectly captures his age and emotional arc. When Nick displays awkwardness around his crush or is afraid of his bully, Sanderlin adds more uncertainty to his voice and makes him even more relatable and real. As Nick’s confidence slowly grows, his voice shifts from tentative and self-doubting to more self-assured and brave, and the delivery never sounds forced. In contrast, Hermes, Nick’s secret sidekick, is given an animated, prankster-sounding voice that adds humor and excitement to every scene he’s in! The dialogue between Nick and Hermes is a real highlight—Sanderlin’s comedic timing for Hermes’s playful commentary is spot-on and makes their sidekick dynamic duo entirely hilarious and loveable!
For Dr. Zeus (and his god sister), Sanderlin uses a booming, authoritative-sounding voice tinged with mischief, perfectly conveying “larger-than-life” gods who’ve made a bet and are having fun at Nick’s expense. The characters Nick meets in Ancient Greece are all given distinct voices and come vividly to life—especially the monster villain, who readers will find equally hilarious and detestable! With so many great character voices, expert pacing, and high excitement during the high-stakes action scenes, there’s never a dull moment in Sanderlin’s delivery—and listeners will wish the audiobook was longer!
Overall, Mark Sanderlin’s narration truly elevates the story with his memorable character portrayals, comedic timing, and engaging pacing—turning this already fun middle-grade story into an unstoppable, immersive listening experience! This audiobook is perfect for fans of middle grade fantasy adventure, stories that blend mythology with comedy, and listeners who appreciate single-narrator performances with character distinction and funny, heartfelt delivery from start to finish!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of Dr. Zeus is a fun, immersive listen read by award-winning narrator Mark Sanderlin, who’s renowned for his middle grade narration, including many previous middle grade titles from James Patterson!
Sanderlin portrays protagonist Nick with a youthful, earnest-sounding voice that perfectly captures his age and emotional arc. When Nick displays awkwardness around his crush or is afraid of his bully, Sanderlin adds more uncertainty to his voice and makes him even more relatable and real. As Nick’s confidence slowly grows, his voice shifts from tentative and self-doubting to more self-assured and brave, and the delivery never sounds forced. In contrast, Hermes, Nick’s secret sidekick, is given an animated, prankster-sounding voice that adds humor and excitement to every scene he’s in! The dialogue between Nick and Hermes is a real highlight—Sanderlin’s comedic timing for Hermes’s playful commentary is spot-on and makes their sidekick dynamic duo entirely hilarious and loveable!
For Dr. Zeus (and his god sister), Sanderlin uses a booming, authoritative-sounding voice tinged with mischief, perfectly conveying “larger-than-life” gods who’ve made a bet and are having fun at Nick’s expense. The characters Nick meets in Ancient Greece are all given distinct voices and come vividly to life—especially the monster villain, who readers will find equally hilarious and detestable! With so many great character voices, expert pacing, and high excitement during the high-stakes action scenes, there’s never a dull moment in Sanderlin’s delivery—and listeners will wish the audiobook was longer!
Overall, Mark Sanderlin’s narration truly elevates the story with his memorable character portrayals, comedic timing, and engaging pacing—turning this already fun middle-grade story into an unstoppable, immersive listening experience! This audiobook is perfect for fans of middle grade fantasy adventure, stories that blend mythology with comedy, and listeners who appreciate single-narrator performances with character distinction and funny, heartfelt delivery from start to finish!
The audiobook of Dr. Zeus is a fun, immersive listen read by award-winning narrator Mark Sanderlin, who’s renowned for his middle grade narration, including many previous middle grade titles from James Patterson!
Sanderlin portrays protagonist Nick with a youthful, earnest-sounding voice that perfectly captures his age and emotional arc. When Nick displays awkwardness around his crush or is afraid of his bully, Sanderlin adds more uncertainty to his voice and makes him even more relatable and real. As Nick’s confidence slowly grows, his voice shifts from tentative and self-doubting to more self-assured and brave, and the delivery never sounds forced. In contrast, Hermes, Nick’s secret sidekick, is given an animated, prankster-sounding voice that adds humor and excitement to every scene he’s in! The dialogue between Nick and Hermes is a real highlight—Sanderlin’s comedic timing for Hermes’s playful commentary is spot-on and makes their sidekick dynamic duo entirely hilarious and loveable!
For Dr. Zeus (and his god sister), Sanderlin uses a booming, authoritative-sounding voice tinged with mischief, perfectly conveying “larger-than-life” gods who’ve made a bet and are having fun at Nick’s expense. The characters Nick meets in Ancient Greece are all given distinct voices and come vividly to life—especially the monster villain, who readers will find equally hilarious and detestable! With so many great character voices, expert pacing, and high excitement during the high-stakes action scenes, there’s never a dull moment in Sanderlin’s delivery—and listeners will wish the audiobook was longer!
Overall, Mark Sanderlin’s narration truly elevates the story with his memorable character portrayals, comedic timing, and engaging pacing—turning this already fun middle-grade story into an unstoppable, immersive listening experience! This audiobook is perfect for fans of middle grade fantasy adventure, stories that blend mythology with comedy, and listeners who appreciate single-narrator performances with character distinction and funny, heartfelt delivery from start to finish!
