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How do you interest a young person in the literary classics? Well, you might cast Justin Bieber in the role of Hamlet, or develop a video game with interactive 3-D Musketeers. A more palatable choice for most of us would be to introduce our offspring to versions of the classics that have been written with adolescents in mind.
One such book would be The Adventures of Odysseus (Chapter Book) by Hugh Lupton and Daniel Morden. The authors have condensed the tale to just the highlights of Odysseus’s journey home after the Trojan War. Odysseus is the narrator, telling the stories of how he and his crew encounter the Cyclops, how they discover Circe’s unspeakable deeds and escape her clutches, and how they defy the tempting song of the Sirens.
Odysseus draws on every bit of cunning and wisdom he’s gained along the way to outwit an obstacle course populated by gods, spirits, and men. He uses wordplay to confuse his enemies, heeds the advice of ancient parables, and often devises his own clever tricks to outsmart and outrun opponents.Truth, he learns, can be hidden behind innocuous words or revealed in dreams. Loved ones are sometimes lost, as are battles, but neither grief nor fear prevents Odysseus from pursuing his goal: to return home to his beloved wife and son.
The authors tell the story in plain English that somehow still seems grander than the average mortal tale. Combined with Christina Balit’s striking illustrations, the adventures are engaging and the deeds are noble. This retelling of The Adventures of Odysseus (Chapter Book) is an excellent introduction to the world of heroes and myths, guaranteed to whet a young person’s appetite for more timeless tales of adventure and courage.
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Deborah Adams/2011 for curled
up with a good kid's book |
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For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews,
visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)
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The Adventures of Odysseus (Chapter Book)