Odysseus

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From School Library Journal Grade 5-9–McCaughrean delves right into the epic story–Odysseus leaves Troy, trying to return to Ithaca, but is waylaid by many adventures and mishaps. When he angers Poseidon by putting out the eye of the Cyclops, things really go downhill–his men are turned to swine, he is kidnapped by a lovely nymph, and he faces Sirens and the churning whirlpool of Charybdis. After nearly 20 years, he returns home to his amazingly faithful wife and son, defeats her suitors, and is King of Ithaca once again. McCaughrean has written a compelling prose introduction to Homer's epic poem. In keeping with the style of the original, she uses Homeric refrains and colorful, poetic descriptions fashioned out of slightly challenging vocabulary. The story is well suited to reading aloud (but recall that Odysseus does spend a lot of time with nymphs and seductresses). Violent events are not sugarcoated, and the narrative is filled with gory descriptions. A list of monsters and immortals and Odysseus's family tree appear at the beginning. With its fast-paced plot and lyrical language, this retelling makes a captivating read.–Angela J. Reynolds, Washington County Cooperative Library Services, Hillsboro, OR Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Read more From Booklist Gr. 4-8. With mounting suspense, wild action, and simple, rhythmic prose, this dramatic retelling of Homer's classic makes a gripping read-aloud as well as an exciting introduction to the story. Of course, it is the elemental myth of the search for home, but British writer McCaughrean avoids rhetoric and heavy symbolism, leaving the narrative to speak for itself. There's no illustration to overwhelm the words, allowing readers freedom to imagine Odysseus and his crew traveling across the "world-encircled sea," seduced by sirens and threatened by gruesome monsters. Just as dramatic is the story of Odysseus' son and his wife, waiting at home for his ship that "did not come and did not come and did not ever come." After hearing the story in class, students will want to read it alone. Three more books in the Heroes series, Perseus, Theseus, and hercules, are scheduled for publication in 2005. Hazel RochmanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Read more