Synopses & Reviews
Odysseus turned his eyes from the still-smoking ruins of Troy and thought of home. But the journey would be long to the three-island kingdom of Ithaca, and there would be many dangers to overcome--the Lotus-eaters and the cloying nectar of their deadly fruit; the hungry one-eyed giant Polyphemus; the stormy wrath of the vengeful sea-god Poseidon; Circe, the beautiful sorceress who turned men into pigs; the terrors of the whirlpool Charybdis and the six-headed sea monster, Scylla; and the descent to the kingdom of Hades, god of the dead--until bright morning he arrived back, alone and exhausted, to face the hundred fierce suitors of his faithful wife, Penelope.
In this retelling, Geraldine McCaughrean's lively and original style is complemented by Victor Ambrus's brilliant recreations of the ancient world and its monsters and gods. Young people will enjoy the fast-paced and contemporary text, gain an introduction to Homer's classic story, and gain a foundation for further studies in history and literature that will serve them well into their adult lives.
Review
"A lively, brief retelling with colorful, action-filled pictures."--Los Angeles Times Book Review
"A real winner."--Children's Bookwatch
"McCaughrean's fine retelling of Odysseus' wanderings is a heroic tale in the truest sense of the word. It captures all the drama and bloodcurdling action of the original work while making the story accessible to young people in language that is still vigorous and expressive.... Illustrations by Victor Ambrus complement McCaughrean's style perfectly, their bold colors and lively portrayals displaying all the energy of the text."--Booklist
"Captures the flavor and adventure of Homer's famed epic."--Calliope
"This serious retelling of the Odyssey, illustrated with lush watercolors and line drawings, is a modern prose version of Homer's epic tale about Odysseus's return from Troy. A good introduction to Homer and an exciting story."--Reviews from Parent Council