Greek Mythology text set

 My eighth grader will soon be reading Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus for literature class. So he could understand the allusion in the title, he read the myth about Prometheus in two of these books. Although I only read the Prometheus retellings in these books, I wanted to record the titles so I can borrow them again when we study ancient history. 

-Borrowed from the library.

**Full of interesting facts & history -will appeal to reluctant readers.

A classic!

Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis*

 A myth retold-Cupid & Psyche

In her old age, Orual, queen of Glome, writes down her story, boldly accusing the gods. We, the reader, must decipher the truth. The gods took her only happiness and only love, her beautiful sister, Psyche. As she wrestles with this injustice, she discovers her true self as she writes her story. 

I cannot review/summarize this powerful, provoking story adequately. It is one that will require me to think about often. . . .over time! Currently, I am evaluating my love for others and how selfishness most often dictates that love. 

My tenth grader will soon be reading this novel. I am looking forward to his interpretation and the opportunity to discuss it with him.

*Highly recommend.

-I own this book.

She and He: Adventures in Mythology as told by Jim Weiss*

 Since my fifteen-year old was reading Pygmalion for English this month, I borrowed this audio version of the myth. Mr. Weiss relates five myths in his own words, inserting his own personality and humor. He thoroughly entertained us! My twelve-year-old laughed heartily during the retelling of Atalanta and the Golden Apples. Myths included: Psyche & Cupid, Pygmalion & Galatea, Echo & Narcissus, Atalanta & the Golden Apples and Baucis & Philemon.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Absolute Normal Chaos by Sharon Creech

 Currently I am reading The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles. For a break from the heaviness, I read this middle-grade novel.

Over the summer Mary Lou Finney must keep a journal and hand it in on the first day of school. Ms. Creech utilizes the journal format to structure the story. Even though Mary Lou's household with many siblings is chaotic and humorous, she longs for new events to record. Then unexpectantly, her cousin Carl Ray from West Virginia arrives to stay for the summer. Unusual events commence . . .an anonymous person bestowing Carl Ray $3,000, her best friend mooning over a boy, Alex Cheevy showing up in her neighborhood. This summer may be worth recording after all!

I liked how Ms.Creech incorporates Mary Lou's impressions of the Odyssey by Homer.

Apparently, this book is a prequel to Walk Two Moons. 

Warnings: Mary Lou takes God's name in vain often. When her mother reproaches her about this habit and tells her to expand her vocabulary, Mary Lou looks up other words for God in the thesaurus and proceeds to use them (Alpha and Omega, King of Kings etc). Her cousins talk about sex a bit with her (no details, just mentions that they do) and then when Mary Lou leaves W.V., they give her book about sex, which Mary Lou claims is too advanced for her parents. A death occurs. Mary Lou begins dating Alex. They kiss a few times throughout the book.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians #5 The Last Olympian*

My twelve year old read this book to himself in a couple of days!  He truly loves this series!
Percy and his friends defend New York City against Kronos and his army.  In this book Percy turns sixteen and learns about the prophecy.
*Highly recommend by my twelve year old.
-He owns this book (a gift from his Nana!)

Percy Jackson and the Olympians #4 The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan*

When reading this book to himself, my twelve year old actually limited how many pages he could read each day because he does not want this series to end!!
This book focuses on the battle between the Olympians and the Titans.  Percy and friends also go on a quest in the Labyrinth to prevent the Titans from invading Camp Halfblood.
*Highly recommend by my twelve year old.
Warning/points to discuss: worshiping gods, underworld

Percy Jackson and the Olympians #3 The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan*

My twelve year loves this series.  He doesn't want it to end!!
He read it to himself.
Percy, Annabeth and Thalia help their friend Grover.
Can they have victory over Kronos, the Titan lord?
*Highly recommend (via my son).
Warnings/topics to discuss: worshiping gods, alcohol consumption
-Borrowed from the library.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Book #1 and #2 by Rick Riordan*

The Lightning Thief #1
The Sea of Monsters #2
My twelve year old is reading this series to himself and loves it! 
He read these two books in about a week!
Percy Jackson is a demigod- half human and half god.  He is encountering many Greek mythology gods and has even angered Zeus.  In book one he has to return Zeus' master lightning bolt (Percy is the main suspect!).  In book two Camp Half-Blood's protective border has been poisoned so the safe haven has been compromised.  Percy and friends enter to the Sea of Monsters to save the camp.
My son commented a couple of times how the movies are so inferior to the books!
Both my husband and I have enjoyed the series.  I read only book one.  My husband read the entire series when the movies were being produced. 
*Highly recommend (but see warning).
Warning: Greek mythology;   In other mythology series by Mr. Riordan, he incorporates homosexual and transgender characters.  They are not in the Percy Jackson series.
-Borrowed from the library.




 

The Odyssey by Home retold by Gillian Cross illustrated by Neil Packer*

I read this aloud to my boys to support our study of Ancient Greece. 
Odysseus is weary from ten years of war against the Trojans.  He is eager to reunite with his wife Penelope and son Telemachus in Ithaca.  Unfortunately he encounters obstacles and problems that prolong his journey.   When he finally returns, he must cleverly remove the men trying to woo his wife Penelope.
Very exciting and full of adventure.
Ms. Cross retells this story in a very engaging manner.
*Highly recommend.
We own this book.
Warning: battles/violence
The artwork is unique and some of the faces may scare the more sensitive child (just because the faces are a bit unusual).

Black Ships Before Troy by Rosemary Sutcliff illustrated by Alan Lee

The Story of the Iliad
I read this aloud to my boys when we started studying early Greek Civilizations and were discussing Homer.
We enjoyed the exciting tale of the battle between the Greeks and Trojans over a woman named Helen.
My eleven year old was reading a different version of the Iliad independently so it was fun to hear how his book was slightly different from our read aloud.
Warning:  Adultery.  Two characters commit suicide.   The battle scenes were quite graphic and some of the illustrations depicted limp, dead men.  Blood was also lavishly included in some of the illustrations.  I would not recommend this book for the more sensitive child.

Echo Echo by Marilyn Singer illustrated by Josee Masse*

Reverso Poems about Greek Myths
Ms.Singer has created a new type of poem---she uses the exact words for two poems but in the second poem she starts the ending of the first poem at the beginning of the second!  The two poems are from two different Greek personalities' perspectives.
My boys enjoyed the cleverness of the poems.
I read this book aloud  for our morning poetry when we studied early Greeks.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
--Check out Ms. Singer's other reverso poems. 

The Iliad by Homer retold by Gillian Cross illustrated by Neil Packer

My 11 year old read this book to himself during our study of the early Greeks.  He thoroughly enjoyed it and thought it was very exciting.
Ms. Cross brings this classic to a level that will capture tween's attention. 
Because Paris says Aphrodite is the most beautiful goddess, she gives him the most beautiful woman in the world-Helen.  One big problem .  . .she is already married to the King of Sparta, Menelaus.  Paris successfully steals her away to his home city Troy and causes a ten year battle between the Greeks and Troy. 
I really appreciate how Ms. Cross includes a people tree which depicts which characters are on the Trojan side and which ones are on the Greek side. 
The illustrations are a bit modern and unique.
Points to discuss/warnings: adultery; violence (war)
-We own this book.

A Journey Through Time-The Minotaur of Knossos by Roberta Angeletti

As Robbie reads about Ancient Crete for a history assignment, he falls asleep and finds that he has traveled back in time to the palace of Knossos.  Here he meets Sir Arthur Evans who discovered the palace, and the dreaded Minotaur!  The illustrations display the beautiful artwork on the palace walls.

Most of the learning about the Minoans, Crete and the myth surrounding the palace will occur on the last 3 pages where the author shares the history and facts.
My eight year old read this book to himself to support our learning about Crete and early Greek civilizations.
Two times in the book are illustrations depicting a woman with her breasts fully sticking out (it was how the women dressed during this time period.).  The illustrations are small enough that a sticky note can cover them.
-Borrowed from the library.

Graphic Novel- The Trojan Horse -The Fall of Troy by Justine and Ron Fontes illustrated by Gordon Purcell*

Mr. and Mrs. Fontes base this graphic novel on, Homer's Iliad, Virgil's Aeneid and Quintus of Smyrna's The War at Troy (A.D. 375). 
They fuse these three sources well, creating a more concise, understandable story for younger readers.
My eight year old and I read this together to further our study of the Ancient Greeks.  We both enjoyed it!
Paris runs away with Helen, the wife of Menelaus, causing the Greek kings to fight against Troy.  After ten years of war, Odysseus' comes up with a clever plan to decimate the Trojans.

*Highly recommend (especially for reluctant, older readers).
-Borrowed from the library.

The Beautiful Stories of Life Six Greek Myths, retold by Cynthia Rylant illustrated by Carson Ellis*

Ms. Rylant retells the myths in a concise yet beautiful manner.
She retells the following myths: Pandora, Persephone, Orpheus, Pygmalion, Narcissus, and Psyche.
My eleven year old read this book for fun to support our study of early Greeks.
Warning: On pg. 37 a naked statue that Pygmalion carved is in the illustration.
*Highly recommend because of how concise and clear the stories are.
-Borrowed from the library.

Wings by Jane Yolen illustrated by Dennis Nolan*

When Daedalus of Athens murders his nephew, he is banished from the city.  He travels until he arrives to the island of Crete.  Over time King Minos utilizes Daedalus' skills and gifts to build a labyrinth to keep his son the Minotaur captive.  Daedalus eventually marries and has a son named Icarus.
Then Theseus,  also from Athens,  secretly comes to Daedalus, informing how Athens must send a tribute of boys and girls for the Minotaur to devour.  Daedalus is horrified and draws a map of the labyrinth so Theseus can defeat the Minotaur.  Theseus is successful in slaying the Minotaur and takes the boys and girls and Ariadne (King Minos' daughter) with them.  Enraged, King Minos throws Daedalus and Icarus into a tall tower.  Then Icarus gives Daedalus an idea for escape.  But Icarus is not able to enjoy the freedom when his wings melt and he plunges into the sea.
The last page shares what happens to Daedalus after this tragedy.
Ms. Yolan ends each page with an italic sentence about how the gods are reacting to the events.

My eight year old and I read this book together over a couple of days to support our study of Crete.
This story is so sad!
Mr. Nolan's watercolor illustrations add heart to the story.  He also includes the gods' facial expressions in the sky as the story is told.
Warning: Icarus' death may bother sensitive readers.
*Highly recommend.

You Choose-Hades and the Underworld An Interactive Mythological Adventure by Blake Hoena illustrated by Nadine Takvorian

My ten year old son read this book to himself.  He enjoyed it so much that he read it in less than 24 hours!
A lot of Greek history was incorporated into this adventure story which takes place in the underworld, Hades.
There are seven other Greek Myth titles in this You Choose series.  Perfect for an Ancient Greek unit study.
-Borrowed from the library.

Hercules by Robert Burleigh illustrated by Raul Colon

This book features Hercules' last task he had to complete for Hera.
Hercules must go to the underworld and bring out Cerberus.
It would have been more interesting if the book included all of his twelve tasks (it briefly reviewed a few of them).
-Borrowed from the library.

Cupid and Psyche by M. Charlotte Craft illustrated by K. Y. Craft*

Anything Ms. Craft illustrates prompts me to read it!  Her illustrations are exquisite.
The Greek myth about beautiful but lonely Psyche who finds love but loses it just as quickly, quickly captivates the reader.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
This book would be a great one to read on Valentine's Day to older students/children.