Such a wonderful introduction to Odysseus for young readers...this is a lively, fast paced, slightly outlandish accounting of the young Odysseus (and his cautious friend Mentor, the young and extremely spoiled Helen, and the practical and quite heroic on her own Penelope). I wasn't sure what to expect going into this, but I was glad to discover that it's not some campy over the top rendition of "young" insert hero here (think that Disney show about young Heracles going to school, ick). Odysseus, at the age of 13 already has some of his most notable faults (brashness, outlandish fibs/lies/embellishments, and an unquenchable desire for glory).

As the story starts out, Odysseus drags the much more cautious Mentor on a boar hunt that goes wrong, from there he is shortly hurled into an adventure in the making on what should have been a short trip home...he's summarily tossed overboard, deals with pirates, rescues the damsels in distress (however reluctantly), makes a friend in Silenus the Satyr, discovers something about Dadelus, and so much more! Ultimately will he be able to return home? Will he rescue Penelope and Helen or will Penelope rescue him? You simply must read this to find out.

I really did enjoy this one even as an adult...it's a little bit too early for my girl to read this, but soon enough, she'll be old enough to appreciate the intricacies of the story...and it really is a fast paced, page turning adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat...there are many adult books that can't boast that, so that's quite nice to see in a children's/young adult novel! I think this is best read by kids somewhere between the ages of 8-12, with somewhere around 9 or 10 being ideal, depending on your child's reading ability. I also think it will appeal equally to boys or girls because while Helen is a prissy, girly girl,Penelope is no slouch and she's every bit as heroic as Odysseus!! Best of all, this isn't some watered down, diluted sugar sweet story...it's the real deal! There is real danger (Odysseus is beat to heck by the end of it) and real perilous adventure...and there is so much more. I recommend it without hesitation, I think it's an excellent resource for introducing Greek mythology and the heroes/characters behind the Iliad/Odyssey...it would be a great help there and just a fun read overall! It gets a big A+ from me! I loved it and I know my Girl will too when she reads it next school year! ( )

Thirteen-year-old Odysseus, who longs to be a hero, has many opportunities to prove himself during an adventure which involves pirates and satyrs, a trip to Crete's Labyrinth, and the two young girls, Penelope and Helen, who play a major role in his future life.
Series: Young heroes (Jane Yolen), 1 Lexile: 630