Classic Stories of God, Goddesses, Heroes & Monsters
May 1, 2013
Gr 5-8-To the gods and goddesses of ancient times, people were merely pawns in a giant chess game. The only difference was that these human toys, made from the baked clay of Prometheus and Helios, were playing to the death in a blood sport to satisfy the boredom of heedless deities. Gods behaving badly is the subject matter of Napoli's comprehensive retelling (National Geographic, 2011) of the Greek myths. The tales begin with "Gaia: Mother Earth" and "Uranus: Father Heaven," and go on to feature Perseus, Heracles, Theseus, Jason, and many others. The vengeful gods' licentious behavior is typified by the "good-looking goat, Zeus," who has more wives and sexual partners than can be recounted. Because the recording is filled with gory descriptions, plenty of illicit sex, and endless wars, it will surely be popular with preteens. The audio production is unimaginative, without musical background or any special effects that might have enhanced the performance. Christina Moore does a serviceable job as narrator, but occasionally pronounces words incorrectly (nuances, femme fatale) which detracts from the audiobook's overall quality. This would be a useful resource for those seeking materials about quests as a literary theme. Make sure to have the print version available so students can peruse the stunning paintings by Christina Balit.-Lonna Pierce, MacArthur and Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, Binghamton, NY
Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Starred review from October 24, 2011
Napoli brings new life to the familiar stories of Greek mythology in this intimate compilation, telling each tale with grace, clarity, and emotion. When Demeter mourns her missing daughter, “Her cheeks grew hollow, her body gaunt. Greens turned brown.... Hunger twisted the innards of every living creature.” Through the brief but vivid retellings, readers will better understand such figures as Apollo, Ares, Dionysus, and Helen, while sidebars contextualize the stories. Balit’s majestic and sinuous spreads mimic the drama and passion of the legends. Ages 8–12.