Odysseus in the Serpent Maze

by Jane Yolen and Robert J. Harris

Book Overview

Odysseus, Prince of Ithaca, has always been safe, sheltered, protected -- and bored! The Age of Heroes is past. The wars are over. The monsters are slain. Or so he believes. Are there any adventures... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060287349
• ISBN13: 9780060287344
• Release Date: March 2001
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.8" x 8.6"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

You'll want to read this book.

Some 3000 years ago, Greek poet Homer wrote two epic stories, the Iliad and the Odyssey. Together, these works told of the Trojan War, Helen of Troy, the Trojan Horse, and the 10-year journey of King Odysseus to get back home to Ithaca after the war. The epics also introduced Penelope, the wife of Odysseus, and told how she kept faithful to her husband while he was gone, even when 108 suitors --- assuming that Odysseus was dead --- fought for her hand in marriage. Well, even heroes were kids once, and ODYSSEUS IN THE SERPENT MAZE tells about Odysseus, Penelope, Helen, and many of Homer's other writing subjects when they were children. All that we know of Odysseus comes from Homer's two stories and from some Greek folk tales. Authors Yolen and Harris built on what we know by researching the time when Odysseus would have lived, and writing a story backwards from that. This new tale is full of fabulous derring-do, with pirates, monsters, and satyrs (half men, half goats). It's a children's version of the Odyssey, an imagined first heroic adventure for Odysseus. Prince Odysseus, age 13, drags his reluctant friend Mentor along on a boar hunt after "borrowing" the king's spear. The boys manage to come back alive, but just barely, as the hunt is pretty hairy. And Mentor would like to think the adventuring is over. But Odysseus doesn't believe that the Age of Heroes is finished yet; he thinks there is still room for him to grow up to be a great hero himself. The gods seem to agree with Odysseus, because the two boys soon face another adventure that scares even Odysseus. They fall off a ship, get picked up by pirates, meet up with Silenus (a smelly old satyr) find the magic workshop of the inventor, Daedalus, and get thrown into prison on the island of Crete. Then things start getting interesting. Well, we know that all the children survive to grow up for more adventures, but how? And where does the serpent maze come in? You'll want to read this book to find out. --- Reviewed by Tamara Penny

Myth and action colide-by mtjones

Back in the time when the powerful,greek gods ruled and the evil gorgons who served Saiton exsisted there lived a young boy named Odysseus and soon he found a princess named Penelope. They went on countless adventures against pirates, gorgons, giants, and the giant hundred headed snak. Will Odysseus save the city or fale them or the world? To find out you should read this book. This book will frightin you, inspire you, and tak your mind strait into this action packed book. There are other "Young Hero" books with just as much dangr and action. So if I were you I'd get those books as fast as I can so hurry! This book inspires me because it has creatures and hero's I never heard of.

Myth and Adventure Colide By: mtj grade 5

Back in the time when the powerfuul gods ruled and the evil Gorgons who served Satan exisisted there lived a prince by the name Odysseus and soon finds a princess named Penelope(which soon becomes future wife). They went out on countless adventures against pirates,gorgons,giants,and the giant,hundred headed snake and other evil creaturs. Will Odysseus win and save his people or fale the town or the world?!?! To find out you should read this book. This book will inspire you,frightin you,and take your mind strait in this action packed book. There are other other"Young Hero" books with just as much danger and action. So if I were you I'd get those those books and

Home sweet Homer

When you think of Odysseus, you think of the big wooden horse, lots of blood and mayhem, and a mild-mannered Penelope who assumes that her suitors are as dumb as she is. But you may not see him (or her) quite the same way after reading this book. It's a fun romp for kids, and may also be for adults with knowledge of Greek mythos.Thirteen-year-old Odysseus and his best friend Mentor want to be heroes (actually, Odysseus wants to be a hero, and Mentor tags along) at the home of Odysseus's thief-king grandfather. After a partially successful hunt in which they help stop a monstrous boar, the boys are sent home across the sea -- except a storm washes them overboard, and leaves them stranded in a box in the middle of the ocean. After they are captured by pirates, the boys find that they are not the only captives. There are a pair of princesses, the incredibly beautiful (but spoiled, petty and self-absorbed) Helen, and the less beautiful but clever Penelope. With the help of an incredibly smelly satyr and a self-rowing ship, Odysseus and his friends escape. But they inadvertantly stumble into more places full of things and creatures both astounding -- and terrifying.This is a pretty fun read. It's a coming-of-age story/adventure story/mythological story, that takes up mythical threads and adds on to them as it skilfully shows the growth of the characters. The things such as Daedalus's lab and the boat that rows itself are done with exquisite atmosphere, as is the boar hunt and the semi-humiliating scenes that follow. Comedy, horror, adventure, and occasional awe are mixed in expertly.Odysseus is reminiscent of Lloyd Alexander's Taran, with his brash eagerness to be a hero and a man among men, and his gradual maturation when he has to deal with actual danger. There's a good chemistry between him and Penelope; though it's not yet romantic, it's one of mutual respect and understanding which hints at their future relationship. Mentor is good as the voice of reason (except when Helen addles his mind) and Helen is great as a spoiled royal brat who thinks of her looks, suitors, and status as a princess. You WILL want to strangle her. If your kids have ever enjoyed Greek legends, or if you're trying to interest them, this historical/mythical fantasy may be the ticket.

Homer hasn't always been a yellow cartoon character...

We all know Odysseus through Homer's epic rendition of his adventures, but this is a rollicking portrait of the hero as a very young man. In this absolute romp of a book we meet the future hero and crafty warrior in his early years, exploring the meaning of courage and loyalty, fighting most wonderful monsters, dealing with the gods of Greek mythology and with other characters from his own story. These secondary characters are as well-drawn as our hero himself, and Penelope gets to be a heroine in her own right, to my own personal satisfaction. The portrait of the other 'female lead' is absolutely classic and her signature phrase is a complete delight, the response to which the authors have nobly refrained from posing... but I refuse to spoil the surprise!Odysseus in the Serpent Maze is terrific, page-turning fun, beautifully imagined by the ever-splendid Jane Yolen and her marvellous co-author Robert J. Harris. This team, who wrote The Queen's Own Fool (a highly-original tale revolving around Mary Queen of Scots), have now turned to Greek legend and have done a truly fine job. The sheer cleverness of the plot twists and turns never gets in the way of a really good story. The brief epilogue also, painlessly, helps younger readers sort the fact from the fiction. One gets the impression that this is the first in a series, presumably entitled Young Heroes - at least I certainly hope so. Well done, Yolen and Harris, and the more Young Heros the better!