I was impressed by the reading level and attention to detail that make this version engaging and rich to read at the 3-5th grade level.

Kids book

I really enjoyed this novel, I thought the other did a great job of turning the original story of the Odyssey into a book that children can read and understand. The story still contained the context of the original story with some different parts as well. I enjoyed the sense of adventure to get back home. I also thought the author wrote the story very well, they did a great job of transitioning through the events of the story, which was impressive seeing how many transitions there were throughout the novel. Overall this was a easy, pleasurable read. ( )

Odysseus faces the challenging task of returning home as the Trojan War comes to an end. Aspects of ancient Greece are worked into Odysseus’s quest to survive. Mary Pope Osborne’s Tales from the Odyssey reveals the gruesome details and anger of the gods in an age appropriate manner; eliminating sexual contact and overly violent details. Gore is still apparent, however just enough to convey the true experiences of Odysseus. This is a great choice in text for intermediate and/or struggling early elementary students. The text is simple, noncomplex, and forward. ( )

This story is from a series of chapter books that Mary Pope Osborne based off of the epic tales of Odysseus, and retold for younger children. I liked this book for two reasons. The first reason is the way that the author recreated the traditional mythological story for grades four through six. She uses language that is appropriate and exciting, even though the real story of The Odyssey could be overwhelming for some children. She includes every event and character such as, The Trojan War, saving Helen, and the one eyed giant, but simplifies it to keep the reader's attention and desire to read more. The second reason I liked the book was its educational aspect. After reading the story, I went online to see what parents had to say and they each said that it helped their children enjoy Greek mythology and complete their history lessons. I would definitely recommend this book to history teachers if their students are struggling with retaining Homer's addition of the Odyssey. Overall, the big idea of this book is to retell Homer's stories of the Odyssey in a kid friendly way. ( )