Egods! Bringing Greek Myths into the 21st Century for Middle Grade Readers
Joy Fleishhacker, Curriculum Connections -- School Library Journal, 4/7/2009
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Listen to Rick Riordan pronouce his name
At the beginning of Rick Riordan’s The Lightning Thief (Hyperion, 2005; Gr 5-9), Perseus Jackson, a self-professed “troubled kid,” is asked by his teacher, Mr. Brunner: why do myths “matter in real life?” At that moment, Percy, a less-than-stellar student, is unable to answer, but he soon discovers that the denizens of Mt. Olympus actually exist and are very much a part of the modern-day world. The sixth grader’s knowledge of Greek legend comes in handy as he faces fearsome mythological monsters, explores the mysteries of his heritage (he is the son of a god and a mortal), and undertakes a quest (with the help of a young satyr and Athena’s “half-blood” daughter) to recover Zeus’s stolen lightning bolt. The action is fast and furious, and vibrantly described in Percy’s wise-cracking first-person narrative. Ultimately, he wrestles with some of the big questions—about his identity, his abilities and failings, his role as a hero—that have captivated storytellers and audiences for centuries. These still-pertinent issues answer Mr. Brunner’s question and point out the enduring relevance of mythological tales set in any era.
Riordan’s “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” series culminates this spring with the fifth installment, The Last Olympian (Hyperion, May 2009). Highlighted here is a reader-grabbing selection of novels that also integrate a contemporary setting and protagonist with mythological elements and timeless themes. Presenting the ancient pantheon with an up-to-date flair, these books provide opportunities for fantastic and suspenseful adventures, inventive re-imaginings of familiar personages, and a new set of modern-day heroes.
Anne Ursu’s The Shadow Thieves (S & S, 2005; Gr 6-9) stars 13-year-old Charlotte, who, like Percy, is a creative thinker and a bit of an outsider. After her cousin Zee arrives from England to live with her family, the two soon discover that Zee has been followed to the United States by a plague that leaves its young victims in a comalike condition. The Greek myths soon become all too real as Charlotte and Zee, with the help of their mysterious English teacher, learn that an ambitious half-demon plans to overthrow Hades by building an army of shadows stolen from children. The fate of humanity hangs in the balance as the two teenagers journey to the Underworld where they will have to rely on their courage and quick thinking to save the day. Ursu’s narrative is scintillating, smart, and suspenseful while the action is fast paced and deliciously spine-chilling. “The Cronus Chronicles” trilogy also includes The Siren Song (2007) and The Immortal Fire (June, 2009, both S & S).
In Sarah Deming’s Iris, Messenger (Harcourt, 2007; Gr 5-8), the title character, like many a young dreamer, has always imagined “that she wasn’t really her parents’ child but was actually someone magical and special.” She has no idea how right she is until her 12th birthday when she receives a mysterious copy of Bulfinch’s Mythology and clues written in the margins lead her to discover that the Greek gods have taken up residence in the greater Philadelphia area. Once glorious and omnipotent, the Olympians have been largely forgotten by humanity and are now in need of Iris’s help. As she meets Poseidon (owner of a run-down oyster shack on the Jersey shore), Apollo (ultra-cool headliner at a hip jazz club), Aphrodite (makeover artist at the plush Swan Salon), and others, each deity shares with Iris a firsthand account of a mythological tale—stories that both entertain and move her, and eventually help her to realize just who she is. The lively narrative sparkles with humor and insight and Iris is an endearing character. Readers will be greatly amused by the creative way in which Deming fits the Greek pantheon into modern-day parameters, particularly Hades and Persephone’s roles as principal and secretary of Erebus Middle School (“the closest thing we’ve found to hell”).
From the tongue-in-cheek title to the zinger-filled text, Esther Friesner’s witty Temping Fate (Dutton, 2006; Gr 6-9) combines mythological elements with a strong narrative voice and coming-of-age plotline. Unable to get a summer job due to her unique fashion sense and “That Attitude Thing,” Ilana Newhouse is happy to finally find employment with the Divine Relief Temp Agency. However, when she’s sent to a textiles business as assistant to three unusual sisters, she soon realizes that she is actually working for the Fates. It’s a bit overwhelming, but meeting up with other teens who are also temping for gods and heroes helps, as does the advice and friendship of Arachne (maiden-turned spider who lives in a web on the wall). Things come to a crisis when one of the temps seizes power beyond his control. Will Ilana and her friends be able to put a cork in Chaos and keep the cosmos in balance?
What could be worse than having your mother tell you that she is remarrying just before your senior year and moving the two of you to a remote island in the Aegean? Phoebe Castro finds out quickly when she learns that the pupils at the exclusive academy run by her new stepfather are actually descendants of the Olympians. Oh. My. Gods. (Dutton, 2008; Gr 7 Up)…talk about leaving your comfort zone! Phoebe hangs in there, though, and sets her sights on qualifying for the school’s cross-country team, making friends with some of the more down-to-earth students, and getting close to an absolutely divine crush. It’s chick lit meets mythology in Tera Lynn Childs’s breezy charmer, as jealous goddesses play tricks and tell lies, instances of (illegal) magic abound, and the truth about Phoebe’s abilities—and her parentage—finally comes to light. Once readers see these characters as revealed through the lens of high school cliques and controversies, they may view the traditional Greek pantheon with fresh eyes…as a bunch of out-of-control teenagers. The next book in the series, Goddess Boot Camp, will be published in June (Dutton, 2009).
Though clearly set in the ancient world, the tone and telling of Carolyn Hennesy’s Pandora Gets Jealous 
(Bloomsbury, 2008; Gr 5-8) give it a present-day panache. It’s project time again at Athena Maiden Middle School, and if Pandy brings the jar with a piece of her father Prometheus’s liver one more time (Zeus gave it to the Titan to remind him of his punishment), her teacher will give her a “delta” for sure. What harm could come from borrowing the mysterious box (you know, the one that holds “all the evils of the world”) that Dad keeps hidden under a bunch of rolled-up rugs? When Pandy accidentally opens it, releasing seven great plagues, an angry Zeus charges her with the task of tracking them down and returning them to the box. With the assistance of her two BFFs—and a bit of meddling from the gods—Pandy sets out to save the world…and find her place in it. The chatty text humorously incorporates a mythological backdrop while spicing things up with adolescent angst and issues (family problems, school cliques, crushes, maturing emotions and abilities, self-acceptance, etc.). The protagonist’s quest continues in Pandora Gets Vain (2008) and Pandora Gets Lazy (April, 2009, both Bloomsbury).
Readers looking to expand beyond the influence of Zeus and his cohorts will enjoy meeting a new pantheon in Scott Mebus’s imaginative Gods of Manhattan (Dutton, 2008; Gr 5-8). After watching a magician at his younger sister Bridget’s birthday party, 13-year-old Rory is suddenly able to see past the day-to-day happenings of contemporary New York City and into “Mannahatta,” a spirit realm ruled by important individuals from New York history who have been “remembered” into immortality, including Alexander Hamilton (God of Finance), John Jacob Astor (God of Excess) and Babe Ruth (God of Heroes). Rory is swept into a world of fantastical creatures, breathtaking magic, and relentless danger, as he is called upon to halt an evil assassin who is running rampant through Mannahatta. Featuring a protagonist who grows into his role as hero, strong secondary characters (including the irresistibly spunky Bridget and a brave Battle Roach named Fritz), and an inventive melding of historical and fantasy elements, this rip-roaring adventure will captivate readers. A second installment, Spirits in the Park (Dutton), will be published in May.
Recommend these titles to Percy Jackson devotees who want more, to stir up interest in exploring the classics, to stimulate discussion and creative writing projects, and to draw attention to some really good reads.
For suggestions of picture books, graphic novels, and fully realized novelizations that focus on the adventures of the Greek pantheon, see Joy Fleishhacker's article, "Superheroes of Ancient Greece" in the spring '09 issue of Curriculum Connections. Her recommendations for elementary students to young adults will ignite interest in Greek mythology and forge a connection between superheroes then and now.
Listen to Rick Riordan pronounce his name
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