The Wrath of Zozimos

Gr 5–8—In this installment, Zozimos is kidnapped by his uncle so they can exact revenge on the evil witch who killed the king and banished him, the only prince, from the kingdom. However, Zozimos has other plans and tries to help his friends first. He finally makes it to his homeland of Sticatha, but not before his uncle is trampled to death by a giant boar, he is turned into a goat by Artemis, is tricked by Athena, and runs into his love… who happens to be his half sister. This is just the first part of Zozimos's crazy adventures. He goes on a dangerous quest, with many friends, to find the golden feather that holds the power of the gods. If he succeeds, he can have his kingdom back. Here is where Zozimos must face the monster within and battle what has been holding him back from being a true warrior for so long. These adventures truly feature stickmen. The black-and-white simple drawings and clean lines will target those who enjoy graphic novels already and are familiar with the variety of artwork associated with them. The story is simple to follow and entertaining, but feels rushed near the end. Nonetheless, the wacky action, pervasive potty humor, and fast pacing will captivate many readers. Those looking to beef up their graphic novel collections will appreciate this fun addition.—Mariela Siegert, Westfield Middle School, Bloomingdale, IL