Tales from the Odyssey Sirens and Sea Monsters (Tales from the Odyssey, 3) - Softcover

Osborne, Mary Pope

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0786809302 ISBN 13: 9780786809301

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2003

Synopsis

Odysseus and his men have done what no other mortals have done: returned alive from the terrifying Land of the Dead. Armed with warnings and advice from the ghosts of the prophet Tiresias, Odysseus is determined to finally sail home to Ithaca. But the enchantress Circe tells him that the Greeks will face even more horrors on their journey, including an encounter with Scylla, the six-headed monster, and Charybdis, the deadly whirlpool. Who will survive these terrors-and how? In this third of six books based on episodes from Homer's Odyssey, Mary Pope Osborne continues the exciting adventures of one of the greatest heroes of all time.

About this title

About the Author

Mary Pope Osborne is the author of the best-selling series The Magic Tree House. She has also written many acclaimed retellings of myths and folktales and works of historical fiction.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-9-Closely following Book 12 of the Odyssey, Osborne relates the tale of Odysseus and his men as they travel back from the Land of the Dead to Circe's Island. Circe warns Odysseus of dangers ahead; he and his men soldier on to the seas of the monster Scylla, where six men are viciously eaten, as Circe had foretold. Heeding her words, Odysseus tries to talk his men out of stopping at Helios's island, but they insist, defying the gods by eating Helios's cattle, resulting in their deaths. Odysseus is left alone, floating through the seas, until he lands on the shores of Calypso's island. Osborne presents a readable version of the old story, retaining Homeric refrains and using the descriptive language found in better translations. The story is not modernized, yet will appeal to today's readers. The book includes a helpful map, and end matter such as a pronunciation guide, a list of the major gods and goddesses, sources, and information about Homer and his works. Young readers will find the adventures of Odysseus intriguing, and reluctant middle- to high-school readers could gain access to the Odyssey through this series.
Angela J. Reynolds, Washington County Cooperative Library Services, Hillsboro, OR
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0786809302
• ISBN 13: 9780786809301
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 112
• Illustrator: Howell Troy