Medusa Tells All

April 1, 2014

Gr 2-5-With kidfriendly illustrations and a clever narrative voice, these twisted myths will have kids chuckling. For example, in the story of the Cyclops and Odysseus, Polyphemus explains that he ate Odysseus's companions because he believed the old saying "You are what you eat" and he desperately wanted to become human. The stories of Medea and Medusa stick closer to the original source material, with the two women blaming the gods for their woes-a true reflection of Greek mythology, where typically blame did boil down to the interference of the gods (and perhaps a little pride on the part of the mortals). A critical thinking section at the end will guide teachers to using these books in classroom discussions about mythology, and the notes on integrating Common Core topics is helpful. Though the books are humorous, they may be confusing to those unfamiliar with the original tales. The additional sources recommended in the end notes will aid interested readers in tracking down further retellings.

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2014
Grades 3-5 In a new series aimed at getting readers to consider other perspectives in classic stories, this installment tells the story of Medusa, the hideous gorgon beheaded by Perseus. Here she's a melodramatic, slightly stuck-up teenage girl blessedor cursedwith ethereal beauty: I couldn't help it if men turned and stared at my long, flowing hair. OK, maybe I swished it on purpose. From her occasionally temperamental point of view, Medusa narrates her run-ins with Poseidon and Athena (who comes off as an insecure bully), her cursed transformation, and her eventual beheading by Perseus. The colorful cartoon illustrations add a nice touch of humor, like the trail of petrified townspeople in Medusa's wake after her transformation. Concluding with Common Core Standards focused questions, this would be useful for expanding discussions of classic mythology.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)