Return to Ithaca & The Final Battle

Volume Three contains the final books of Mary Pope Osborne's wonderful Odyssey series (RETURN TO ITHICA and THE FINAL BATTLE). After twenty hard years, Odysseus returns to Ithica, only to see his home overrun by suitors vying for his faithful wife's hand. Fortunately, the gray-eyed goddess Athena comes to his aid. Osborne has done a terrific job preserving the flavor of the original while making these stories interesting to children otherwise not inclined to read Greek myths. Narrator James Simmons does an equally fine job of bringing her stories alive for young listeners (though all listeners will enjoy these stories). His reading style is elegant and restrained yet intense. Listeners will be quietly absorbed by characters' emotions and riveted by the swift turns of events in these classic episodes. J.C.G. (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

January 1, 2005
Gr 3-6 -In this presentation of Mary Pope Osborne's final two books in the Tales from the Odyssey series ("Return to Ithaca: Book #5" and "The Final Battle: Book #6", Hyperion, 2004) James Simmons performs Osborne's lean and well-written prose with elegance and grace. In "Return to Ithaca", we find Odysseus on the shore, trying to return to Ithaca and his family after 20 years of battle, adventure, and loss. With Athena's aid, he finally makes it home only to discover his wife besieged by suitors and the kingdom failing. In the final book, the suitors are defeated. Revenge is sweet, but sweeter still is the reunion Odysseus finally shares with his faithful Penelope. The audio is clear and crisp without distracting background music or sound effects. The narrator's rich and evocative voice carries the tale, sweeping listeners along with him to another time and place. Osborne's retelling of the classic tale makes it accessible to a new generation, and this presentation will enthrall both children and the adults who share it with them. -"Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary School, Federal Way, WA"

Copyright 2005 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.