Echo Echo

Starred review from December 21, 2015
Arachne, Icarus, Midas, and—as the title suggests—Narcissus are among the renowned Greek figures who feature in Singer and Masse’s third collection of “reverso” poems, which are intended to be read both forward and backward. “Wondrous!/ How/ life-/like!/ There is nothing in this world/ so perfect,” says Pygmalion of his statue, Galatea. “There is nothing in this world/ like/ life!” reads Galatea’s accompanying poem. “How/ wondrous!” Masse’s acrylics, dominated by rich colors and vertical symmetries, evoke weathered frescoes. The Minotaur appears prominently beside the poems for Theseus and Ariadne, half of its head transformed into a winding maze of golden thread, while the image paired with poems for Demeter and Persephone is divided into seasonal quadrants. Details about the myths appear across the bottom of the pages, further boosting the utility of another inventive exploration of stories readers thought they knew. Ages 6–9. Author's agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. Illustrator’s agent: Lori Nowicki, Painted Words.

November 15, 2015
Poetic portraits of well-known figures from Greek mythology. Picking up where they left off with their "reverso" renderings of classic fairy tales (Follow Follow: A Book of Reversos, 2013, etc.), poet Singer and illustrator Masse take on Greek myth, choosing some of the most famous legends to explore from multiple perspectives. In 2010, Singer created the provocative reverso form, in which--not unlike an extended palindrome--a lyric poem presents a portrait and then recasts it backward, line by line, in a companion poem. The complicated fates of the dozen mythic figures portrayed here, among them Arachne, Midas, Demeter, and Persephone, lend themselves particularly well to this reflective form, and Masse's gorgeous acrylics, richly stylized in blues and gold, effectively capture the dualistic nature of the reverso form. Here, curious Pandora, forever blamed for unleashing untold evils into the world when she "opened that darn box," gets a sympathetic reprieve when the story flips: "She let loose those evils, / but / she didn't collect them. / She gets the blame. / No matter that / it might have been great Zeus's game." The myth of "Eurydice and Orpheus," though, again hinging on succumbing to desire, here relies rather too heavily on the narrative note at the bottom of the page to convey the tragic plot to young readers. In all, though, a visual and interpretive feast bringing timeless tales to a young audience. (Picture book/poetry. 8-12)

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Starred review from January 1, 2016

Gr 2-5-A companion volume to this team's Mirror Mirror (2010) and Follow Follow (2013, both Dial), this imaginative work is a symphony of cannily composed verse intensified by a palette of Aegean blues, sunlit golds, and delicate greens. Through reverso poems rendered in an elegant font on split blue and white pages, Singer presents two sides of different Greek myths. The demanding wordplay is deftly handled and prettily displayed. Perfectly complementing-indeed, enhancing-the sly subtlety of the text are Masse's compelling stylized acrylics: Narcissus gazing raptly at his reflection, Daedalus soaring into airy blueness while molting, and melting Icarus plunging into the ocean. For those unfamiliar with the Greek myths, an encapsulated summary is provided at the bottom of each spread. VERDICT A witty, seductive pairing of poetic imagination and artistic vision.-Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2015
Grades 2-5 Singer's delightful third reverso poetry collection (after Mirror Mirror, 2010, and Follow Follow, 2013) here focuses on classic Greek myths. From the stories of Arachne and Athena to Pandora and Zeus and others, her intricately crafted, paired reverso poems, one for each featured character, lyrically lend differing perspectives and depth to the tales. For example, in Eurydice and Orpheus, Orpheus, having rescued true-love Eurydice from Hades, concludes hopefully A second chance at romance is what lies ahead / not / our final farewell while Eurydice's poem opens less certainly Our final farewell, / not / a second chance at romance is what lies ahead. Enchanting, lushly hued, split-panel illustrations portray the characters and scenarios in harmonious yet distinct artwork, reflecting the different viewpoints and story elements. Though the poems may have more dimension for readers already familiar with the myths, a footnote on each spread offers a brief abstract. Singer's endnote provides background on Greek mythology, her reverso poems, and sources for the myths. A wonderful addition to poetry collections and accompaniment for the myths.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)