A parent might reach for this book when their child is captivated by myths, monsters, and grand adventures, or when they need an inspiring story about not giving up on a long, hard journey. This book is an accessible retelling of Homer's epic, The Odyssey. It follows the clever Greek hero Ulysses as he spends ten years trying to get home after the Trojan War, facing down a one-eyed giant, an enchantress who turns men into pigs, and terrifying sea monsters. It masterfully introduces young readers to themes of resilience, bravery in the face of fear, and the powerful pull of family and home. Perfectly suited for early chapter book readers, it simplifies the complex classic without losing its thrilling spirit, making it an excellent gateway to world mythology.
Encounters with monsters like a one-eyed giant and a creature that eats sailors can be frightening.
Character DeathModerate
Over the course of the story, the hero's entire crew of companions dies in various encounters.
Sensitive Topics
The book contains frequent mythological violence and character death. Ulysses's entire crew perishes over the course of the story, though the deaths are not depicted graphically. The violence is fantastical (battles with monsters) rather than realistic. The approach is secular, treating the Greek gods as powerful characters in a story, not as figures of religious worship. The resolution is hopeful and triumphant, as Ulysses successfully returns home and reunites with his wife and son.
Ideal Reader
The ideal reader is a 7- to 9-year-old who is transitioning into chapter books and loves action-packed fantasy stories. This child is fascinated by monsters, magic, and clever heroes who outsmart their opponents. They are ready for a story with a continuing narrative and higher stakes than a simple picture book or fairy tale.
Parent Prep
A parent should preview the chapters involving the Cyclops and the sea monster Scylla, as these can be particularly intense for sensitive readers. It would be helpful to pre-frame the story by explaining that it is a very old tale about a hero who is famous for being both brave and smart. It's also worth noting that Ulysses's friends do not make it home, which can be a point of conversation about the dangers of the journey and the cost of leadership. A parent has noticed their child's interest in mythology, perhaps after watching a movie like Percy Jackson or learning about ancient Greece in school. The child is asking for stories with "big monsters" and "cool heroes," and the parent wants a foundational, age-appropriate introduction to a classic epic.
Age Experience
A younger reader (age 7) will likely experience the book as a series of exciting, separate monster encounters, focusing on the action in each chapter. An older reader (age 9-10) is more likely to grasp the overarching themes of perseverance, the emotional weight of Ulysses's decade-long absence, and the cleverness behind his strategies. They will connect more with the emotional journey of trying to get home.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many modern myth-based series (e.g., Percy Jackson) that place mythological elements in a contemporary setting, this Usborne retelling is a direct, faithful, and simplified adaptation of the original epic. Its strength lies in its accessibility, using clear language and illustrations to make a cornerstone of Western literature digestible and exciting for a young audience without the filter of a modern protagonist.
Read plot summary
This book is a simplified, illustrated chapter-book adaptation of Homer's Odyssey for young readers. It chronicles the ten-year journey of the Greek hero Ulysses (Odysseus) as he attempts to return to his kingdom of Ithaca after the Trojan War. The narrative is structured as a series of episodic adventures where Ulysses and his crew encounter famous mythological figures and dangers, including the Lotus Eaters, the Cyclops Polyphemus, the enchantress Circe, the deadly Sirens, the sea monsters Scylla and Charybdis, and the goddess Calypso.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Ulysses tells the Cyclops his name is 'Nobody' to trick him. Do you think it was okay for Ulysses to lie? Why or why not? When is it okay to tell a lie?
2
When the crew opens the bag of winds that blows them off course, they disobey Ulysses's direct orders. Why do you think they did it? What makes it hard to follow rules sometimes?
3
While Ulysses is on his long journey home, his wife Penelope has to be very clever to deal with the men who want to marry her. How are Penelope's challenges similar to or different from Ulysses's challenges?
4
Of all the dangers Ulysses faced (the Cyclops, Circe's magic, the Sirens' song, the sea monsters), which one do you think required the most bravery to overcome? Which one required the most cleverness?
