For young readers captivated by ancient myths and epic battles, this book brings the legendary Trojan War vividly to life, exploring themes of courage and destiny.
A parent might reach for this book when their child shows a budding interest in ancient myths, legends, or epic battles but isn't ready for the dense original texts. This Usborne retelling masterfully simplifies the complex saga of the Trojan War, from the judgment of Paris to the fall of Troy. It's an accessible chapter book that introduces legendary heroes like Achilles and Hector, meddling gods, and iconic moments like the Trojan Horse. It explores profound themes of honor, fate, pride, and the tragic consequences of war in a way that is engaging for middle-grade readers. This book is an excellent, age-appropriate gateway to classical literature, sparking curiosity about history and mythology.
Gods and heroes act selfishly and cruelly. The 'good guys' are not always good.
Sensitive Topics
The book deals directly with war, violence, and character death. Deaths occur in battle and are presented as tragic but necessary parts of the story. The approach is not overly graphic, focusing more on the heroism and tragedy than the gore. The context is mythological, with the polytheistic Greek gods playing a central and often morally ambiguous role. The resolution is realistic for a war story: a brutal victory for one side and complete destruction for the other, leaving a sense of tragedy and loss even for the victors.
Ideal Reader
The ideal reader is a 9 to 12-year-old who has graduated from simpler fairy tales and is ready for a story with higher stakes and more complex characters. This child is likely fascinated by mythology (perhaps a fan of Percy Jackson), enjoys action and adventure stories, and is beginning to ask bigger questions about history, conflict, and human nature. They are ready for a story where the lines between good and evil are blurred.
Parent Prep
Parents should be prepared to discuss the brutality of war and the often questionable morality of the heroes and gods. The Greek gods are portrayed as vain, jealous, and manipulative, which can be a good discussion point about power. Previewing the duel between Achilles and Hector and Achilles's subsequent dishonoring of Hector's body might be helpful. The book needs little external context as it is designed to be a self-contained introduction, but a willingness to discuss the themes is beneficial. A parent has noticed their child is captivated by stories of superheroes, gods, and ancient battles. The child might have asked about Achilles or the Trojan Horse after seeing a reference in another movie or book. The trigger is a child's expressed curiosity about mythology or the grand, dramatic stories of the ancient world.
Age Experience
A 9-year-old will likely be drawn to the action sequences, the clever strategies, and the larger-than-life characters. They will see a grand adventure story with clear heroes and villains. A 12-year-old is more likely to appreciate the nuances: the tragedy of Hector's position, the profound flaws in Achilles's character, the role of fate, and the overall senselessness of the decade-long conflict. They will take away a more sophisticated understanding of the epic's tragic themes.
What Makes It Special
Among the many retellings of Greek myths, this Usborne edition excels in its accessibility and narrative clarity for a young audience. It condenses an enormous and complex epic into a fast-paced, manageable chapter book without losing the dramatic weight of the story. Unlike more scholarly versions, it prioritizes engaging storytelling, often supplemented by helpful illustrations and character guides, making it the perfect entry point into the world of Homeric epics.
Read plot summary
This book retells the epic of the Trojan War for a middle-grade audience. It covers the inciting incident of Paris judging a divine beauty contest and eloping with Helen, the queen of Sparta. This action launches a thousand ships as the Greek armies, led by Agamemnon and featuring heroes like Achilles and Odysseus, lay siege to the city of Troy. The narrative details key events from the ten-year war, including the famous duel between Hector and Achilles, the squabbles and interventions of the Olympian gods, the death of heroes on both sides, and the eventual fall of the city through the cunning ruse of the Trojan Horse.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Achilles chose a short, glorious life over a long, unknown one. What do you think of his choice? Would you have made the same decision?
2
The gods frequently interfered in the war, helping their favorite side. Do you think this was fair to the humans fighting? How would the war have been different without them?
3
Was Odysseus's idea for the Trojan Horse a brilliant strategy or a deceitful trick? Do you think it's okay to be dishonest to win a war?
4
Helen is often blamed for starting the war. After reading this version, who do you think was most responsible for the conflict: Paris, Helen, Agamemnon, or the gods?
