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Titles in Order of Publication:
 ODYSSEUS IN THE SERPENT MAZE
(Young Heroes)
by Jane Yolen and Robert J. Harris
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0060287349
Ages 8-12
256 pages
Read an Excerpt
Some 3000 years ago, Greek poet Homer wrote two epic stories, the Iliad and the Odyssey. Together, these works told of the Trojan War, Helen of Troy, the Trojan Horse, and the 10-year journey of King Odysseus to get back home to Ithaca after the war. The epics also introduced Penelope, the wife of Odysseus, and told how she kept faithful to her husband while he was gone, even when 108 suitors --- assuming that Odysseus was dead --- fought for her hand in marriage. Well, even heroes were kids once, and ODYSSEUS IN THE SERPENT MAZE tells about Odysseus, Penelope, Helen, and many of Homer's other writing subjects when they were children.
All that we know of Odysseus comes from Homer's two stories and from some Greek folk tales. Authors Yolen and Harris built on what we know by researching the time when Odysseus would have lived, and writing a story backwards from that. This new tale is full of fabulous derring-do, with pirates, monsters, and satyrs (half men, half goats). It's a children's version of the Odyssey, an imagined first heroic adventure for Odysseus.
Prince Odysseus, age 13, drags his reluctant friend Mentor along on a boar hunt after "borrowing" the king's spear. The boys manage to come back alive, but just barely, as the hunt is pretty hairy. And Mentor would like to think the adventuring is over. But Odysseus doesn't believe that the Age of Heroes is finished yet; he thinks there is still room for him to grow up to be a great hero himself. The gods seem to agree with Odysseus, because the two boys soon face another adventure that scares even Odysseus. They fall off a ship, get picked up by pirates, meet up with Silenus (a smelly old satyr) find the magic workshop of the inventor, Daedalus, and get thrown into prison on the island of Crete. Then things start getting interesting.
Well, we know that all the children survive to grow up for more adventures, but how? And where does the serpent maze come in? You'll want to read this book to find out.
--- Reviewed by Tamara Penny
 HIPPOLYTA AND THE CURSE OF THE AMAZONS
(Young Heroes)
by Jane Yolen, Robert J. Harris
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0060287365
Ages 8-12
248 pages
Read an Excerpt
Fans of Xena, Warrior Princess will enjoy reading this book about the life experiences of Princess Hippolyta, a 13-year-old Amazon. Hippolyta's world is much different from ours today. In Hippolyta's lifetime, boys aren't welcome. The Amazon race is only made up of women. Years ago the goddess Artemis made a law that all sons born to women were to be sent away before their first birthday -- unless a queen has a boy as her first born child. A queen's first born son is returned to his father. If the queen has a second son, it must be sacrificed at Artemis' altar. Legend told that if a queen had a second son and he lived to be a man, he would be the cause of the destruction of the Amazon race. Being born a boy in the Amazon race was a death sentence.
Like other Amazons, Princess Hippolyta was trained from early childhood in the arts of hunting and war. When her mother, the peaceful Queen Otrere, refuses to give up her second born son and loses her title of queen, she is imprisoned and places upon Hippolyta the task of rescuing her baby brother, Podarces. Hippolyta must steal her own baby brother Podarces and escape to Troy where the baby's father lives.
Hippolyta's journey leads her to something she's not accustomed to -- men. What she is even more unaccustomed to is asking a man for help, which she forces herself to do in order to help save her mother. An Amazon never asks for help from a man, but when Hippolyta's dire situation requires her to do so, things don't go as she hopes. She is almost devoured by a monster from the sea; she encounters an ancient warrior that she must fight for food and for her life. Hippolyta experiences many things she's never seen before. Hippolyta takes us with her on her journey, learning along with us that one culture is no better than another -- that we're all equal, regardless of our race, color or gender, and that we all need each other in order to survive. You'll also gain more insight into mythological characters and history in this tale about the Amazon Princess Hippolyta.
 ATALANTA AND THE ARCADIAN BEAST
(Young Heroes)
by Jane Yolen, Robert J. Harris
HarperCollins
ISBN: 006029454X
Ages 9-12
Atalanta's life has always been filled with danger, adventure, and mystery. Abandoned as a baby, she was raised in the woods by bears until she was four years old. Atalanta has never had --- or wanted --- a place in society. The woods, her animal friends, and her life outdoors are the things she treasures.
Then disaster strikes when a vicious creature unlike any other terrorizes the Arcadian countryside and destroys everything Atalanta holds dear. Her desire for revenge drives her out of the woods and on the beast's trail with the king's hunting party. Led by the arrogant hunter Orion, the expedition puts all of Atalanta's skills to the test. But assisted by her bear "brother" Urso, Atalanta proves she is as good a hunter as any man. She is not prepared, however, for the startling truths she will discover about justice, mercy, and her own destiny.
 JASON AND THE GORGON'S BLOOD
(Young Heroes)
Jane Yolen
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0060294523
Ages 8-12
256 pages
New York Times bestselling author Jane Yolen and Robert J. Harris continue their acclaimed Young Heroes series about the early adventures of legendary heroes and heroines. This thrilling story is about a young man who is destined to lead the Argonauts on one of the most famous quests in Greek history.
Jason is a young warrior in training --- and yet there's more to him than his simple appearance might suggest. Raised by the wise centaur Chiron and believing he's an orphan, Jason discovers that his true identity is not the only secret his guardian has been keeping. What he learns sends Jason and five of Chiron's other apprentices on a dangerous journey to save the kingdom of Iolcus from a horrible fate.
Other books by Jane Yolen:
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