Olympians

January 1, 2014

Gr 6-10-This sixth book in the series turns its attention to the goddess of love and beauty. Aphrodite is created from love itself, but once born, is quickly forced by Zeus into a loveless marriage to Hephaistos, the god of fire and smithing, in order to prevent conflict among the gods. Lonely and unhappy, she gives birth to Eros (aka Cupid), which sets about a comic chain of events that will change the course of human history forever. Although this volume is not as action-focused as earlier entries, O'Connor still weaves together an interesting and at times hilarious narrative about love and jealousy. His interest in the source material is evident on every page, as he brings these gods to life with his portrayals of complex emotions and distinct personalities while his simple, modern word choices make the text easily accessible. The illustrations perfectly match the text; each character gets a sleek, modern makeover while still remaining true to the clothing of the time period, and the use of soft, pastel colors set a lighthearted tone. Endnotes explain some of the more subtle references and allusions to previous works, while discussion questions, fact sheets, and an author's note further educate readers. This volume ends with a well-plotted and humorous retelling of the Judgment of Paris, where Aphrodite sets up the Trojan War wonderfully for future installments. Another strong addition to a great series.-Peter Blenski, Greenfield Public Library, WI

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2013
Grades 6-9 This sixth entry in O'Connor's growing series, after Poseidon (2013), is just as inviting as its predecessors. Wide panels filled with seductive colors depict Aphrodite's birth from the sea, her marriage to Hephaistos, and, most importantly, the jealousy and passion she engenders among the other Olympians. The author cleverly begins the story far before Aphrodite's birth, emphasizing the generative power of love since the beginning of creation. When the goddess appears, she's merely an embodiment of longstanding force of naturea gorgeous one, to be sure, but she's also wry, witty, and deeply aware of her power. Most of the time here is spent telling the story of dopey, wide-eyed Paris, who is forced to choose one of three powerful goddesses to receive the apple of discord, precipitating the Trojan War. Compellingly, O'Connor doesn't merely present the conflict as a beauty contest as it is often cast, but rather as a subtle, tricky power play orchestrated by Zeus all along. As usual, lots of source information and further reading make this classroom friendly.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2014
This latest volume in the series of graphic novels profiles the beautiful Greek goddess of love. Like the prior volumes, this book injects the mythology with an accessible modern sensibility through its colorful, action-packed graphic storytelling. Author's notes, "G(r)eek notes," and character bios provide insight into the myths and the author's creative development process. Reading list. Bib.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

November 15, 2013
O'Connor spotlights the goddess of beauty and love in this solid addition to his Olympians series. Aphrodite's three attendants, the Charites, narrate a slightly-too-long recap of the origin of the Titans and Olympians, leading up to the goddess's birth. This telling emphasizes the power of Eros as an independent force in order to highlight the dangerous potential of Aphrodite, Eros' embodiment. After a series of shorter myths, various affairs and the introduction of Aphrodite's capricious son (a mischievous cherub she names Eros, of course), the story concentrates on the beauty contest of the goddesses Aphrodite, Hera and Athena, judged by the mortal Paris. The problematic female stereotypes inherent in a story of powerful women fighting over looks are brought to center stage and addressed by the characters. They find the contest "beneath" them and "debasing" even while participating and reframe the contest as one of power by offering Paris boons--Hera would make him a rich king, Athena a conquering hero. Aphrodite offers him the most beautiful woman in the world: Helen of Troy. Graphically, O'Connor compensates for the lack of action in Aphrodite's myths by taking advantage of the comic-book format for humor, with quick lines of dialogue and humorous reaction shots. This neatly nuanced take on Aphrodite shows respect for the ultrafeminine heroine. (author's note, character profiles, "G[r]eek Notes," discussion questions, bibliography) (Graphic mythology. 8-14)

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