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The Adventures of Odysseus

(2006, Fiction - Folklore, Written by Hugh Lupton, Illustrated by Christina Balit)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 7, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 8.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Smart picture-book version of the classic tale.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 8 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Odysseus massacres the unarmed suitors.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Bloody battles, an eye-gouging, deaths, animal sacrifice, people eaten by monsters.

  • Sex:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Drinking and drunkenness.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Adventures of Odysseus

Parents need to know that this is a bloody story, and the authors don't shy away from it. People are killed in battle and in cold blood, by humans and by monsters, and animals are killed for food and for sacrifice to the gods.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the theme of hubris. Did Odysseus deserve his fate? Did his men? What does the story tell us about how the ancient Greeks saw the world? Children may be interested in reading more thorough retellings, and older children may want to read a translation of the original. Some may also be interested in researching the truth beyond this seemingly fantastic story.
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