 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Quicksilver
- By Stephanie Spinner
- Genre: Folklore
Common Sense Media says
Clever novelization of the various Hermes myths.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this is based on Greek myths, which were violent and sometimes sexual. Though the author doesn't shy away from these aspects, she doesn't wallow in them either -- she mentions them and moves on.
What's the story?
Hermes, messenger god and son of Zeus, tells of his involvement in some of the major Greek myths and stories. In between running Zeus's errands and conveying souls to the underworld, he helps Perseus defeat Medusa, negotiates between Demeter and Hades for the return of Persephone, arranges the Judgment of Paris, copes with the flood of dead souls from the Trojan War, and frees Odysseus from the nymph Calypso, only to fall for her himself.
Is it any good?
Though the tales are ancient, author Stephanie Spinner invents a modern, ironic, somewhat snarky voice for Hermes that both fits his mythological character (he was, after all, god of thieves and pranksters as well as messenger) and adds to the enjoyment of his story. On Zeus: "Joking with my father when he's testy is like challenging the Gorgons to a staring contest. Bad idea." On Hades: "a walking bad mood." The Furies: "as gleeful as undetected felons at a public execution."
Parents and teachers will be glad that, unlike so many attempts to modernize and add humor to Greek myths, this one hews very closely to the original stories. Even the humor grows organically out of the tales and existing characters of the gods, not through anachronism or adding a street-slangy patina. The updating comes in the telling, not by altering the myths, making it useful for classes studying ancient Greece.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about Hermes' aversion to war, which the other gods enjoy, and his desire for his father Zeus's approval. How could you find out more about these myths if you wanted to?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
Parent of 6 and 8 year old
April 9, 2008
AGE
Snappy re-telling of Hermes myths, really enjoyable for Greek myth fans
Some violence and gruesome bits are pretty much unavoidable with the Greek myths -- but they're not wallowed in or dwelt on in this version. Indeed, Hermes vows never to kill again, and there's an overall anti-war message. Similarly, the scene with goddesses undressing for Paris to judge their beauty was handled with some restraint. I felt that Hermes keeping secret from Calypso that he had erased her memory of Oddyseus was questionable and needed discussion with a kid. It's quite funny. Charming -- a treat for those with an interest in Greek myths. Recommended for 8+ (or a little older for those without prior exposure to the Greek myths).
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 8 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
Good funny retellings of the Greek Myths from Hermes point of view.
A great book with some more popular Greek Myths retold. Stephanie Spinners retellings made me never want it to end. It has the usual violence of Greek Myths; the retellings can get gruesome otherwise it was really good with having no violence. It was really funny with Hermes humor added.
Was this review useful?
|
|
Teen, 15 years old
March 9, 2009
AGE
Hermes Rocks!
This book was wonderful! But you kinda have to know something about Greek mythos beforehand.
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 9 years old
April 25, 2010
AGE
hate it
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Teen, 14 years old
December 5, 2010
AGE
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Teen, 16 years old
May 29, 2010
AGE
Is this book worth it?
This book is very quick, and seems to be just like a text book, except it doesn't explain things good at all. The characters come and go without much description, making you forget about some of them, and have to go back to read the beginning part all over again, which is quite annoying. Also, it does teach about Greek mythology, but it feels as if it were forced, like all of a sudden Hermes gets a mission from Zeus, and he just goes and says hi to about everyone in Greek mythology, and comes back with a weird and stupid ending. I wish I hadn't read this book at all, because it totally ruined the Greek book stuff for me. I think you should just stick to The Percy Jackson series, and DO NOT READ THIS BOOK. Use a textbook instead. It's the basically same thing. So no, the book is totally lame and NOT worth it at all.
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Author: | Stephanie Spinner |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Folklore |
| Publisher: | Alfred A. Knopf |
| Publication date: | July 23, 2005 |
| Number of pages: | 229 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 12 - 17 |
| Read aloud: | 9 - 9 |
| Read alone: | 10 - 10 |
Review It
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
