Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Kid escapes underworld, lands in middle school in wild tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
STYX AND STONES is the tale of 12-year-old Simon, who was slaughtered along with his family in ancient Athens but is determined to escape the underworld and return to the land of the living. After centuries of harrowing attempts involving getting torn to shreds by Cerberus and other bad outcomes, he succeeds, only to land naked in a 7th grade boys' bathroom in Minnesota. Luckily for him, much bullied Zeke is there to help with scrounged clothing and navigational skills, and soon Simon is the most popular guy at St. Nikolaos Academy. Which is unfortunate, because Hades has sent a resourceful, destructive, and mean demon to drag Simon back. And then chop him into little bits.
Is It Any Good?
This wild, poignant, and funny tale finds a long-dead Athenian kid on the run from Hades landing in a Minnesota middle school, where his troubles are only beginning—but finding a friend is huge. Styx and Stones celebrates friendship and kindness as life-changing and world-changing forces, as a bullied kid finds the courage to stand up to his tormentors, be they middle school jerks or murderous demons. The fast-moving, perilous plot is packed with Greek mythology, literary references, vocabulary-boosting words, emotional moments, and wisecracks as one 12-year-old comes to terms with the wartime slaughter of his family centuries ago, and another deals with losses and troubles of his own.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about stories where Greek mythology meets today's world. Why do you think this is such a popular theme? How do you like Styx and Stones compared to other stories you've read with a similar premise?
How do this tale's versions of mythological characters like Hades and Persephone compare to the ones you've seen in other stories? Which ones do you like best?
Simon shows a lot of perseverance in trying to escape the underworld. Do you think you'd just keep trying to do something impossible because it was so important to you, or would you just give up? Why?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Adventures , Friendship , School ( Middle School )
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Empathy , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Clarion Books
- Publication date : May 5, 2026
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 240
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : June 9, 2026
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