Book Summary
Homer’s
Odyssey is one of the greatest epics ever written and Gareth Hinds writes and illustrates
a brilliant graphic novel modernizing the work. Monsters, magic, gods and goddesses
are beautifully drawn and the story is full of action.
Reference
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Hinds, G. (2010). The Odyssey: A Graphic Novel.
Somerville,
Massachusetts. Candlewick Press.
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Impressions:
The
watercolor and pastel is really great in this book. The drawings of women could
flag parents but this book has plenty of depth. I would also assume some form
of teaching guide will still be needed if using this book in English class. The
drawings are very realistic and the book has plenty of action sequences.
Professional Review:
Gr 7 Up--Taking a world-famous epic poem and adapting it into a graphic-novel format for modern readers is certainly an enormous endeavor. But since Hinds already performed the same feat quite admirably with Beowulf (Candlewick, 2007) he has proven himself more than capable of the task. To sum up the classic story: Odysseus tries to get home after the Trojan War, but many obstacles are thrown in his way, and many people, creatures, and gods try to stop him. His men are loyal on the one hand, yet bad at following critical orders on the other, which results in even more delays. Meanwhile, his faithful wife Penelope waits for him while fending off scores of impatient suitors. Luckily for Odysseus, he does have a few supporters, including the goddess Athena. Hinds' beautiful watercolors skillfully capture the rosy-fingered dawn, the wine-dark sea, the land of the dead, and many other settings and characters that will inspire readers. This adaptation goes far above and beyond the "highlights" coverage that other versions such as Tim Mucci's The Odyssey (Sterling, 2010) provide. Hinds' work will be a welcome addition for fans of Homer's original work and for newcomers to this classic story.
Lipinski, A. (2010). The Odyssey. School
Library Journal, 56(11), 145.
Library Uses:
Librarians
need to extend this version to English teachers who aim to teach Homer’s
Odyssey to help them understand Greek poetry. All the themes in the original
text are present in this graphic novel.
