A little YA historical fantasy this time

I make no secret that I love historical fiction.

Julie Berry’s newest novel, Lovely War, mixes two love stories set during the First World War with Greek mythology to come up with an amazing story.

Publisher’s Summary: They are Hazel, James, Aubrey, and Colette. A classical pianist from London, a British would-be architect-turned-soldier, a Harlem-born ragtime genius in the U.S. Army, and a Belgian orphan with a gorgeous voice and a devastating past. Their story, as told by goddess Aphrodite, who must spin the tale or face judgment on Mount Olympus, is filled with hope and heartbreak, prejudice and passion, and reveals that, though War is a formidable force, it’s no match for the transcendent power of Love.

 

It might sound impossible to mix the two stories, but in doing so, Berry turns a good love story into something so much better.

I listened to the audiobook and it was fabulous. Whether you read the print version or listen to the audiobook, you will not be disappointed.

She’s done it again!

Marilyn Singer wowed us in 2010 when she published Mirror Mirror her first book of reverso poems, that can be read forwards and backwards. That book and her follow-up Follow Follow,  retold fairy tales.

Her newest book, Echo Echo,  takes on Greek Mythology.

Publisher’s Summary: What happens when you hold up a mirror to poems about Greek myths? You get a brand-new perspective on the classics! And that is just what happens in Echo Echo, the newest collection of reverso poems from Marilyn Singer. Read one way, each poem tells the story of a familiar myth; but when read in reverse, the poems reveal a new point of view! Readers will delight in uncovering the dual points of view in well-known legends, including the stories of Pandora’s box, King Midas and his golden touch, Perseus and Medusa, Pygmalion, Icarus and Daedalus, Demeter and Persephone, and Echo and Narcissus.

These cunning verses combine with beautiful illustrations to create a collection of fourteen reverso poems to treasure.

A brief summary of each myth  appears at the bottom of each page, to help readers remember the story each pair of poems references.

The illustrations, by José Masse, are done in shades of blue, making me think of the iconic blue roofs of Santorini.

These books are great resources to teach point of view and/or poetry.

Ares: Bringer of War

You’ve probably heard Gustav Holst’s Mars: Bringer of War,  from The Planets. This recording is seven minutes long, so keep reading while you listen.

Well, I just read Ares: Bringer of War a graphic retelling of the Greek god’s story, by George O’Connor.

Ares: God of War is the seventh book in the Olympians series. This book tells the exciting story of the Trojan War, and the Gods’ interference in this epic battle. War-lover Ares butts heads with Athena, goddess of military victory–and their conflict will have repercussions for generations to come.

This is a new series to me, and  Ares: God of War  is the first book I have read in it. Now I am anxious to read the rest. There are seven books in the series so far, all of which have received excellent reviews. They have a website that you can check out here.

This is a set of books that should be in any class that studies Greek Mythology, or that has kids with an interest in it. If you have kids reading the Percy Jackson series, these would be the perfect companion books for them.