happyreader

Q & A session with Emilio from the 5th grade class of

Mrs. Schoettley & Mrs. Ettinger on the Tales from the Odyssey series by Mary Pope Osborne

Ms. Parent: Emilio, you just finished the entire series! WHEW! All six books in seven days! How do you feel?

Emilio: I feel awesome! I couldn't stop reading the series. I even reread some of the books and I recommend the series to all readers who love Greek Mythology like me.

Ms. Parent: Emilio, even though this series is written at an end of 3rd grade, beginning of 4th grade reading level, do you think it is still kind of challenging and that older kids––even middle school kids––might like it?

Emilio: It seems easy, but it was still kind of a challenge. There are so many different names of all of the gods and goddesses to keep straight.  The pronunciation of the names took a little bit to get used to too. In the back of the book there is a pronunciation guide though. Because it is a series, you really have to keep track of what is going on.

Mrs. Parent: I agree. I think that the series is challenging and interesting––especially if you are into Greek Mythology like we are.
Can you briefly tell the readers about the plot of this series?

Emilio: There is a man called Odysseus who went to fight in the Trojan War against Troy because Helen, another King's wife, was taken. He sailed off with 12 ships and I'm not going to tell you if he defeats them or not. You'll have to read the book to find out. But, he was there for ten years.
On his way home, he was thrown off course because he had angered  both Athena, the goddess of wisdom, war and arts & crafts, and later
Poseidon, the god of the seas and rivers. He had to escape all sorts of monsters and giants, like: the one-eyed giant, other cannibal giants, sea monsters and siren. If you want to know if Odysseus survives all of these adventures, read the series. You won't be able to put it down!

Ms. Parent: Hey, Emilio check this picture out:

Emilio: That's a picture of the sirens. They were these beautiful ladies that had beautiful voices and bird wings. But they were deadly and made you want to drown yourself.

Ms. Parent: Do you have wishes (for the series)?

Emilio: Yes. I wish that Odysseus would have escaped with all of his men and that the series would never end.

Ms. Parent: Here are just a few facts about The Odyssey:

The Odyssey was one of two major poems from ancient Greece, written by a blind poet named Homer. No one knows the exact date of the poem, but it is dated around 800 to 600 B.C.

When I was little, my dad loved Greek mythology too and read my brother and me tons of stories and poems and plays. He passed that love onto me. I have read this series many times! I am so happy that there is a version for younger readers.