Jason and the Gorgon's Blood (Young Heroes) [Hardcover]

Jane Yolen (Author), Robert J. Harris (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Young Heroes

Jason is a young warrior in training -- and yet there's more to him than his simple appearance might suggest. Raised by the wise centaur Chiron and believing himself an orphan, Jason discovers that his true identity is not the only secret his guardian has been keeping. What he learns sends Jason and five of Chiron's other apprentices on a dangerous journey to save the kingdom of Iolcus from a horrible fate.

In a daring race against time, Jason and his companions must bridge yawning chasms, battle vicious harpies, navigate their way down treacherous rapids, and outsmart marauding centaurs. Surpris-ingly, Jason's greatest challenge comes from within, for becoming a great leader proves to be the most difficult task of all.

In another thrilling adventure that imagines Greek heroes as young men and women, Jane Yolen and Robert J. Harris explore the early years of Jason, before he led the Argonauts on one of the most famous quests in Greek mythology.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6--Jason (of the Argonauts) is a famous hero and his later exploits may be familiar to readers. This, though, is the story of his life as a boy--one that Yolen and Harris have imagined, based on other Greek tales. Jason and his fellow apprentices are catapulted into a dangerous quest when the evil centaur Nessus steals the Gorgon's blood from their mentor, Chiron. Just before they leave on their adventure, Jason learns that he is the son of the rightful king--but so does the son of the imposter king; this little bit of information is the source of tension and intrigue. There is plenty of action to keep mythology enthusiasts happy, and the band of angry and violent centaurs and attacks by hungry harpies could convert new fans to the genre. This entry in the series does not disappoint, though the themes that heroes are made when they are young and that strength of character is all-important are a bit more heavy-handed in this title than in others. Still, these messages do not get in the way of a fine story.--Angela J. Reynolds, Washington County Cooperative Library Services, Hillsboro, OR
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 4-6. In the newest episode of the Young Heroes series, Jason turns a hostile, arrogant princeling into an ally while leading a contentious group of schoolmates over rugged mountains to recover jugs of Gorgon's Blood stolen from his wise mentor, Chiron. The journey not only brings on a nonstop cascade of literal and figurative cliffhangers, punctuated by encounters with harpies, a goddess, and brutish centaurs, but also challenges Jason to exercise all of the qualities of a good leader: courage, quick wit, persuasiveness, the ability to bring out the best in his companions, and a (sometimes reluctant) willingness to swallow both doubts and pride. As in previous series titles, the dialogue can be wooden ("Is that all you think of yourself? A worthless orphan? Have I not taught you to take pride in your skills and talents?"), but the "learning to be a leader" theme folds seamlessly into the action, and, as explained in an afterword, the authors stay close to classical sources in portraying both mortal and immortal characters. John Peters
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 246 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1 edition (February 17, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060294523
• ISBN-13: 978-0060294526
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,684,309 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born and raised in New York City, Jane Yolen now lives in Hatfield, Massachusetts. She attended Smith College and received her master's degree in education from the University of Massachusetts. The distinguished author of more than 170 books, Jane Yolen is a person of many talents. When she is not writing, Yolen composes songs, is a professional storyteller on the stage, and is the busy wife of a university professor, the mother of three grown children, and a grandmother. Active in several organizations, Yolen has been on the Board of Directors of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, was president of the Science Fiction Writers of America from 1986 to 1988, is on the editorial board of several magazines, and was a founding member of the Western New England Storytellers Guild, the Western Massachusetts Illustrators Guild, and the Bay State Writers Guild. For twenty years, she ran a monthly writer's workshop for new children's book authors. In 1980, when Yolen was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law degree by Our Lady of the Elms College in Chicopee, Massachusetts, the citation recognized that "throughout her writing career she has remained true to her primary source of inspiration--folk culture." Folklore is the "perfect second skin," writes Yolen. "From under its hide, we can see all the shimmering, shadowy uncertainties of the world." Folklore, she believes, is the universal human language, a language that children instinctively feel in their hearts. All of Yolen's stories and poems are somehow rooted in her sense of family and self. The Emperor and the Kite, which was a Caldecott Honor Book in 1983 for its intricate papercut illustrations by Ed Young, was based on Yolen's relationship with her late father, who was an international kite-flying champion. Owl Moon, winner of the 1988 Caldecott Medal for John Schoenherr's exquisite watercolors, was inspired by her husband's interest in birding. Yolen's graceful rhythms and outrageous rhymes have been gathered in numerous collections. She has earned many awards over the years: the Regina Medal, the Kerlan Award, the World Fantasy Award, the Society of Children's Book Writers Award, the Mythopoetic Society's Aslan Award, the Christopher Medal, the Boy's Club Jr. Book Award, the Garden State Children's Book Award, the Daedalus Award, a number of Parents' Choice Magazine Awards, and many more. Her books and stories have been translated into Japanese, French, Spanish, Chinese, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Afrikaans, !Xhosa, Portuguese, and Braille. With a versatility that has led her to be called "America's Hans Christian Andersen," Yolen, the child of two writers, is a gifted and natural storyteller. Perhaps the best explanation for her outstanding accomplishments comes from Jane Yolen herself: "I don't care whether the story is real or fantastical. I tell the story that needs to be told."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Blood"-y good, May 31, 2004

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Jason and the Gorgon's Blood (Young Heroes) (Hardcover)

The fourth volume of Jane Yolen and Robert J. Harris' Young Heroes series is perhaps the best so far, with its thrilling plot and excellent characterization. "Jason and the Gorgon's Blood" gives an extra dimension to the mythical hero, while giving readers a likable underdog to root for.

Jason and a bunch of other boys are apprenticed to the wise old centaur Chiron. One day a bit of misbehavior gets them all sent on an errand, only to return to find that Chiron has been beaten almost to death -- and two mysterious jars have been stolen from him. He reveals to Jason that the jars hold the Gorgon's blood; one can cure anything, even raise the dead, and the other is a potent poison. He also reveals that Jason is the rightful heir to the city of Iolcus, which fellow apprentice Acastus is prince of.

Now a horde of nasty centaurs have stolen them, and it's up to Jason and his fellow apprentices to find the jars before Iolcus is destroyed. But the boys don't know enough about the dangers ahead of them: harpies, angry goddesses... and Acastus himself, secretly plotting to kill Jason. Jason has to somehow whip the boys into a cooperative team, before the army of centaurs can use the Gorgon's blood for themselves.

The Young Heroes series is an interesting idea in itself -- Greek heroes and heroines shown as uncertain teens. And Jason's gradual journey is a solid, pulse-pounding one, hinting at his future adventures with the Argonauts. It has the basics of the other books -- god cameos, monsters, hints of the adult lives of the heroes -- but somehow it's a bit smoother this time around.

Yolen and Harris's writing is detailed and fast-moving. There are a few nuggets of humor thrown in, but overall the tone tends to be grim. And of course, Greek mythology buffs will be delighted by the cameos by such characters as harpies, Chiron the centaur, Argos the shipwright and Alcestis (who makes an appearance in some myths about Hercules).

The relationship between Acastus and Jason is excellent. Jason is struggling both to keep himself alive and to be a leader, knowing that Acastus wants him dead. Acastus, on the other hand, grows from being a brat prince to being a conflicted young man who respects Jason. That theme of gradual friendship under fire is freshly written.

"Jason and the Gorgon's Blood" is an intense, intriguing look at the early life of one of the greatest Greek heroes of legend. An excellent read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Romping Good Fun!, December 11, 2006

By 

Amy Graham (Scottsdale, AZ) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Jason and the Gorgon's Blood (Young Heroes) (Hardcover)

This is my fourth read in the Young Heroes series by Yolen & Harris and while Odysseus and the Serpent Maze is still my favorite, Jason and the Gorgon's Blood comes in a close second and all are good, entertaining reads...glimpses into what might have been in the young lives of the famous heroes of Greek mythology. It is humor that makes the difference in which I find more entertaining...each book in this series has slightly less humorous moments and more drama/conflict, that's not to say that this book is devoid of the humorous touches that abounded in Odysseus, it's that there are less of them. Jason and the Gorgon's Blood is more action/adventure and has more human drama and conflict than any of the previous three books. As the story starts out Jason and Chiron's other students are in hot water for riding through town drunk on the back of pigs...a boyish prank that earns them the punishment of taking a day's journey (hung-over) to fetch herbs for Chiron.

Right from the start we get to the heart of the conflict that runs through the book, two of Chiron's students are princes (Acastus and Admetus), Idas and his brother Lynceus (long sight) , Melampus of Pylos (reputation as a seer, naturally) set off arguing about who is in charge and with Acastus trying to shirk his part of the task, playing on his princely origins...what's clear is that each is a bit full of himself (except Jason, of course), thinks little of Jason, and that Acastus above all of them is scornful, spoiled, shallow, and arrogant beyond belief. Each of the boys has faults, but it's clear that this tale is meant to focus on the building conflict between Jason (true heir of Iolcus) and Acastus raised from birth as the Prince of same. The arguing boys are nearly done in by centaurs they encounter, but thankfully they become distracted and leave the boys relatively unharmed. The truth behind this initial contact is made clear when the group returns to Chiron's cave and find him bloody and beaten, near death.

These young men almost immediately set out on a journey to stop the centaur's evil plot to kill all the humans using Gorgon's blood that Chiron was safekeeping. Before leaving on the journey, Chiron tells Jason the truth about who he is, which turns out to be a central conflict as the story progresses. Jason leads this unruly band of adventurers over the mountains, encountering Hera's wrath, harpies, and an army of centaurs...but most importantly the very real human element conflict within themselves and with each other as each vies for the power and glory of leading (the struggle for "right" to lead and "ability" is nearly constant here) in the end, each finds growth as individuals by learning to use one another's strengths and working together toward a mutual goal of saving human kind from the wrath of the centaurs.

Overall, this is a fast-paced, romping good adventure, worthy of being the predecessor of the Argonauts where these boys must rely on skill, cunning and the favor of the Gods to achieve success in their task. The drama is heart-felt and poignant (in places) and the dangers believable, I give it an A+...there is humor and drama in the conflict between Jason and Acastus...but also growth and respect in the end...certainly, both of these boys walk away from the adventure with a new respect for themselves and each other...but the same can also be said of all the adventurers in this tale. The die is cast for the adventures yet to come (with brief appearance of Argo in a humorous look at his future) and we enjoy a brief look at what might have been for Jason and his youthful adventures. I for one certainly hope that Yolen & Harris write more for the Young Heroes series, truly enjoyable!