From School Library Journal
Gr 8 Up–Odysseus has been gone for nearly all of his son's life. Despite being a prince, Telemachos has grown up with few responsibilities, until the day his neighbors declare that his father must be dead, and his mother must marry one of them so that there would be a king. In response, Telemachos, who has never left the kingdom, says he will travel the world to search for word of his father. Accompanied by Brax, a centaur, and runaway weaver Polydora, the teen discovers that the world is full of dangers, some of them giving the appearance of friendship. He also begins to discover what a good kingship requires by viewing the hurting realms of Pylos and Sparta. Readers familiar with The Odyssey will know some of how the story ends, but Barrett's depictions of familiar characters and situations are surprising and fresh, allowing a new tale to be told inside the old one. The author also makes much of no one expecting poets to tell the truth, just a good story, and Telemachos's own narrative ends with the traditional concluding words of a poet that seem to be a tongue-in-cheek commentary on storytelling. This is a strong retelling with definite YA appeal, particularly in Telemachos's final triumph, where he takes the chariot reins of his life in his own hands.–Alana Joli Abbott, James Blackstone Memorial Library, Branford, CTα(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Telemachos was just a babe when his father, Odysseus, left their kingdom of Ithaka to fight in the Trojan War. Now Telemachos is 16, and the men of Ithaka have grown restless watching the queen try to lead the island nation. To prevent a coup (or worse), Telemachos conquers his fear of the sea and sets off (with the delightful centaur Brax) to find Odysseus, guided only by a vague prophecy. Readers familiar with The Odyssey will recognize the triton, naiads, and satyrs and enjoy Telemachos’ dangerous adventures as he strives to bring his father home and save the kingdom. Although Barrett’s vision does not stir the reader to the heights of Adele Geras’ Troy (2001), the exotic climes and vivid descriptions nevertheless give the story a sense of immediacy and color. Telemachos’ first-person narration allows readers to experience the complexity of his character as the prince matures and evolves into a leader that would make any parent proud. Grades 7-10. --Melissa Moore
