REVIEWS+

Athena: Goddess of Wisdom and War

Amulet. (Tales of Great Goddesses). Jun. 2021. 96p. Tr $14.99. ISBN 9781419748592.
COPY ISBN
Gr 3-5–Skipping the parts that may be less appropriate for younger audiences, the Greenberg sisters retell seven myths in which Athena played a significant role—beginning with Hephaestus smashing Zeus’s head with a hammer to let her out, ending with select adventures from the Odyssey. In between, readers see her taking time off to raise foundling demigod Erichthonius, raging after losing a weaving competition with Arachne, helpfully counseling Perseus against Medusa, and serving as a clever advocate for Odysseus. The all-caps narrative is written in informal language (“Oh wow. What an honor!” stammers “cowardly” Paris when tasked with awarding the golden apple) and inserted between or within large, stylized single scenes or grouped panels depicting modishly posed, sharp-featured figures in tunics or ankle-length shifts. Athena is tan-skinned, and the other gods and goddesses are portrayed with various hues. Though George O’Connor’s Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess presents her more forcefully and offers a more complete tally of her exploits, younger readers may find this uncomplicated version more consistently appealing, as she comes off as a strong-minded sort who makes mistakes but learns from them and stands forthrightly at the end in a goddess power trio with sister Aphrodite and proud stepmother Hera.
VERDICT A lighthearted, if sanitized, character portrait that will draw elementary grade fans of Marcia Williams’s ventures into classical history and mythology.

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.


RELATED 

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?