Bound To Stay Bound

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 Zeus : king of the gods (Olympians)
 Author: O'Connor, George

 Publisher:  First Second (2010)

 Dewey: 741.5
 Classification: Nonfiction
 Physical Description: 76 p., col. ill., 26 cm.

 BTSB No: 685812 ISBN: 9781596436251
 Ages: 9-13 Grades: 4-8

 Subjects:
 Greek mythology
 Graphic novels

Price: $17.68

Summary:
Introduces the ruler of the Olympian pantheon in graphic novel format.

Accelerated Reader Information:
   Interest Level: MG
   Reading Level: 3.50
   Points: .5   Quiz: 135019
Reading Counts Information:
   Interest Level: 3-5
   Reading Level: 4.70
   Points: 3.0   Quiz: 48671

Common Core Standards 
   Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → 4.RL Key Ideas & Details
   Grade 7 → Reading → CCR College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Reading

Reviews:
   Kirkus Reviews (12/15/09)
   School Library Journal (03/01/10)
   Booklist (01/01/10)
 The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (+) (03/10)

Full Text Reviews:

Booklist - 01/01/2010 O’Connor unveils his new Olympians graphic-novel series with this story of the daddy of Greek gods. Most immediately striking about this, aside from the exciting artwork, is the care O’Connor takes to visualize the creation myth that begins with Gaea creating and taking as a husband the sky, Ouranos. Their children—the Titans and other proto-Olympian entities—are often neglected or at best murkily covered, but here they’re vividly portrayed with all the magnificence of their beyond-good-and-evil power. After this breathtaking and lengthy sequence, Zeus enters the scene to grow from a feisty nymph-needling youth to a lightning bolt–wielding avenger. The extended, earth-shattering battle he wages with his father, Kronos, takes up the bulk of the story, delivering page after page of cataclysmic blows with the sensibility and hyperkinetic pacing of a literary superhero comic. While O’Connor includes a generous bounty of bonus materials to gratify myth hounds, this series could well become the initiation point for a new cadre of acolytes. New volumes should come quickly, with Athena's book due in April 2010. - Copyright 2010 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 03/01/2010 Gr 4 Up— This 12-volume series debuts with the origins of Zeus. O'Connor begins his retelling by starting from literally nothing. Then a simple brown circle introduces readers to Gaea, or Mother Earth. The creation of Olympians unfolds slowly with simple straightforward lines and silhouettes. Dark browns and blacks echo the early development of the Titans. The first fully rendered face is that of the infant Zeus, with his birth symbolized in a pastel palette. This new race of Gods is visually and strikingly different. Zeus's virility and vitality both bring the story to life and make it accessible to young readers. Zeus's encounters with gods, particularly his battle with his father Kronos, are visually compelling. Images of grasping hands, thunderbolts, close-up visages, gaping holes in the earth, and silhouetted bodies bring Zeus's struggle for dominance into clear focus. Oversize panels reinforce the heroic proportions of the story. It is telling that from such a simple beginning, the complex story is able to evolve naturally to a satisfying conclusion, as depicted on the final page showing Zeus and the new race of numerous immortal gods. O'Connor clearly hints throughout the retelling that more stories are forthcoming: "And that is a tale for another day." Endpapers show the Olympian Family Tree. Back matter includes an author's note, notation of Greek words, discussion questions, and recommended reading. This ultimate superhero story will appeal to anyone who enjoys Greek mythology or great comic art.—Barbara M. Moon, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY - Copyright 2010 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Bulletin for the Center... - 03/01/2010 Readers who find Edith Hamilton-styled myth retellings just a tad too stately or a touch too solemn will be delighted with this debut title in the Olympians series of graphic novels. O’Connor takes his subject seriously, adhering closely to Hesiod’s Theogony; he ramps it up with artwork that retains the majesty of a creation story while sparkling with dashes of comic-book humor that nestle readers right into a comfort zone. Beginning with Gaea’s creation of her heavenly mate, Ouranos, he launches into the epically dysfunctional family drama that is the story of their belligerent offspring. These ur-creatures, regal and monumental, seem to be chiseled out of elemental earth itself, but teens who are immersed, or even slightly dipped, in contemporary comics will also recognize that carefully staged group poses of the Titans and Kronos’ six children recall superhero teams mustering their forces to kick some cosmic butt. It’s this balance between respect for myth and adherence to comic-book form that works so wonderfully well here: Zeus is every inch the ripped stud, equally adept at warfare and womanizing; Metis, who helps him conquer his child-consuming father, is a not-as-ditzy-as-she-looks blonde; and Hera, Zeus’ sister and wife, is both a vulnerable rescued maiden and a no-nonsense queen. O’Connor packs his title with delicious end matter, including full-page summaries of several main figures, in presentations reminiscent of game-character bios; a note on oral and written transmission of Greek myths; “G[r]eek Notes” that explicate the contents of various panels (and sometimes provide tie-ins with contemporary comic-book heroes); a bibliography and list of recommended reading; discussion questions; and an Olympians Family Tree that graces the front endpaper. This will be a worthy lead-in or companion piece to Eric Shanower’s Age of Bronze. EB - Copyright 2010 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

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