King of Ithaka

September 6, 2010
Building on the events of Homer's Odyssey from the point of view of Telemachos, the 16-year-old son of the absent king Odysseus, Barrett (the Sherlock Files series) crafts a coming-of-age novel full of mythical creatures and questions about what it truly means to be a leader. Odysseus has been gone from the island kingdom of Ithaka for 16 years, since the Trojan War began, and Telemachos now must find him before his mother, Penelopeia, is forced to remarry. "I knew that Ithaka was falling into ruin and was vulnerable to attack, both from within and from without," he says. Telemachos sets sail to fulfill a cryptic prophecy ("Return to the place that is not, on the day that is not, bearing the thing that is not. On that day the king will return") with friends Brax, a centaur, and Polydora, his love interest, who accompany him through treacherous territory from Pylos to Sparta. With its focus on Telemachos's determination and growth, Barrett's tale should be an enjoyable and accessible primer for readers who've not yet read the original. Ages 12–up.

August 1, 2010

In this hero's quest drawn from Homer's Odyssey, Telemachos, only child of Odysseus, King of Ithaka, has waited 16 years for his wandering father to return from the Trojan wars while his dutiful mother, Penelopeia, fends off would-be suitors. When a stranger challenges him to find his father, Telemachos consults an oracle, who prophesies Ithaka will have a king only after he searches for Odysseus and returns "to the place that is not, on the day that is not, bearing the thing that is not." Adventure follows Telemachos as he sails to Pylos and travels cross country to Sparta with his centaur pal, Brax, and their (human) female chum, Polydora. He chronicles this perilous journey in the first person, allowing readers to witness his metamorphosis from an immature, self-centered youth to an appealing leader who eclipses his famous father in strength, bravery, generosity and compassion, fulfilling the cryptic prophecy. A rousing introduction to epic characters and mythic creatures of ancient Greece from the fresh perspective of an engaging young hero. (Fiction. 12 & up)

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Starred review from November 1, 2010

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, CT

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2010
Grades 7-10 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 Barretts 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.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2011
Barrett casts her reimagining of Homer's Odyssey in the voice of Telemachos--here a soft, spoiled boy--who reluctantly heads off to seek his long-absent father, Odysseus. The quick-paced tale highlights strength, bravery, generosity, and compassion. Barrett uses the contrast between Homer's heroic characters and the "real" versions Telemachos encounters to underscore that both art and family memory are vulnerable to false romanticism.

(Copyright 2011 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)