Female Heroes of Greek Mythology by Megan Duvarney Forbes and Meel Tamphanon - OPTIONAL

Female Heroes of Greek Mythology by Megan Duvarney Forbes, illustrated by Meel Tamphanon, 214 pages. NON-FICTION Calisto Publishing, Sourcebooks, 2026. $17

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Fifty-one stories from Greek Mythology, featuring goddesses, warriors, thinkers, princesses, and even monsters. This is a beautiful and accessible reference book about the women in Greek mythology. There is a full-color illustration for each entry, and the colorful layout makes it engaging. This is an introductory book, so there isn't tons of detail. Readers may want to use this as a jumping-off point and do more research for entries they find the most fascinating.

Michelle in the Middle 

An Illustrated Treasury of Dragon Tales by Theresa Breslin and Kate Leiper - OPTIONAL

An Illustrated Treasury of Dragon Tales by Theresa Breslin and Kate Leiper, 161 pages. Floris Books, 2025. $25. 9781782509103

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Not all dragons in folklore and mythology are evil, and not all are good. Some dragons look like serpents, and some can shapeshift. This book contains 10 diverse dragon stories from around the world. The stories come from China, Scotland, Egypt, Poland, Mexico, Norse and Greek mythology, Russia, Japan, and India.

I was a bit leery of this book to begin with. It is over 150 pages, and its reading level is very high. I read the first two stories with an 8-year-old dragon-obsessed girl, and while they held her attention, she was ready for a break from the overly-wordy folklore. As I read through the stories, I was reminded of my love for folklore and fairytales. The international stories were fascinating. So, it's not for everyone, and I can't see many young children reading it by themselves, but I did enjoy it.

Rachel, elementary school librarian 

Greek Mythology by Ken Jennings and Mike Lowery - ADVISABLE

Greek Mythology (Ken Jennings' Junior Genius Guides) by Ken Jennings, illustrated by Mike Lowery, 162 pages. NON-FICTION Simon Spotlight (Simon and Schuster), 2025. $20 

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

All the interesting tidbits of Greek Mythology rolled into one book. From the birth of the Gods to the heroes, monsters, and quests, this book has it all. Plus it has some quizzes and activities that go along with the reading, 

One of the most engaging ways to discover Greek mythology. Easy to digest segments and great facts. I read it cover to cover even though I know a lot about the subject because it was so entertaining, The Greeks put the fun in dysfunctional families. This is a nice size book, and the illustrations are fun 

Michelle in the Middle 

King Alfred and the Ice Coffin by Kevin Crossley-Holland and Chris Riddell - ADVISABLE

King Alfred and the Ice Coffin by Kevin Crossley-Holland, illustrated by Chris Riddell.  88 pages. Candlewick Studio, 2024. $19. 9781536238808

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

King Alfred, a great king, learned Latin to translate global stories for his people. He recorded sailor Wulfstan's tale of a shipwreck and a northern land where a ruler's wealth was claimed by a horse race. Would Alfred believe and record Wulfstan's story?

King Alfred and the Ice Coffin is fascinating if you like Islandic and British history.  Riddell's illustrations are superb.

PGPowers

The Haunted States of America by Ellen Hopkins, et al - OPTIONAL

The Haunted States of America by Ellen Hopkins, et al, 208 pages. SHORT STORIES. Henry Holt and Co. (Macmillan), 2024. $18.

Language: PG (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

The United States of America is a melting pot of people, cultures, and lore. Fifty-two authors take fifty-two myths from each of the fifty states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico to tell legends unique to those areas—ghosts, lizard men, and more!

Some of the stories are lighthearted but the majority of them are decidedly not. I loved reading about the creepy monsters I have heard of before and discovering new legends from places I have never been. Your warning is this: be careful about where you go—and what you read!—in the dark.

With a variety of authors, the characters are naturally diverse in race and sexual orientation. The language rating is for Spanish swears. The mature content rating is for mentions of alcohol and kissing as well as for scary elements. The violence rating is for blood and gore, corpses, death, and mentions of physical abuse, guns, cannibalism, suicide, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Courage to Dream by Neal Shusterman and Andres Vera Martinez - OPTIONAL

Courage to Dream: Tales of Hope in the Holocaust by Neal Shusterman, illustrated by Andres Vera Martinez, 245 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Graphic (Scholastic), 2023. $15

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (Holocaust related deaths) Violence: PG (mild fighting) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Explore the Holocaust and Jewish mythology through five stories. 

As someone who has read both a lot of books about the Holocaust and a fair amount of Jewish mythology, the book made sense. I don't think most children will understand much of what they are reading. This is a case where the background knowledge should have been given at the front of each story, instead of at the end of each as it is. Even then, the examples are not helpful. There isn't much from the cover to explain that the stories are all a mix of history and magic -- so this can't be used for a Holocaust historical fiction book, for example. If I taught a high school level Holocaust class or a Jewish studies class, this would be a rich book for exploring the two topics together. The characters are Jewish and German. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Threads That Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou - OPTIONAL

Threads That Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou, 352 pages. Penguin Young Readers Group/Razorbill, 2023. $17 

Language: R (107 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (detailed kissing) Violence: R (bleeding, dead security guards, bloody injury, bloody death with details, bloody shootings, torn out throats.) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

18yo Io lives with her sister Ava in the half-sunken city of Alante. The eldest sister, Thais, raised them after their parents died but left abruptly two years ago to be on her own. The three sisters are descendants of the Fates who decide the lives of others. Io is an investigator trying to solve murders and Ava is a performer at the Mob Queen’s casino. Thais is the fiancé of Io’s number one suspect and high-ranking politician. When Io finally discovers the truth behind the murders, it’s going to alter her life and all that she believes in. 

So many descriptions of magic-born abilities that it became confusing. Slow building story, so it took a while to draw me in. I enjoyed the characters Io and Edei and the prophecy that ties them together. Edei had brown skin but ethnicity predominantly falls to white 

LynnDell Watson, Delta High School Librarian

The Three Princes of Serendip by Rodaan Al Galidi and Geertje Aalders - HIGH

 The Three Princes of Serendip by Rodaan Al Galidi, translated by Laura Watkinson, illustrated by Geertje Aalders, 123 pages. Candlewick Press , 2017. $19

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G ; Violence: PG (sword fighting)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

The Three Princes of Serendip is a beautiful story book filled with even more beautiful illustrations. It tells the tales of soldiers, turtles, lions, woodcutters and many more all in a gorgeous setting. Each story follows your typical fairytale trope but branches off with more diverse and interesting characters, each with motives and hardships. Hardships that they learn from and it creates a moral theme for the reader to learn from.

I really did enjoy this book, it was a refreshing difference from what I normally read. The illustrations are beautiful and I read some of these stories to my 6 year old sister and she loved them! I loved that the stories were short, so one could read them in a timely manner! Recommend for children and their families!

Student Reviewer Kenzie Hoehne, Student Reviewer

Greek Mythology: The Handbook by Liv Albert and Sara Richard - ESSENTIAL

Greek Mythology: The Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes Handbook by Liv Albert, illustrated by Sara Richard. 240 pages. Adams Media (Simon & Schuster), 2021. $17. 9781507215494 

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content PG; Violence: PG 

BUYING ADVISORY:– MS, HS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Greek Mythology gets a fantastic new update. Smartly illustrated and designed, it is a great size to pack around. I thought I knew everything about the Greek pantheon, but I found new facts and got pulled in by format. Each deity or hero is divided into “What’s his/her deal?” “The Story You Need to Know,” and “Now You Know.” Sometimes just the illustrations would pull me into a section. Easy to find facts and great, succinct writing, this is my new go-to for Greek Mythology. More than a mere reference book, this is a marvelous read. 

 Michelle in the Middle 

The Shadow Behind the Stars by Rebecca Hahn - OPTIONAL

Hahn, Rebecca The Shadow Behind the Stars, 240 pgs. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2015. $10.99. Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: PG-13 (rape—occurs off page); Violence: PG-13 (murder of many, including a child) 

The three Fates live removed from humankind on an island where they spin, measure, and cut the threads of mortal’s lives. Once, they lived among humans, but found that the interactions and relationships that formed were dangerous to all involved. Now, they exist to do the work given to them by the gods and rarely find themselves in the company of people. One day a young woman makes her way to their home to ask for help. Aglaia has suffered an unimaginable tragedy and the sisters will have to decide how or if they will show her mercy. Chloe, the youngest, believes this young woman will bring nothing but pain and destruction to the contented life the sisters have created. As the Aglaia’s fate untangles before them, the Fates realize that the power of her thread could be enough to destroy the world.

The three Fates are given the chance to tell their story and after a promising start, the book quickly becomes tiresome. The overall feel of the book is dark with tales of rape, murder, and destruction; however, with all of the chaos and violence, the story is slow moving and the reader will be wishing for the characters to get on with the telling. The book is relatively few in pages for a complete novel, but would have worked much better as a short story as most of what happens is telling and retelling of the same plot pieces with long stretches of navel gazing in between. This should be considered a niche book as readers who enjoy tales of myths and the gods may be the only ones to find interest in this tale.

MS, HS—OPTIONAL AEB

Apollo: The Brilliant One by George O'Connor - ADVISABLE

O’Connor, George Apollo: The Brilliant One, 78 pgs. GRAPHIC NOVEL Roaring Brook Press, 2016. $17.99. Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG13.  

The story of the god Apollo is told by the muses contains 7 different stories including his birth, his battle with Pythos, his pursuit of Daphne, death of Hyacinth and several others.  

The muses are very poetic which makes the reading level rather difficult, (words like formidable and prognostication for example),  but the graphic novel format helps the ready considerably.  Part of the Olympians graphic series, this addition is well done and exciting (albeit a bit violent - but after all it is mythology!)

MS - ADVISABLE  Lisa Librarian

Loch Ness Monster by Jean Flitcroft-ADVISABLE

Flitcroft, Jean, The Loch Ness Monster. Pgs. 186. Darbycreek, 2014. $27.93. Language: G, Mature Content: G, Violence: G

After her mom passed away, Vanessa’s dreams have been haunted by cryptids-mysterious creatures that may or may not exist. Her mother used to study them and had proved at least a few existed, but Vanessa and her father haven’t been the same kind of close ever since. When her father announces that the whole family is taking a trip to the very home of Nessie the Loch Ness Monster, Scotland, she couldn’t be more excited. Until, that is, that her father announces that he wants to include his new girlfriend in on the trip. With the help of her mother’s files on the cryptids, Vanessa looks into the truth behind Nessie. Will she be able to take after her mother’s footsteps? Will she survive when something unexpected happens that puts her life in danger? Will her and her father be able to patch up their relationship?

A quick, easy read filled with mystery and likable characters. Reluctant readers interested in mythology and mythical creatures will not be disappointed. MS, HS. ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Kira M, Youth Services Librarian, WHI Public Library.

Greek Mythology (Junior Genius Guides) by Ken Jennings –ADVISABLE

Jennings, Ken Greek Mythology (Junior Genius Guides) 176 pgs, HMH Books for Young Readers; 2014. $18.99 Content: Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G Violence: G

Everything young students might want to know about Greek Mythology. Its presented in a little school day 'period' chapters, including quizzes, homework and accomplishment certificate. Its filled to the brim with quirky little illustrations that help make things more interesting. The content is perfect for an upper elementary enthusiast and the guide is completely comprehensive.

This is very fun read and is one step more challenging than the basher guides that the second and third graders love. This author has a talent for making the content interesting and telling complex stories in an understandable way. If this book had an index, I would say it would be a go-to guide for your school. Its got tons of cover appeal and is sure to be enjoyed by mythology enthusiasts.

EL –ADVISABLE  Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

Thor: the Dark World by Michael Siglain-OPTIONAL

Siglain, Michael, Thor: the Dark World. Pgs. 121. Marvel, 2013. $5.99 Content: Language: G, Violence: PG, Mature Content: G

When an old enemy threatens to not only destroy Asgard, but the 9 worlds, Thor must team up with Lady Sif and the Warrior Three to bring peace to an unsettled universe. The dark elves led by Malekith unleash a war to rightfully claim what was taken from them many years ago. Now Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey to reunite himself with Jane Foster and force him to team up with his brother, Loki to save the entire universe. Will he succeed?

As far as movie novel adaptations, it’s fairly well-done, but the plot and characters themselves are a little thin. Still, fans of Avengers, Thor, and superheroes will enjoy reading this book. EL. OPTIONAL. Reviewer: Kira M, Youth Services Librarian, WHI Public Library.

The Lost Sun by Tessa Gratton-ADVISABLE

Gratton, Tessa, The Lost Sun. pgs. 352. Random House, 2013. $17.99. Content: Language: G, Mature Content: PG-13, Violence: PG-13

Soren Bearskin is constantly in fear of becoming his father. Born a berserkers, he’s afraid he will lose control like his father and go on a killing spree. His friend, Astrid Glyn, is a seethe (someone who can see one’s future fate) who lost her mother five years ago and has been searching for her ever since. When Baldur the Beautiful, god of the sun and most popular god in the United States of Asgard, goes missing, Astrid has a vision that he is somewhere in the Badlands of South Dakota. When Odin offers a boon for whoever finds his son, Astrid and Soren decide to act on her dream and go in search of Baldur. Encountering danger, prejudice against berserker men, and rioting people in search of Baldur, the duo will need all the resolve, strength, and powers to find and save Baldur. Will they succeed?

The characters are well-developed and entertaining. The plot is engaging, well-written, and complex. The mystery within the book draws the reader easily into Soren and Astrid’s world. Readers who like Percy Jackson, Norse Gods like Loki, Odin, and Thor, and enjoy action adventures will enjoy reading this book. MS, HS. ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Kira M, Youth Services Librarian, WHI Public Library.