Zeus the Mighty: The Epic Escape from the Underworld
Illustrated by Andy Elkerton
Published by Under the Stars (an imprint of National Geographic): March 1, 2022
Reviews
T and I read this together during our time in Berlin as part of his home school curriculum. His report and review therefore come first. My summary and review follow.
Favorite Part and Summary:
With Zeus stuck in his cage as the result of a nanny-cam installed by Artie, the Mount Olympus Pet Shop owner, Demeter, takes on the challenge of leading her fellow Olympians into the Underworld, which seems to be a combination of the storm drains and a sinkhole beneath the pet store. The gods meet new characters (Atlas, Charon, Persephone), effect an epic rescue, and ultimately find Hades, whose Cap of Shadows they wish to steal. As usual, Zeus is not content to let others take the lead; he escapes his cage, follows his compatriots to the Underworld, and convinces Hades to hand over the magical invisibility-inducing cap. As you saw in T's summary, Hades pulls a switcheroo, resulting in hilarious hijinks when Zeus believes himself invisible. The book ends with two major cliff-hangers.
For me, the highlight of Epic Escape is the "dogocracy," as Ares calls it. We see the Olympians collaborate as equals when Zeus is out of the picture; each uses his/her strengths to help the team and graciously hands over leadership when all agree. The increasing teamwork and the growing role of Demeter through the series reach a high point in this installment. The long game being played by Boyer is delightful to follow - I can't wait to see how the relationships continue to develop.
You might want to check out the other Zeus the Mighty books:
Book 1
The Quest for the Golden Fleas
Book 2
The Maze of the Menacing Minotaur
Book 3
The Trials of Hairy-Clees
Note: A review copy was provided upon request; all thought are our own.
Favorite Part and Summary:
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| cont'd on back: Zeus. Hades switched caps. |
What T liked:
A quick summary from me:
With Zeus stuck in his cage as the result of a nanny-cam installed by Artie, the Mount Olympus Pet Shop owner, Demeter, takes on the challenge of leading her fellow Olympians into the Underworld, which seems to be a combination of the storm drains and a sinkhole beneath the pet store. The gods meet new characters (Atlas, Charon, Persephone), effect an epic rescue, and ultimately find Hades, whose Cap of Shadows they wish to steal. As usual, Zeus is not content to let others take the lead; he escapes his cage, follows his compatriots to the Underworld, and convinces Hades to hand over the magical invisibility-inducing cap. As you saw in T's summary, Hades pulls a switcheroo, resulting in hilarious hijinks when Zeus believes himself invisible. The book ends with two major cliff-hangers.
For me, the highlight of Epic Escape is the "dogocracy," as Ares calls it. We see the Olympians collaborate as equals when Zeus is out of the picture; each uses his/her strengths to help the team and graciously hands over leadership when all agree. The increasing teamwork and the growing role of Demeter through the series reach a high point in this installment. The long game being played by Boyer is delightful to follow - I can't wait to see how the relationships continue to develop.
You might want to check out the other Zeus the Mighty books:
Book 1
The Quest for the Golden Fleas
Book 2
The Maze of the Menacing Minotaur
Book 3
The Trials of Hairy-Clees
Note: A review copy was provided upon request; all thought are our own.
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