Return to Ithaca

Tales from the Odyssey #5

by Mary Pope Osborne, Troy Howell (Illustrator)

After struggling against the gods and his fate for more than twenty years, Odysseus has returned to Ithaca at last. But things have changed: what used to be his island has been overrun by suitors who clamor for his wife's hand in marriage and plague his son, Telemachus. With the help of the gray-eyed goddess, Athena, Odysseus and Telemachus must set out to regain control of Ithaca. In these books based on episodes from Homer's Odyssey, Mary Pope Osborne brings to life the exciting adventures of one of the greatest heroes of all time.

Genres: Mythology, Classics, Fantasy, Childrens, Fiction, Greek Mythology, Middle Grade

112 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2004

About the author

Mary Pope Osborne is an American author of children's books and audiobook narrator. She is best known as the author of the Magic Tree House series, which as of 2017 sold more than 134 million copies worldwide. Both the series and Osborne have won awards, including for Osborne's charitable efforts at promoting children's literacy. One of four children, Osborne moved around in her childhood before attending the University of North Carolina. Following college, Osborne traveled before moving to New York City. She somewhat spontaneously began to write, and her first book was published in 1982. She went on to write a variety of other children's and young adult books before starting the Magic Tree House series in 1992. Osborne's sister Natalie Pope Boyce has written several compendium books to the Magic Tree House series, sometimes with Osborne's husband Will Osborne.

Reviews

[Kirsty ❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fifth book in the Mary Pope Osborne's translation of Homer’s The Odyssey. Odysseus journey is nearly at an end and this book sees him finally being released from his island prison and making his way home. The story is interwoven with that of a new character Eperitus, not in the original saga but added as a best friend foil to add some more drama to the story. Eperitus blames Odysseus for the death of his wife and child but struggles with his anger towards that and his love of his best friend.

Alongside those stories is the struggle for Penelope to keep hold of the kingdom in Odysseus absence and trying to believe he is still alive and her son who at not yet 21 isn't old enough to rule

It all comes together in a thrilling fight at the end, bad guys being defeated and the promise of one more adventure for all. It's an easy read and a great way of introducing the classics not just to the younger reader but to anyone who may find the original just that bit too challenging

[Corinne Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, some tender moments in this installment. Odysseus, under the watchcare of the Goddess Athena, finally makes it home to his beloved Ithaca. He finally gets a sense of the state of his kingdom and every finally sees his own, grown son with his eyes. I wish you could've seen my son smiling when this happened. After four books of the son longing for the father and the father for the son, it was a glorious thing. Now they are ready to work alongside Athena to rid their ancestral home of the suitors who have been harassing Odysseus's wife (and Telemachus' mother) Penelope. One more book!

[Stan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tales from the Odyssey series is great. The stories are told in a way that a young reader can enjoy on his own. They are not intended to be deep, but they do present the stories and adventures Odysseus encountered on his long struggle to get home from the Trojan War. Mary Pope Osborne knows how to tell a story.

[Anoushka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like ALL the other books, This one just wants you to keep turning pages. Odysseus, you are gonna get into real trouble soon, buddy. MUST READ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ayacchi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Setelah 20 tahun mengalami penderitaan tak berkesudahan, akhirnya Odiseus dapat kembali ke Ithaca dengan bantuan Dewi Athena.

Salut dengan keramahtamahan para raja terhadap orang asing. Bahwa atas perintah Zeus, mereka harus memperlakukan orang asing dengan baik. Bahkan sebelum mengetahui latar belakang dan tujuan kedatang orang asing tersebut, mereka tanpa ragu menjamunya. Sungguh suatu adat istiadat yang hampir sulit ditemukan dewasa ini, di mana orang-orang mudah sekali menaruh curiga.

Salut juga atas kesetiaan Penelope yang rela menunggu puluhan tahun dan terus meyakini bahwa suaminya masih hidup.

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kaspar is really enjoying this series as a read aloud. He is the perfect age for it, which may help. Once again he rated the book four stars. Odysseus finally makes it home to Ithaca, which Kaspar was happy about. However, he didn’t really like that Athena made Odysseus disguise himself. Again, like last book, I would have probably rated this one three stars, but I like to put Kaspar’s rating because he is the target audience. One more book to go!

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My students seriously can't get enough of this series. I had no idea it would be this captivating for them. On to the final book!!

[Thomas Correnti · Rating 2 out of 5]

I… really didn’t get this one. It felt so unnecessary, and for the most part, it was really boring.

[Riley Touris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice and fun retelling.

[Ciera Legue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Odysseus has finally made it home with the help of athena but the suitors of his wife are horrid and has no gentlemanly values or beliefs in either of those sorry excuses for suitors.

[LifeAmongPages · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

[Breanna Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great illustrations throughout the books, just wish they were bigger... Thought it was very easy to read and still had all the right contexts to make it a Homer tale. Very well edited book for young reader's who can enjoy Homer centuries later.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fifth book in the six-book series, Tales from the Odyssey by Mary Pope Osborne and Troy Howell. This story continues its dramatic saga, but Odysseus is finally home and there is hope for a happy ending out there on the horizon. Poor Odysseus. When we started reading this series, I was a bit afraid that our girls would have nightmares, but they took the story in stride. Overall, this was an exciting and intense saga. We are looking forward to the next (and last) book!

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fifth book in the Mary Pope Osborne's translation of Homer’s The Odyssey to a level that elementary age students can read and enjoy. Odysseus journey is nearing its final stage and compared to what he has endured thus far this leg is a piece of cake. Again the narrative bounces back and forth between Odysseus and his son until their paths finally cross after twenty long years apart. A perfect read aloud for intermediate teachers wanting additional resources that help to expose their students to Greek Mythology.

[Shelly Furuness · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Odyssey is great book. If you have not read the Odyssey you have to listen to this. He was away from his family for 20 years. He got help from a village. They have the finest ship and crew. They let him sleep in the boat but the next thing you know he's at home. A villiger helps him out, to get home becouse he can't fined his home. And I don't blame him.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

i leke this book

[Connery · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is very different to see the stories in more than one series.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

a great collection of stories written for the elementary level reader

[San Frazier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great adaptation for kids to get a bit of these old stories and like i said before they read very well and any person ypung or old could get into them that are short and sweet.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read aloud with the 4 year old.

[Jessica Wilhoite · Rating 3 out of 5]

One more left...

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one seemed to move a bit faster than the others, or maybe that was because I read it in one sitting at the dentist's office yesterday, but I enjoyed it.

[Nathaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it.

[Jane G Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

reviewed by John Ronan

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

03/16: Excellent series. Perfect first study of the Odyssey for little ones.
FYI: #5 is hard to come by.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was such a good book I hope that I can read it again and again because it is so good of a book