Go for the Gold, Atalanta!

Myth-O-Mania #8

by Kate McMullan

A retelling, with a modern spin, of the Greek myth in which Atalanta finally agrees to marry but only if the man can outrun her in a footrace.

Genres: Mythology, Fantasy, Childrens, Greek Mythology, Humor, Fiction, Retellings

176 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2003

About the author

Kate McMullan is an American children's book author.
She is the author of the Dragon Slayers' Academy series. She is married to author and illustrator James McMullan.

She also has books published under the name: Katy Hall.

Reviews

[R.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Κριτική στα Ελληνικά πιο κάτω...

I was curious for this series, so a few moths ago I picked Kate McMillan's book about Medusa. My comments for this book don't differ much. I was in need of something light, so I picked this book and read it in a leisure afternoon. This is a very twisted re-telling of the original myth, narrated from the view point of Hades. Gods and heroes appear to have completely different qualities and characters than we know of in this book, while the ancient world seems too commercial/Americanised.
The book is quite humorous and easy to read and while some points irked me, this is a teen book after all and I'm sure its market segment would find it very good. I enjoyed it and I'm sure others will, but I hope that its readers, especially teenagers, will feel intrigued to learn the proper version of the story and delve deeper into Greek Mythology.

Μία διασκεδαστική και εντελώς διαφορετική εκδοχή του μύθου της Αταλάντης, γραμμένη για (Αμερικάνους) εφήβους. Ο Άδης είναι ο αφηγητής της ιστορίας και παρουσιάζει την δική του εκδοχή των γεγονότων στα οποία παίζει σημαντικό ρόλο. Γενικά οι θεοί και οι ήρωες δεν έχουν και πολύ σχέση με τους θεούς και τους ήρωες όπως τους ξέρουμε από την Ελληνική Μυθολογία και ο αρχαίος κόσμος εμφανίζεται πολύ Αμερικανοποιημένος, αλλά το βιβλίο είναι γραμμένο με χιούμορ και είμαι σίγουρη ότι το κοινό στο οποίο απευθύνεται θα το ευχαριστηθεί. Ελπίζω μόνο να παρακινήσει τους αναγνώστες να αναζητήσουν και να μελετήσουν την αυθεντική Ελληνική Μυθολογία κάποια στιγμή και να μην μείνουν μόνο σε αυτό...

[Kamons · Rating 3 out of 5]

จบแล้วซีรีส์เทพเพี้ยน (เพราะเรามีแค่นี้แหละ และแปลไทยน่าจะมีถึงแค่เล่มนี้) เป็นเรื่องในความทรงจำของแท้ ซื้อมาเพราะตอนสมัยเด็กเคยอ่าน 2 เล่มแรกแล้วรู้สึกว่า ว้าววว~มันคือตำนานกรีกแบบไม่จำเจ และมีฮาเดสเป็นแบบตัวเอก แล้วแบบบังเอิญหาซื้อได้มาแบบครบ 8 เล่มในสภาพดี

ตอนนี้มาอ่านแล้วก็แบบเพี้ยนจริง แล้วมีความเอ๊ะ.. กับการแปลในบางเล่ม บางช่วง บางตอน ที่ (สงสัย) ว่ามันแปลเอามันส์จนเพี้ยนไปจากฉบับภาษาอังกฤษขนาดไหนเนี่ย แต่คิดว่าน่าจะแค่ในรายละเอียดเล็ก ๆ ที่เปลี่ยนให้เข้ากับสังคมไทยละมั้ง

ในเล่มสุดท้ายแอตาลันตา เทพแทบไม่ค่อยมายุ่งเกี่ยวเลย ยังรู้สึกไม่เข้าพวก แต่ก็เออ ๆ พออ่านได้แหละ

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

The myth of Atalanta with a told from a different perspective. Includes modern twists and quirky, fun word usage. Quick, enjoyable read that is a good introduction to a very old tale. Strong female characters active in an engaging new world, plus the old version of the myth is given space too. Not a good place to go if your looking for traditional myths, but it’s a great read to stoke interest in those myths.

[Echo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time liking this one because it changed soooo much. Once again nobody elver dies in these myths, and current day technology is attribute to still being back then. I'm fine with the gods having current tech, but would have liked the mortals to be a bit more similar to what tech they would have had back then.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Atalanta is epic. This was my first introduction to the Atalanta myth, and this is much better than the actual myth. And funnier. And more feminist. Atalanta is awesome. This focused a lot on the guy whose life is tied to a log and on the boar hunt, even when the footrace is the best part of the Atalanta myth. This book is still good and funny though.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were a few minor editing oversights in the Kindle text:

Page 11, my mocha-necta-java BUT page 17, my mocha-nectar-java (pick one!) ; 53, Oh, my heavens no / Oh, my heavens, no ; 56, and his fever was gone! / and his fever was gone!" (needs end quote)

[Trina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute take on the myth. This book would be very good for younger readers.

[Historic Hummingbird · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lol I loved it! SO funny!

[Aarav Ahuja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

It was a great action packed book and I love the idea of the story and series. I would recommend this book to fourth to fifth graders.

[Jahaira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing retelling of the book of a classical mythological book.

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

👍🏻👍🏻

[Brice Culhane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is cute as heck. I love badass female heroes and Atalanta is definitely that.

[Alexandria · Rating 4 out of 5]

As per all the series, another great book. This one was interesting because it's not your typical "god/goddess" story--it's about a mortal and their challenges alongside victories in the god world.

[Valerie Dachary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun for the kids, fun for the grownups

I love reading these books to my daughter and they are so entertaining that she always ask for the next.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the last book I read in the series as a child. I personally find this story a bit less fun than the previous ones, although I think it has a fun girl power message.

[melina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Melina Zimmermanns
6.2
12th October 2014

Book Review-Go for The Gold, Atalanta!

The book is called Go For The Gold, Atalanta!. It was written by Kate McMullan and is part of the Myth-O-Mania series.

The setting of this book is in Greece long time ago. The main character is a girl named Atalanata who is known as the Princess Hero. Atalanta faces a lot of problems during her journey to becoming a princess hero. Hades, the God of the Underworld is another main character because he was there with Atalanta throughout her troubles and conflicts.

One day, a baby girl named Atalanta was given away, because her father, King Iasus, wanted a boy. A servant gave the baby to the first person he saw, which was Hades, god of the Underworld. Artemis gave her to a mother bear named Honey, who took care of her and taught all about bears. When Atalanta old enough, she left home and went to join the Heroes with their adventures. On her way to breaking all the barriers, there are a few conflicts she has to face.

I liked and disliked this book. I liked it because the story was very inspiring to women especially. I disliked it because it was too easy to read. It also didn’t have enough suspense so the reader didn’t get excited or nervous in situations like the boar hunt. I can make a connection with other books because there are story that represent the strength and rights of women, however, written in a different as a different type of story.

I would not recommend this book to anyone, because it is basically only interesting to girls. It is also too easy to read and very predictable, which makes the reader very bored. The adventures are exciting but there needs to be more action to make the reader feel suspense while reading. It also has to make the audience feel like they are there. I would rate the book 2 stars out of 5, because the plot is not very exciting. For example, on her journey to the boar hunt, she just recognized her coach and that was it. There was no suspense while the boar was telling the story of how he stopped wrestling.

Works Cited
McMullan, Kate. Go For The Gold, Atalanta! North Mankato: Stone Arch Books, 2012.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the eighth book in the Myth-O-Mania series by Kate McMullan. These books are fun to read and have a youthful and humorous perspective that makes it simple for people to remember the various characters and their stories.

We are balancing these fun tales off with more classic fare, like The Wanderings of Odysseus: The Story of the Odyssey by Rosemary Sutcliff, so our girls can hear the original tales, too.

This book offers a humorous take on the story of Atalanta - we really enjoyed the wit and wry sarcasm. The tale was rendered with enough fidelity to recognize the story, but it was still a very different version. It's an entertaining and quick read.

[Darya Dav · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has an outstanding plot.The plot is girl power.The book is awesome because it shows how girls can be strong and masculine.Atlanta,the kings daughter,was abandoned from her parents cause the king wanted a boy.She became a daughter of Artemis and was raised by nice bears that taught her simple things that were important.As a daughter of Artemis she pledged to never marry but her dad took her back cause she helped in the boar chase and became a hero everyone loved.Her dad made her run a track against anyone who wanted to marry her.He did this for the money everyone would give him.She raced everyone and beat everyone.It is a magical book that you wouldn't put down for a millisecond.This book is better for less matured,childish kids,like me.It was a funny comedy that I thought was amazing.Don't take my opinion,read it for yourself.You decide.I thought it was the best book ever.I am sad that there is not another book in the series.But this book deserves 5 stars for sure.

[Owen]

This book is another book in the Myth o Mania series. Thies books are greek myths but from Hadies's point of view. This one is the myth about Atlanta. She was raised by bairs. She was realy a princess. She always wanted to be in the olympics for wresteling but her dad kidnapted her and made her run.

I can make a text to self connecton to this book. In this book Atlanta had to do lots of running against her will. At my soccer practus my coach makes us run alot almost every time.

I would reccomend this book to people of all ages. The way the book is writen is very good. You cant put the book down once you start it. I would give the book 5 stars because it is very exciteing.

[Ashley W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Page Count: 183
Book 8
Recommended to: Fans of Greek mythology; ages 11-14
Pg. 43
So, Atalanta was the first human feminist?

Pg. 48
Peleus who? Second greatest hero every? I think not.

Pg. 58
These Fates are annoying.

Pg. 96
Atalanta's dad: what a douche.

Woohoo, she never had to marry and saved her friend. But why, oh why do Aphrodite and Hera have to butt into everything. If a girl doesn't want to marry, just feel with it!

[Miss Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another highly enjoyable installment in the Myth - o- Maniac series, this time all about Atalanta. Cute, but not the best of the series.

[Julia]

This book is garbage.

[JoshuaB CLC · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book about the greek myth of Atlanta, the true story, because Zeus messed up the version that most people read. Funny and Witty.

[Tyler Standish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talon: I love these books

[Randelina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am unfamiliar with this myth but I enjoyed it from Hades point of view. The story was a fun, easy read. Once again the prompts at the end make great tools for engaging with and teaching kids.

[Vanessa]

COOL!