The Gray-eyed Goddess

Tales from the Odyssey #4

by Mary Pope Osborne, Homer, Troy Howell (Illustrator)

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. Now in paperback!

Genres: Mythology, Childrens, Classics, Fantasy, Fiction, Chapter Books, Middle Grade

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

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

[Corinne Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, the Gray-Eyed Goddess, Athena. Bless her heart, taking Odysseus in her hands and finally giving him a leg up. While this story is still about Odysseus, we are often in the shoes of his son at home, Telemachus. Telemachus has had it with the suitors harassing his mother, Penelope, and he gets some help of his own from Athena as he decides what to do about his missing father.

Again, Osborne does a great job. I'm amazed my son is still interested and, frankly, I'm still loving that I regularly find references from The Odyssey in the Percy Jackson books. Reading this series is giving me a great mythological education!

[Julie Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is much more difficult than the previous 3. I'm going to use this one for instructional purposes with my son instead of giving it to him as an independent read. Less adventure, more realism, and much higher vocabulary. (No monsters, no gore, no suspense--complicated character motivations to analyze).

[Anoushka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor Telemachus, In search for his father the great Odysseus. What will happen next???
MUST READ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ayacchi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tokoh pendukung yang paling sering muncul di buku ini adalah Athena, dewi kesukaan hampir semua orang. Dikatakan bahwa Athena ini sayang pada Odiseus, makanya nggak heran kalau dia bahkan membantu Telemakus untuk menemukan ayahnya.

Ada beberapa hal yang agak janggal menurut saya. Contohnya, saat orang-orang menyanyikan tentang bencana yang dialami oleh awak kapal Odiseus. Padahal tidak ada yang menyertai armadanya. Meskipun di bab selanjutnya disebutkan bahwa si pembawa kabar adalah Raja Nestor, tetap saja agak janggal. Mungkin di versi yang lebih lengkap, ada penjelasan yang lebih masuk akal.

Yang kedua, ketika Hermes menyampaikan perintah Zeus pada Kalipso, dikatakan bahwa para dewa tidak boleh membantu kepulangan Odiseus. Tapi kenyataannya, Poseidon masih mengganggunya dan Athena balik menolongnya. Padahal Zeus adalah raja dewa dan manusia, tapi bahkan dewa pun melanggar perintahnya.

Ketiga, yang paling aneh adalah saat Odiseus berenang ke daratan selama 3 hari 3 malam. Saya sih nggak bisa berenang, jadi nggak tahu bagaimana rasanya terombang-ambing di lautan selama itu. Tapi sekuat apapun seseorang, rasanya agak lebay ya kalau harus berenang selama itu.

[Oulan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A childrens version, but since I mentor Mythology, I wanted to check rhem out. Short and sweet, from one who has read the Illiad and the Odessey more then once and are still among my favorite, these short tales give a quaint and easy to follow glimpse into the many magical stories found within these two classics. If you can't seem to dwelve into the fantastic but emmensly involved books, these are good alternatives and may just wet your curiosity enough to give a couple of the two greatest classics of all time a try.

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kaspar gave this a 4 star rating and hated that it ended on a "cliffhanger." He also said today that reading The Tales of the Odyssey has been one of his favorite parts of history. Honestly, my rating would have been 3 stars. I was a little bored with Telemachus and Penelope. I just wanted him to kick those suitors out and then get back to the story of Odysseus :) Two more books to go before we finish the series!

[Riley Touris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice and fun retelling.

[Ciera Legue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Odysseus is finally actually going home with the gods no longer beyond angry at him but they took their sweet time to forgive him

[Veronica Herrera Serret · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the six-book series, Tales from the Odyssey by Mary Pope Osborne and Troy Howell. This story continues its dramatic saga, but there is hope 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 tale. We are looking forward to the next book!

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is part four of Mary Pope Osborne's translation of Homer’s The Odyssey to a level that elementary age students can read and enjoy. The Odysseus is the last man standing out of his large crew that originally left Troy after fighting in the Trojan War, and it's not looking well for him. This is the first book to be told from a perspective other Odysseus, giving insight into what has been happening back home in Ithaca while he has been away. A perfect read aloud for intermediate teachers wanting additional resources that help to expose their students to Greek Mythology.

[San Frazier · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I really loved greek mythology when I was in school and i stumbled across these stories in the youth section in the library. I feel as an adult the way they are written anyone would enjoy them. So this is just coming up to and the closing of the oddysee is ia thestory of the great odyseus and how after the battle at Troy the greek gods got him all twisted for 20 years and now he has to get home and claim his family and land bac. Can you say Epic. anywho i loved it

[Alli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the Odyssey in middle school and really enjoyed. I have been looking for a simple children's version for my younger cousins. This is a great book for middle grade scholars who are interested in mythology. Book four is about the grey-eyed goddess Athena and her role in Odysseus' story.

[Cheryl]

Not as violent as the others. Odysseus' son, Telemachus, seeks out on ship with the help of Athena to find his father. He never does although he finds out he is alive. It's unclear whether Odyssus is alive at the end but it appears he and his wife die and there is plans for his son to be killed.

[Nathaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it. He's trying to return and he gets stuck on this island and he's held captive for 7 years. His son goes on a voyage to find out about him and his son doesn't return until a long time - for 3 months.

[Kristen Gurri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't wait to read the rest of this series to the kids!

[Hhastings · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how the books starts out reminding readers what has happened in the past books. Very easy read.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

These odyssey books continue to be fun to read.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

wonderful

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fabulous introduction to The Odyssey and Greek mythology. MPO understands the early chapter book reader. A great option for reluctant or delayed readers.

[Caren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an excellent little series that explains "The Odyssey."

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read aloud with the 4 year old

[Pallavi Ivashkov · Rating 5 out of 5]

The tale that made my childhood special :)

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great children's book.

[Edin Capric]

Want to read

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was more interesting than some in the series because it describes the family of Odysseus as well as his travels.

[Stan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tales From the Odyssey is a great series, very readable for younger modern audiences. These tales are exciting.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

a great collection of stories written for the elementary level reader