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The Boy Lost in the Maze
In his new verse novel, Joseph Coelho brilliantly blends Greek myth with a 21st century quest. In Ancient Greece Theseus makes a dangerous and courageous journey to find his father, finally meeting the Minotaur in the Labyrinth. While Theo, a modern-day teenage boy, finds himself on a maze-like quest to find his own father. Each story tells of a boy becoming a man and discovering what true manhood really means,
The path to self-discovery takes Theo through ‘those thin spaces where myth, magic and reality combine’. Doubts, difficulties and dangers must be faced as Theo discovers the man he will become.
The path to self-discovery takes Theo through ‘those thin spaces where myth, magic and reality combine’. Doubts, difficulties and dangers must be faced as Theo discovers the man he will become.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published October 6, 2022
30 people are currently reading
465 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Coelho
83 books83 followersJoseph Coelho is a British poet and children's book author who was elected Children's Laureate in 2022.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
January 9, 2025
This was a surprisingly sweet story, and I really need to read more novels in verse. The POV switches from modern day Theo to Theo's take on the mythological Theseus, both in search of their father and what it means to be a man.
I loved the parallels between the two boys, and was never confused when the POV switched. The Greek myth stories were one of the easiest to keep up with (as I notoriously do not know a damn thing about them) too.
Interspersed throughout is the story of the Minotaur, seen here as a tragic story of a boy who was just like Theo and Theseus, but looked different, and was treated as a monster by his family and the people around him. The ending, bringing the three together was so good.
I loved the parallels between the two boys, and was never confused when the POV switched. The Greek myth stories were one of the easiest to keep up with (as I notoriously do not know a damn thing about them) too.
Interspersed throughout is the story of the Minotaur, seen here as a tragic story of a boy who was just like Theo and Theseus, but looked different, and was treated as a monster by his family and the people around him. The ending, bringing the three together was so good.
May 26, 2024
An amazing poetry based remake of the Greek Myth with a modern crossover a definite read for 2024!
October 6, 2022
This is such an ambitious book, a novel in verse, parallel stories of modern day and myth, an exploration into manhood and fatherhood and even at points a choose your own adventure. But coming from the Children’s Laureate what would we expect other than for it to be handled successfully.
I visually read this but I have previously listened to other verse novels (e.g. One by Sarah Crossan) and I think if you are reluctant to read poetry I’d definitely recommend audio or reading along in parallel.
We have three characters we are following. Theo - our modern day character who is the protagonist and voice of the novel, Theseus, and the Minotaur (although I have to admit wanting more from this third character - ooh a sequel focusing on what he did next would be fab).
I thought it was cleverly done that the trials Theseus faced on making his way back to his father are echoed in Theo’s similar journey. The parallel of mythology and modern day was great and how the modern day ‘learning’ was represented was excellent.
One of my favourite poems of all time is Digging by Seamus Heaney and some of the poetry focusing on writing and use of words over swords and use of violence reminded me of this.
‘So, I muscle into my words
grab at them with toothed hands
forming a sentence to stop the battering…’
The book gets a little gruesome at times and one big complaint I have is not having the poem talking about Sestinas not, in actual fact, being a Sestina 😂.
The illustrations throughout were beautiful and I particularly liked the concluding image.
The Boy Lost in the Maze sadly won’t be a book for everyone - (because people will be put off by the fact it’s told as poems) but I really hope it gets a broader audience and helps foster our next generation of poets, and helps people see that poetry can be used in different ways.
Thanks to Blue at Kaleidoscopic Tours and the publisher for the gifted copy for the purposes of an honest review.
I visually read this but I have previously listened to other verse novels (e.g. One by Sarah Crossan) and I think if you are reluctant to read poetry I’d definitely recommend audio or reading along in parallel.
We have three characters we are following. Theo - our modern day character who is the protagonist and voice of the novel, Theseus, and the Minotaur (although I have to admit wanting more from this third character - ooh a sequel focusing on what he did next would be fab).
I thought it was cleverly done that the trials Theseus faced on making his way back to his father are echoed in Theo’s similar journey. The parallel of mythology and modern day was great and how the modern day ‘learning’ was represented was excellent.
One of my favourite poems of all time is Digging by Seamus Heaney and some of the poetry focusing on writing and use of words over swords and use of violence reminded me of this.
‘So, I muscle into my words
grab at them with toothed hands
forming a sentence to stop the battering…’
The book gets a little gruesome at times and one big complaint I have is not having the poem talking about Sestinas not, in actual fact, being a Sestina 😂.
The illustrations throughout were beautiful and I particularly liked the concluding image.
The Boy Lost in the Maze sadly won’t be a book for everyone - (because people will be put off by the fact it’s told as poems) but I really hope it gets a broader audience and helps foster our next generation of poets, and helps people see that poetry can be used in different ways.
Thanks to Blue at Kaleidoscopic Tours and the publisher for the gifted copy for the purposes of an honest review.
August 12, 2024
The story was easy enough to follow and I think the poetry style for storytelling, especially for switching POV is executed well and is interesting for a reader. However, I was not a huge fan of the narrator's way of having women in the work. This could be intentional on the author's part (as we see him admonished by a woman for his obsession with manhood and naivety of his mother's influence) but on purpose or not I just didn't like that every introduced female in the narrative as far as halfway through the book are cold, calculating, and somehow hurting the ego of the poor male protagonist or the hero counterpart. It was irksome that, already that far into the book, we were still seeing women through a lens that placed them in spaces that made them read as somehow mean, even when showing kindness. This could very well be a critique on the way young men somehow blame women for men's lacking roles in their lives, but as a critique it falls flat since that thought process is always internal and almost never argued.
May 23, 2025
Anyone else writing Greek mythology retellings can go home, Joseph Coelho wins
January 9, 2023
A heartfelt story of young men connected through their search for acceptance by fathers.
I enjoyed seeing the author weave connections back and forth between Greek myths and a contemporary family, both with adolescents seeking fathers, trying to become grown men, coping with the lives they have been offered.
Theo and Theseus, and indeed the Minotaur. In verse, varying from blank verse to rhymes, flitting between today and history/mythology. Fleshing out old stories and building one about a young man finding out who is father is and who that makes him.
It's not one for younger readers really, quite deep and one to consider at length. Theo is studying for his A-Levels, is almost a man himself but needs to know about the man that sired him. I preferred Theo's sections of the book, keen to see him succeed in his search.
I did also like the illustrations, black and white, and how a metaphor of the bullish creature also bled into the two moving stories.
This took almost no time to read, but was very vivid and full, fitting two (or even three) stories in so few verses.
For ages 13+.
I enjoyed seeing the author weave connections back and forth between Greek myths and a contemporary family, both with adolescents seeking fathers, trying to become grown men, coping with the lives they have been offered.
Theo and Theseus, and indeed the Minotaur. In verse, varying from blank verse to rhymes, flitting between today and history/mythology. Fleshing out old stories and building one about a young man finding out who is father is and who that makes him.
It's not one for younger readers really, quite deep and one to consider at length. Theo is studying for his A-Levels, is almost a man himself but needs to know about the man that sired him. I preferred Theo's sections of the book, keen to see him succeed in his search.
I did also like the illustrations, black and white, and how a metaphor of the bullish creature also bled into the two moving stories.
This took almost no time to read, but was very vivid and full, fitting two (or even three) stories in so few verses.
For ages 13+.
June 18, 2023
This was a beautiful story
June 11, 2024
A stunning novel in verse. We follow Theo in the 21st century as well as Theseus in Ancient Greece both on journeys to find their fathers.
Did I cry a bit? Yes. Because I felt like I saw myself reflected particularly in some of Theo and it comforted me in a way I really needed. I just felt seen and I think that’s so important. Growing up without a present father or knowing about him and the unspoken rule he mustn’t be spoken of, I know that this novel would have comforted me then like it has now. I secretly clung to a book when I was younger called “my dad is…” (I think, I cannot seem to find it online but I probably still have my copy somewhere). And while it also made me continue to conjure up all these brilliant ideas of who my father may be and one day come and find me the truth is that perhaps they won’t be searching for you and it will be up to you to find them. The mental battle of “should I? Should I not?” and the mental and physical obstacles that can get in the way and hold you back are hard to put into words most of the time. So I really appreciated these two journeys and am so so glad that I read this.
I think this is such an important book and it was written so so beautifully. It was bold and such an interesting idea to weave a modern day story with the Greek myth of Theseus. I really appreciated this book and can see why it was shortlisted for a Yoto Carnegie Medal.
Did I cry a bit? Yes. Because I felt like I saw myself reflected particularly in some of Theo and it comforted me in a way I really needed. I just felt seen and I think that’s so important. Growing up without a present father or knowing about him and the unspoken rule he mustn’t be spoken of, I know that this novel would have comforted me then like it has now. I secretly clung to a book when I was younger called “my dad is…” (I think, I cannot seem to find it online but I probably still have my copy somewhere). And while it also made me continue to conjure up all these brilliant ideas of who my father may be and one day come and find me the truth is that perhaps they won’t be searching for you and it will be up to you to find them. The mental battle of “should I? Should I not?” and the mental and physical obstacles that can get in the way and hold you back are hard to put into words most of the time. So I really appreciated these two journeys and am so so glad that I read this.
I think this is such an important book and it was written so so beautifully. It was bold and such an interesting idea to weave a modern day story with the Greek myth of Theseus. I really appreciated this book and can see why it was shortlisted for a Yoto Carnegie Medal.
April 1, 2024
I just want to give these 3 characters a hug. The poems were amazing and they flowed really well into each other. I loved the combination of modern and mythological, and it had a take on Theseus’s story I haven’t read before. The artwork was beautiful, the line work is amazing, and they are placed well in the story, where it doesn’t feel intrusive or like it’s interrupting the poems. The way Theo and Theseus’s story mirrored each other was really interesting, and I liked the choose your own story section for Theseus. I did just read all the poems anyway, but it added an extra element to the story which worked really well. This should 100% win the Carnegie award, and it’s a really good read for fans of Greek mythology and/or poetry
February 16, 2025
This novel-in-verse is incredibly clever and very well-done. We start with a young man named Theo in modern day London who's searching for his father.
As Theo researches the myth of Theseus for a school project, he recognizes parallels with his own life. As part of his project, Theo composes poetry retelling the exploits of Theseus and reflecting on these parallels. We feel Theo's pain as he hits dead end after dead end. But we also feel his hope as new possibilities open up for him. The author seamlessly weaves Theo's story with that of the mythological Theseus and the Minotaur of legend. I would love to hear more from the Minotaur's POV.
This was a quick read, novels-in-verse usually are, but it was also thoughtful and made me go back and brush up a bit on my Greek mythology.
As Theo researches the myth of Theseus for a school project, he recognizes parallels with his own life. As part of his project, Theo composes poetry retelling the exploits of Theseus and reflecting on these parallels. We feel Theo's pain as he hits dead end after dead end. But we also feel his hope as new possibilities open up for him. The author seamlessly weaves Theo's story with that of the mythological Theseus and the Minotaur of legend. I would love to hear more from the Minotaur's POV.
This was a quick read, novels-in-verse usually are, but it was also thoughtful and made me go back and brush up a bit on my Greek mythology.
July 20, 2024
The author rewrites the story of Theseus and Minotaur and intertwines it with Theo’s story - a journey to become a man, to find oneself, to find a father. Quickly to read, my favourite parts were definitely those of Minotaur, as they give a much better insight into his humanity and background - unfortunate these were the rarest one. Still, a beautiful rewriting of old myths, with stunning illustrations.
February 17, 2025
Joseph Coelho & Kate Milner explore some hard truths in this work of art. It highlights the faults that plague us, especially some men who walk out on their children. Theo's journey into manhood is gripping and brings a welcome modernisation of Theseus and the Minotaur. In this retelling, the worst monster of all is men and the fears and the insecurities that can turn heroes into lost little boys.
October 16, 2024
A novel in verse, a modern take on the Greek myths of Theseus, mixed with the story of a young man in modern time, going on a similar journey, in search for his father. Easy to read, entertaining, and interactive, as sometimes the reader has to choose which path Theo or Theseus should take and jump to that page!
April 20, 2024
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would because poems, which I don't normally like, but how it is written to still be like a story made it really nice to read and it only took me 4 days to read.
May 8, 2024
Reading for Carnegie shadowing
Joseph Coelho never disappoints! Another verse novel from him with mythology themes.
This time we meet modern day Theo who is trying to find his real father. Through his English project he is introduced to Theseus, his trials and his meeting with the Minotaur. Theo find he is also lost in a maze like situation and wants to know the real Theseus, the one that is looking for his father just like him. The story weaves modern day Theos story together with the Greek myths of Theseus, also exploring the Minotaur and his origin.
Beautifully poetic.
Joseph Coelho never disappoints! Another verse novel from him with mythology themes.
This time we meet modern day Theo who is trying to find his real father. Through his English project he is introduced to Theseus, his trials and his meeting with the Minotaur. Theo find he is also lost in a maze like situation and wants to know the real Theseus, the one that is looking for his father just like him. The story weaves modern day Theos story together with the Greek myths of Theseus, also exploring the Minotaur and his origin.
Beautifully poetic.
December 28, 2024
Surpassed all my expectations, I love how the story moved from modern day to Ancient Greek mythology so effortlessly
February 27, 2025
Public library copy
Interesting, and the verse format is much better quality than many, but it's very literary. Don't think my students will pick it up, but I would probably buy this for a high school library. The page decorations are nice. Rarely see spot illustrations in YA books.
Interesting, and the verse format is much better quality than many, but it's very literary. Don't think my students will pick it up, but I would probably buy this for a high school library. The page decorations are nice. Rarely see spot illustrations in YA books.
March 12, 2024
Cool idea, just not my thing
July 3, 2024
Incredible, well deserving of the Carnegie medal! I listened to the author reading, amazing.
March 29, 2024
This book is certainly well written. I enjoyed the parts about Theo, but not so much the Greek myth. Difficult to judge as it isn’t something I’d pick up if it wasn’t Carnegie Shortlisted.
May 22, 2024
Verse fiction is so clever! That’s pretty much my whole thoughts on this book - I admire the way two stories were stitched together to seamlessly to create a tapestry of a story about identity and family. It puts a really unique spin on Theseus and the Minotaur and some of these poems in isolation are fantastic snapshots of an experience held by so many young people across the country. A great read!
July 24, 2024
Really lovely verse, interesting take on a myth that ties in to another story. Would recommend.
May 3, 2024
Surprisingly enjoyable! I'm not a big fan of choose your own adventurer stories or poem books but this one was actually really enjoyable
April 14, 2024
Beautifully written, in forms of poem. Each poem has been carefully constructed! Love the Greek mythology woven through, did have to look up the story of Theseus to remind me. Loved the interactivity of the pages (go to page 178, turn back this is a dead end). Read in one day!
Gave 4/5 as the plot about Theo was lacking something…not sure what!
Gave 4/5 as the plot about Theo was lacking something…not sure what!
October 7, 2022
The Boy Lost in the Maze is the perfect example of how every element of a story can be creative and original, and then be blended together for a brilliant result.
We have three storylines running through the story simultaneously. First we have Theo, a modern-day teenage boy who is searching for his father. At school he is working on a project about Theseus, and we follow Theseus and his search for his own father alongside Theo. And in between those, we hear from the minotaur; as much a man as a bull, he too is looking for a sense of identity. It’s a brilliant and truly original re-imagining of one of the most famous Greek myths. And as Theo faces his own trials, you can’t help but feel for him and with him every step of the way.
📚Find this and more reviews on my blog!📚
The book is written in free verse, which allows the reality and the mythology to mix together seamlessly in all of the storylines. Coelho’s poetry is fantastic, and the perfect vehicle for this story. While I have yet to find a free verse novel I haven’t enjoyed, this is perhaps my favourite! I don’t know what makes ‘good’ or ‘bad’ poetry, but I know that I enjoyed it which is – in my opinion at least – the most important thing.
There are also stunning illustrations from Kate Milner. Sometimes they’re unsettling, sometimes they’re moving, sometimes they’re both. They add so much to an already rich story and novel and are a brilliant addition.
The final genius touch is a few ‘choose your own adventure’ elements. They don’t change the course of the story significantly – if you choose the wrong path you only get one or two pages before you have to turn back – but it’s such a genius way of laying out the thought processes and dilemmas faced by the characters. It’s the sort of thing that could be really naff, but is actually the finishing touch to this already brilliant novel.
This is one of the most unique books I’ve read, with so much packed in and it does everything well. I can’t recommend it highly enough!
I received a free copy for review. All opinions are my own.
We have three storylines running through the story simultaneously. First we have Theo, a modern-day teenage boy who is searching for his father. At school he is working on a project about Theseus, and we follow Theseus and his search for his own father alongside Theo. And in between those, we hear from the minotaur; as much a man as a bull, he too is looking for a sense of identity. It’s a brilliant and truly original re-imagining of one of the most famous Greek myths. And as Theo faces his own trials, you can’t help but feel for him and with him every step of the way.
📚Find this and more reviews on my blog!📚
The book is written in free verse, which allows the reality and the mythology to mix together seamlessly in all of the storylines. Coelho’s poetry is fantastic, and the perfect vehicle for this story. While I have yet to find a free verse novel I haven’t enjoyed, this is perhaps my favourite! I don’t know what makes ‘good’ or ‘bad’ poetry, but I know that I enjoyed it which is – in my opinion at least – the most important thing.
There are also stunning illustrations from Kate Milner. Sometimes they’re unsettling, sometimes they’re moving, sometimes they’re both. They add so much to an already rich story and novel and are a brilliant addition.
The final genius touch is a few ‘choose your own adventure’ elements. They don’t change the course of the story significantly – if you choose the wrong path you only get one or two pages before you have to turn back – but it’s such a genius way of laying out the thought processes and dilemmas faced by the characters. It’s the sort of thing that could be really naff, but is actually the finishing touch to this already brilliant novel.
This is one of the most unique books I’ve read, with so much packed in and it does everything well. I can’t recommend it highly enough!
I received a free copy for review. All opinions are my own.
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October 2, 2022I’m not much of a poetry reader, so not going to star rate it yet. Need to think on it as I have no idea ho to write this up.
It's been a week since I've finished this and I still have no idea how to do a write-up for this. I need to figure out my thoughts on this as doing blog tour (sharing an extract, but would like to share sometime of my thoughts/feelings)
***Copy gifted by UK publisher and PR company for review/blog tour in exchange for an honest review/reaction***
It's been a week since I've finished this and I still have no idea how to do a write-up for this! I am not much of a poetry reader (I've only read two books recently written in free view - One & Here Is the Beehive, both by Sarah Crossan [loved One, wasn't a fan of Beehive]), but the idea of reading this take on Greek Myths in verse written by the new Waterstones Children's Laureate 2022 - 2024 was to good to miss.
Theo decides that he wants to his father. As an assignment of school, he decides to write about Theseus and the Minotaur, who Theo has an instant connection to the story. As Theo begins to his search, Theseus begins his trials to find his father. And all the while, the Minotaur is waiting and maybe, just maybe, the Minotaur isn't the monster we're all led to believe...
I don't think I have ever read a book like this before. We have three stories on the go, the poetry style changed all the time and making us question the role of parents.
I'm surprised that, even now, am thinking about this and what Joseph was doing and am thrilled that Joseph Coelho is Children Laureate for next two years.
It's been a week since I've finished this and I still have no idea how to do a write-up for this. I need to figure out my thoughts on this as doing blog tour (sharing an extract, but would like to share sometime of my thoughts/feelings)
***Copy gifted by UK publisher and PR company for review/blog tour in exchange for an honest review/reaction***
It's been a week since I've finished this and I still have no idea how to do a write-up for this! I am not much of a poetry reader (I've only read two books recently written in free view - One & Here Is the Beehive, both by Sarah Crossan [loved One, wasn't a fan of Beehive]), but the idea of reading this take on Greek Myths in verse written by the new Waterstones Children's Laureate 2022 - 2024 was to good to miss.
Theo decides that he wants to his father. As an assignment of school, he decides to write about Theseus and the Minotaur, who Theo has an instant connection to the story. As Theo begins to his search, Theseus begins his trials to find his father. And all the while, the Minotaur is waiting and maybe, just maybe, the Minotaur isn't the monster we're all led to believe...
I don't think I have ever read a book like this before. We have three stories on the go, the poetry style changed all the time and making us question the role of parents.
I'm surprised that, even now, am thinking about this and what Joseph was doing and am thrilled that Joseph Coelho is Children Laureate for next two years.
January 21, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this free ARC.
I love Coelho’s work and in this exploration of the Theseus story he has performed another feat of brilliance. Challenging though it must have been, the twinned stories of Theseus and Theo’s trials to find a father and to understand their sense of self are engaging, elucidating and thoughtful. Theo’s story is one anchored in strength and strengthening. Gaining a sense of place in his fractured world, Theo’s poems for coursework capture the development of a young man, perfectly.
The whole collection is a poetry master class - villanelles, ballad forms, sestina mean that this is a great text for inspiring young writers as well as engaging readers.
For the slightly older teen as there’s a little swearing but a very good possibility for a set text at say Y9 or an extra text for Y10.
Definitely worth checking out.
I love Coelho’s work and in this exploration of the Theseus story he has performed another feat of brilliance. Challenging though it must have been, the twinned stories of Theseus and Theo’s trials to find a father and to understand their sense of self are engaging, elucidating and thoughtful. Theo’s story is one anchored in strength and strengthening. Gaining a sense of place in his fractured world, Theo’s poems for coursework capture the development of a young man, perfectly.
The whole collection is a poetry master class - villanelles, ballad forms, sestina mean that this is a great text for inspiring young writers as well as engaging readers.
For the slightly older teen as there’s a little swearing but a very good possibility for a set text at say Y9 or an extra text for Y10.
Definitely worth checking out.
November 5, 2022
Gorgeous artwork inside and out and an interesting premiss that didn’t quite deliver. I enjoy novels in verse but I didn’t find the flow between the two works worked. I could see all the devices but they didn’t feel real to me. I liked Theo and was rooting for him but didn’t see the point in reimagining Ariadne in the mythical storyline. I was expecting a parallel story not a reimagined myth and that confused me. Shame. I really wanted to lol this book. Plus the unnecessary f bombs and the line about Theo’s mother being a good fxxx were totally unnecessary and put it out of reach for me to lend to younger students. Such a shame.
October 27, 2023
Cawpile: 6.36 3.5*
I kind of enjoyed Coelho’s middle grade work so thought I’d give this book a shot as it looked a little more YA, and although I’m not really one for modern poetry I thought since I’d enjoyed the others maybe I’d like this.
I think after much thought I have to say my answer is that I was challenged by this, which is never a bad thing to happen from something like a piece of work like this. I’m just not sure that I found an answer to my feelings on it. So I kind of left the book feeling still mixed up and jumbled.
Maybe that’s how you are meant to feel? I dunno, I guess I just like to know how I feel either when I finish a book or soon after it.
I kind of enjoyed Coelho’s middle grade work so thought I’d give this book a shot as it looked a little more YA, and although I’m not really one for modern poetry I thought since I’d enjoyed the others maybe I’d like this.
I think after much thought I have to say my answer is that I was challenged by this, which is never a bad thing to happen from something like a piece of work like this. I’m just not sure that I found an answer to my feelings on it. So I kind of left the book feeling still mixed up and jumbled.
Maybe that’s how you are meant to feel? I dunno, I guess I just like to know how I feel either when I finish a book or soon after it.
October 10, 2022
A new YA free verse novel! Well I don't mind if I do.
Told in alternating sections and through poetry and beautiful illustrations we follow Theo and Theseus as they embark on journeys to find their fathers.
Separated by many years (one being ancient greek) the poems cleverly weave the two stories together as Theo is taught in school about history.
There are many comparisons between the boys, although I did find the Theo sections hit harder, maybe it's because I really know nothing about the Ancient Greeks.
Told in alternating sections and through poetry and beautiful illustrations we follow Theo and Theseus as they embark on journeys to find their fathers.
Separated by many years (one being ancient greek) the poems cleverly weave the two stories together as Theo is taught in school about history.
There are many comparisons between the boys, although I did find the Theo sections hit harder, maybe it's because I really know nothing about the Ancient Greeks.
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