Metamorphosis: Junior Year

by Betsy Franco

Ovid’s got a lot on his mind, and he pours it all into the pages of a notebook. Inspired by his namesake, he wryly records his classmates’ dramas as modern-day Roman mythology. There’s Sophie and Caleb, the Psyche and Cupid of cyber-couples; poetic Paula, who pursues filmmaker Franny like Apollo chasing Daphne; and graphic-novelist Duwayne, a Proserpina shuttling between divorced parents. Meanwhile, Ovid hides his own Olympian struggles and a disturbing secret.

Genres: Young Adult, Poetry, Contemporary, Fiction, Audiobook, Teen

Audio CD

First published October 13, 2009

About the author

Betsy Franco is an accomplished and versatile author whose body of work spans over 80 published titles, including fiction, young adult novels, picture books, and poetry collections. Known for her creative, collage-like approach to storytelling, Franco has also written a screenplay for each of her novels, with Naked optioned for film and The Art of Love currently in post-production.
Franco has a strong background in film and theater, having served as the screenwriting mentor for Metamorphosis, Junior Year, a film adaptation of her novel and play. The project was a family collaboration involving her sons James and Tom Franco, and it was well received at major festivals including Cinequest and Mill Valley, earning recognition as a top ten film by the San Jose Mercury News.
Her creative partnerships with her sons continue across various mediums: she appeared in James Franco’s film The Broken Tower and on General Hospital, while Tom Franco has illustrated her books and co-produced films with her. She also works closely with her son Dave Franco, who assists with her writing projects and participated in the audiobook of Metamorphosis, Junior Year alongside James.

Reviews

[Raquel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listening to this was a real treat. It's a short audio book, about 2 hours on 2 CDs. It was a delight listening to Betsy Franco's sons David Franco and James Franco (yes THE James Franco) read their mom's book. This book is heavily influenced by Ovid's Metamorphosis which was one of my favorite books to read in college. My favorite part, funny enough, was the informational part at the end that talked about Ovid's life, work, exile, and death. I'm glad this was included because as fun as it is to read a re-envisioning of Ovid's Metamorphosis (in a high school setting no less) I think it's also really important to understand that what Ovid wrote was also a re-envisioning of the mythological stories that he and his contemporaries were so familiar with.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

What drew me to this book wasn't a review from a fellow book blogger, or even word of mouth from a friend. Nope, I bought this based on plain old book summary (the one listed above in fact). I have an obsession with Greek/Roman mythology. I've read The Odyssey 20 times, watched each movie made about the myths (super excited for The Eagle to be coming out!), and tried to read as many YA books based on the subject (some of my favorites: Psyche in a Dress by Francesca Lia Block, The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1) by Rick Riordan, The Eagle of the Ninth (The Roman Britain Trilogy) by Rosemary Sutcliff & Nobody's Princess (Princesses of Myth) by Esther M. Friesner). So when I saw that Betsy Franco (mother of James Franco) used Ovid's Metamorphoses in a modern context I was excited!

Unfortunately, when I started to read I was disappointed. Yes, the story is told in poetry, with a mix of prose to make it more tangible for modern teens, and the illusions of each character is really good, there isn't enough. Like when you get a bite of some great dessert, but that's all? That's how this book was for me. I wanted more: more character development, more explication, more coherence. I think it would have been easy to accomplish with the format presented.

This is really upsetting because the writing is beautiful. There are some really great lines: "But Thena beat every poetic bone out of their bodies. They walled up that part of themselves, and it'd take a lightning bolt to crack them open again" (pg. 66). But no matter how good the writing is, the plot is suffering. All the reader has to wrap up a book with some pretty intense issues being explored, such as, cutting, anorexia, sexual abuse, meth addiction, is an epilogue that simply has a couple of lines about each character.

In addition, Franco has her other son, Tom, include his art to help illustrate the book. The drawings are suppose to be as if Ovid (the protagonist, go figure) is drawing them. I understand what Franco is trying to do, but I don't feel this really adds anything to the book. The drawings are somewhat confusing to look at, which could have been really good as Ovid is confused and dealing with a lot of things, but they end up just detracting.

I really wanted to love this book, but I didn't. I like it, I don't regret buying it, but I just wish it was ten times thicker than it is.

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting take on updating a classic, in this case Ovid's Metamorphoses.

Ovid is artistic and, as his name suggests, his parents once were, too. But now that Ovid's artistic, unconventional older sister has become addicted to meth and run away, his parents are reacting by trying to fix their failures with her. For them, that means pressuring Ovid to be "normal", up to and including abandoning his art. Obviously, a huge source of friction at home. One of his teacher's gave him a copy of Metamorphoses, and he's been inspired to view his school life as parallels to what Ovid wrote. (There's a note at the back about the real Ovid, who also rebelled against parental wishes for his future.)

So Metamorphosis: Junior Year updates the stories from Metamorphoses while making the main character totally aware that he's drawing these parallels, at the same time that the author is drawing parallels between the fictional Ovid and the real Ovid. It's not quite as complicated as it sounds. The adaptations themselves work, too: for example, here Orpheus is a young musician whose girlfriend leaves him because he can't stop smothering her for a week.

I'm finding it hard to say much more about the book. There's nothing wrong with it, obviously, and it is pretty good. But it's also very short, and ends abruptly and without resolution. There's also so much going on with all of the metamorphoses that no individual storyline has much development or payoff.

[Fernanda Méndez · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
This book is beautifully written. The way the stories are adapted and they are brought to the modern world is an incredible detail in the story.
I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Dave and James, and they definitely give the book a different vibe. I will get myself a physical copy of this book as soon as I can.

[Pere · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the structure and the quick pace. I finished it in 1 sitting and found all of the characters and their little sections quite interesting. I loved the way they all tied together while still being distinctly different. As a current high school student, it really resonated with me. I will definitely be rereading this in the future.

[Abigail · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is just a ripoff of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, but without any of the beautiful prose, a nuanced understanding of the serious issues it addresses, or the accuracy what it's like being a teen. The way it is written is also incredibly dated and does not hold up well. I would recommend reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower, or an anti-drug PSA.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2: this felt like a real memoir from high school, written exactly how a dis-functional teenager would sound.

[Samy Amar · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun book. I picked it up for the James Franco narration on Audible, but the story did draw me in, with modern takes on old gods that are both believable and cleverly written. The book is too short, and does too much, to really dwell on anything. It works more as a proof of concept, a big "what if", than it does as an actual book. It's like a great setup for a series that never happened. Pick it up if you want a quick read.

[Shel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Franco, B. (2009). Metamorphosis Junior Year. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

9780763637651

114 pages.


Appetizer: During his junior year, Ovid begins reading the myths recorded by his namesake. He begins seeing his own life and friends as characters from Greek myth and he records his observations in illustrations, narratives and poems in his journal. He's also working to express himself in other art forms, like sculpture. And he definitely needs the way to express himself ever since something happened to his sister and Ovid's parents began micromanaging his life.

One of my favorite aspects of this novella was Ovid's hopes for getting a girlfriend. Early on he writes that he could use an intervention from the gods. Venus though, because he doesn't trust Cupid (p. 14). Then, after two different people do hit on him in his sculpting class, Ovid figures it is Cupids doing since "by sending me a man and an older woman--'cause he probably got word I was interested in this girl at Lambert" (p. 31). I was entertained.

Of course, many of the other references to myth have darker nuances, but that still present issues that will be very relevant to teens. The Icarus-type-girl is getting high too often. The Narcissus-type-guy has a beautiful face, but cuts himself. Another of Ovid's friends has an eating disorder, another has been raped by a family member and on and on. With all the references to myth, I was strongly reminded of the poems in Psyche in a Dress by Francesca Lia Block. In fact, you could probably declare Metamorphosis: Junior Year to be the "guy version."

With each chapter averaging two pages, the occasional poem that leaves a lot of space on the page, the illustrations and the fact that the book is only 114 pages, this story is a very quick read. It could also draw in a lot of reluctant teen readers who wouldn't normally give a full novel a chance. But having said that, this novella includes a lot of gaps in the text, things the reader is left to imply and references to Greek myth. Both of these could be discouraging. Personally, I also had trouble keeping all of Ovid's friends straight. I had to make a list of their names and note what their primary problem was to keep them straight. But then, I've always been bad with names.

Metamorphosis: Junior Year would be awesome to pair with some of Ovid's myths or The Metamorphosis. And since the book is so short, it's an easy pair. As opposed to Going Bovine with Don Quixote, which together would send most students running.


Dinner Conversation:

"So here I am in my room with this notebook I got for drawing, and now I'm writing in it, too. In a desperate attempt to retrieve my sanity from the trash. There better be some god of journals and blogs who cares about what I'm saying, or I'm screwed" (p. 3).

"Would things be different or better with me now if my parents had given me a normal name? Probably not. My name can't be what's screwing me up, because I've had it my whole life...and it wasn't till the family crisis that I wrote Is life worth living? on the bills in my wallet" (p. 7).

"Bottom line, I could really use an intervention from the gods--Venus, to be exact. I don't trust Cupid" (p. 14).

"Thena was center stage
in her own tragedy
of mythical proportions
and I didn't have much of a part to play.
I was mostly backstage, wishing, wanting
to go back to Act I.
Missing her" (p. 42).


Tasty Rating: !!!

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by McKenzie Tritt for TeensReadToo.com

Ovid, named after and inspired by the Roman poet, journals all of his thoughts into a notebook, adding his expressive drawings throughout. Ovid's journal tells of his high school experience, as well as his family life, from an interesting perspective.

Through narrative, drawings, and emotional poetry, Ovid gives the reader a snapshot of his life, as well as the lives of other high school students. Each new poem reveals a different student's background and current going-ons in their life. Ovid's writing is snarky, raw, and honest.

METAMORPHOSIS: JUNIOR YEAR was incredible. There was such honest emotion in Ovid's writing. He held nothing back, putting all of his feelings on the line. I was incredibly drawn to his poetry, each about a different high school student. These poems dug deep into the person's life and showed their secrets, unknown to others. They were truly wonderful. The drawings, often abstract, were difficult to understand at times. Ovid, however, does describe many along with their meanings, creating a clearer image of what he is expressing through them.

Ovid also gives each student a separate identity, connecting each one to a Roman mythological character based on their personalities and struggles. Fans of mythology will love this concept. The book has a strong theme of, you guessed it, transformation. In such a short book, it's amazing how each character, including Ovid, grows and changes to become something better.

METAMORPHOSIS: JUNIOR YEAR by author Betsy Franco is a true masterpiece. I could find absolutely nothing wrong with this book. I recommend it to all readers. This one is a must-read.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ovid is an observant teenager who likes to express his thoughts about life, death and identity through his drawings and poetry. He has a lot to say recently because his meth-addict sister has runway from home and his parents have been on his back ever since trying to make sure he doesn’t go down the same path. Ovid’s friends are also experiencing some tough issues including a break up, the death of a parent and divorce. Ovid documents these events in his journal using narrative stories, poetry and drawings. The poems Ovid writes mimic Greek and roman myths and make parallels between classic characters and his friends. For example, the love story of Apollo and Daphne is retold through a poem about poetic Paula and her unrequited love for Franny the filmmaker. The journal format of the book allows the reader to connect with Ovid on a personal level, and at times the reading experience feels almost voyeuristic. The book is short but definitely packs a punch. The references to classical mythology and mature subject matter might scare away some readers who at first glance think this small book will be a quick read. Other teens will be able to relate to the creative and often funny way Ovid handles life. The drawings by Tom Franco are a perfect accompaniment to the mystic feel of the book depicting strange creatures and imagined landscapes. Recommended for the artsy teen who likes Greek mythology.

[Yvonne Powderly · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a little gem of a book.

Ovid, named after and inspired by the Roman poet, journals all of his thoughts into a notebook. This teenagers voice is very believable and honest; he holds nothing back putting all his feelings on the line.

Ovid's journal tells of his high school experience, he gives the reader a snapshot of his life, as well as the lives of other high school students in a unique way. Ovid also gives each student a separate identity, connecting each one to a Roman mythological character based on each personality and struggle. Other juniors wrestling with their demons include musician Orpheus, obsessed with his girlfriend; incest victim Myrra, trying to find what's left of the girl in her; Alexis, a female Icarus flying too high on weed; and Sophie and Caleb, an internet Psyche and Cupid.

The only fault with this book is that it is too short. Despite its brevity, it's amazing how each character, including Ovid, grows and changes.
Who knows, after reading this you may find yourself looking up Ovid and the original Metamorphosis.

[Carly (Lis les Livres) · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://lisleslivres.blogspot.ch/2013/...

Characters: Sometimes it seemed that there were a bit too many characters for such a small book. I'm not sure I like Ovid, but I guess that's the point. He's too pessimistic for my taste, and yet I felt sorry for him.

Plot: All of the characters are intermingled into one plot, Ovid's story. Personally, the plot was slow. There is definitely mature content in here, and therefore mature language as well so be aware of that. If you've ever read any other Betsy Franco, you might be in for a surprise because all of her other books are picture books. But then again, why would these books have the same audience?

Audiobook: Lets's be honest. The only reason why I chose to read this book is because James and Dave Franco narrate. Dave reads more than James. I think Dave did a nice job playing the tortured teen, but I'm biased because I'm a fan. Regardless, this book isn't even 2 hours long, so go for it!

[E. Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book told with prose, poetry, and illustrations is the story of high school student Ovid as he breaks away from the mold his family has created for him. He’s still reeling from the disappearance of his sister, who can’t break from her meth addiction long enough to come home. He has a sketch book where he draws strange things that he doesn’t dare put on his bedroom walls, for fear his parents will ask too many questions. In the sanctity of his art class, though, he is encouraged to explore these ideas, and it is through his art and poetry, that Ovid begins to understand his relationships with the people around him, and that he begins to find himself despite the expectations of his strict mother and father. With a beautiful narrative and complimentary art, METAMORPHOSIS: JUNIOR YEAR is both a lovely study in Roman poet Ovid’s original METAMORPHOSES, but also a captivating story all its own.

[Christi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary: Ovid pours the details of his tormented life into his journal by drawing pictures and writing poems and prose about himself and his classmates. The problems he’s having with his family and friends overwhelm him. He struggles to find out who he is and what makes him different from his sister who ran away. While struggling to regain the trust of his parents, make amends with his friends, and sorting out the reasons of his sister’s departure, he discovers the artist within and aspires to become a better son, friend, and person.

Review: The title is very intriguing and as one delves into the book itself, finds the main character to be very unique. The text was slightly confusing, but as one kept reading, it became easier. The author releases bits of information about the character and his life with each chapter and through each entry in Ovid’s journal. By then end of the book, you have a really clear idea of one teenage boy’s topsy turvy life.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Metamorphosis: Junior Year is a quick read full of free-verse poetry and pen-and-ink drawings from Ovid, a junior high school teen, who has to be perfect to make up for the mistakes made by his meth-head older sister, Thena. If only his parents were as hopeful as they were when they named their kids, Ovid wouldn't have to try so hard to be perfect. He compares his life in high school to Roman mythology, comparing his friends to Icarus, Orpheus, Dalia, Cupid and Callisto among others. An artsy kid, Ovid is afraid to be himself around his parents, to show them his artwork and poetry, because he worries they'll think he's crazy and about to go off the deep end like his dear sister, which he may very well be close to doing.

[Salsabrarian]

Narrated by James Franco (yes, that one!) and David Franco. It's a family affair of sister writer and brother narrators. Inspired after reading Metamorphosis on the suggestion of a teacher, Ovid observes all the transformations he and his classmates are going through, and the stories hidden behind their facades. Ovid’s family has been particularly affected by his sister’s meth addiction and disappearance, and he’s feeling hemmed in by his parents’ raised expectations for his own life. James voices Ovid and his frustrations, while David voices the observer.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would have been a four-star if it had been a little longer. At 128 pages, you just skim the surface of Ovid's junior year: the pairings, break-ups, crushes, disappointments, friends and his missing runaway meth-addict sister Thena.

I'm the first to blip over poetry when it appears in books, but I did read some of the poems and they were quite good - miss them, and you'll miss the backstory to the action.

[rr]

Betsy Franco acknowledges a debt to Mary Zimmerman's play based on Ovid's Metamorphoses--and you can definitely sense more of Zimmerman's tone than Ovid's in this novel. Zimmerman's tongue-in-cheek, over-simplified Ovid rubs me the wrong way, and so I was a bit put off by Franco's revisioning of Ovid, too, for the same reason. I also wonder if the high-school language would sound contrived to an actual high-schooler. It definitely did to me--but it's been decades since I was that age.

[MsMead · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a modern take on some of Ovid's themes, making the links nice and obvious through character names and events.
While it is a bit forced, it's clever in its way. If you had written it, you would have achieved high marks for your thinking about the ways these themes are timeless and for revealing the inner workings of the mind of an adolescent.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the drawings that accompanied the book because they enhanced the plot. I also liked how Ovid used poetry to express himself by writing down observations that he witnessed throughout the day. When he revealed his secret, I cried. It was heartbreaking. All this pressure came off and I was proud of him. This was a good book.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really delightful way of looking into the lives and minds of young adults - I really liked the format of this novel, though some of the revelations were very shocking (definitely making this a read for older students). The writing was very approachable, and I found I was interested in the characters. A good, fun read!

[RivkaBelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was not what I wanted it to be ... Not entirely sure what I expected, but this wasn't it. (Could have been the cursing) ... It had some good moments, and felt like there was a lot of potential - but maybe the easy way out was taken? The best part was James Franco's voice reading the poetry passages, not gonna lie.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beauty for me was the power in such a small package. How did the author get into the heads of so many different teen characters and then manage to convey their pain so concisely? That was astonishing to me. And the illustrations were also powerful and integral. It's highly stylized yet impactful. Poetically enthralling.

[T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I agree with many of the reviews that say that this was a wonderful book but was a bit too short. I enjoyed Ovid's insights and loved how "True to life" this book was. I was also excited to see a new plot point that I've never seen in YA literature (what Ovid does).

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that this book was really interesting, and would have been good if it were longer, but it was only 114 pages long and didn't seem to have much of a plot. I really liked the writing style and the poems written throughout the book but the ending was very unsatisfying.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. I like the premise and parts of this book were actually excellent and interesting on their own. But somehow I'm left feeling kind of indifferent in the end. And I honestly didn't care for the illustrations - but that could just be me.

[fREAK OFoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel was delightful in context and language! A must-read for those who enjoy poetry, mythology, and believe in the possibility of there being a fierce, raging beast lurking under the covers of an ordinary Jane.

[Debbie]

Read about in CA Educator Magazine; Franco lives in Palo Alto, where the local school district is writing a play based on the book. Audiobook read by James Franco and Tom Franco (illustrator), the author's sons.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just couldn't find a connection with the main character. That's one of the big things that makes or breaks a book for me.