Booklist: It's All Greek to Me
Alpha, beta, gamma, delta - Oh! Hi there! I was just singing the Greek alphabet. Now that you're here, I'll stop singing (temporarily) and start talking about books which refer to or retell Greece myths and legends.
Classics and Collections
The Iliad by Homer
The Odyssey by Homer
D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths
Tales of the Greek Heroes by Roger Lancelyn Green
Non-Fiction for Kids
DK Eyewitness Books: Ancient Greece by Anne Pearson
Retellings and (More) Recent Releases
Split up by age of the audience:
Picture Books
Greece! Rome! Monsters! by John Harris, illustrated by Calef Brown
Juvenile Fiction
Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan
A boy learns he's the son of a Greek god - and he's not the only one. When he meets the others at a very special summer camp, it's the stuff of legends. Action-adventure: quests, creatures, gods, battles, and bravery. For ages 8 and up.
- The Lightning Thief
- The Sea of Monsters
- The Titan's Curse
- The Battle of the Labyrinth
- The Demigod Files (three short stories: Percy Jackson and the Stolen Chariot, Percy Jackson and the Bronze Dragon, and Percy Jackson and the Sword of Hades)
- The Last Olympian
Pandora: Mythic Miss-Adventures by Carolyn Hennesy
After a popular classmate accidentally opens the ill-fated box, Pandora must go on a quest to retrieve the evils she's unleashed. Comedic fantasy set in Ancient Greece, but with a contemporary feel that kids will enjoy. For ages 8 and up.
- Pandora Gets Jealous
- Pandora Gets Vain
- Pandora Gets Lazy
- Pandora Gets Heart
- Pandora Gets Angry
- Pandora Gets Greey
Dusssie by Nancy Springer
A modern-day girl discovers she's part Gorgon when her hair turns into snakes and she accidentally turns another kid into stone. Comedic fantasy set in the present day. For ages 8 and up.
Teen Fiction
Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs
Goddess Boot Camp by Tera Lynn Childs
Having to move to Greece because your mom's getting remarried? That's unexpected. Finding out that Greek gods really exist and that your new classmates are their superpowered offspring? That's REALLY unexpected. Set in contemporary times, this fun story is part fantasy, part drama, and totally recommended. For teens. Read my review.
Quiver by Stephanie Spinner
The story of Atalanta, who could outrun the boys. Short and to the point. Sticks to the original story. Shelved in teen fiction, but will appeal to younger fans of Greek myths too.
Quicksilver by Stephanie Spinner
The story of Hermes, messenger of the gods and thief. Much in the same manner of Quiver, likewise recommended.
Nobody's Princess by Esther M. Friesner
Nobody's Prize by Esther M. Friesner
These novels reimagine Helen of Troy's life before she launched a thousand ships, when she was a headstrong child and teenager who wanted to train with her brothers and go on adventures.
The Secret Life of a Teenage Siren by Wendy Toliver
A modern-day teen learns she's a Siren and uses her flute to enhance her newfound powers of persuasion. One of the Simon Pulse Romantic Comedies, this story obviously has fantasy elements, but it is set in the present day.
Sirena by Donna Jo Napoli
A siren falls for a human. If you like Napoli's other stories, you'll certainly like this. Romantic fantasy.
Adult Fiction
The Ferryman by Christopher Golden
A woman defies death and refuses to cross the river Styx with Charon the ferryman, so he crosses over into our world and demands the proper payment - her life. I love when ancient myths brave the light (and dark) of modern day, and I really love this book. Another amazing adventure from Golden. Urban fantasy.
The Menagerie by Christopher Golden and Thomas E. Sniegoski
This series, while not a through-and-through retelling of Greek myths, does have Grecian characters and elements, as the second book's title would suggest. Read more about the series. Dark fantasy. Typically shelved in sci-fi/fantasy.
- The Nimble Man
- Tears of the Furies
- Stones Unturned
- Crashing Paradise
Plays
Metamorphosis by Mary Zimmerman
The play utilizes a small cast to play multiple roles and depict the myths of Midas, Psyche, and more. I really enjoy this play on the page; I have yet to see it live on stage.
Picture This
I always recommend illustrated collections which stick to the original legends. This could be because I love illustrations of Pegasus. Even though he's not as cool as the gryphon, he does have that cool hybrid thing going on. Perhaps I'll pretend that are oddly related, like the Care Bears and the Care Bear Cousins. (Hey, if I'm supposed to believe that a lion and a bear are cousins, then a gryphon and a pegasus can be, too.)
I'd love to see Tony DiTerlizzi illustrate the Greek myths. He did a fantastic job with fantastical creatures in The Spiderwick Chronicles, and his depiction of Byron, the griffin, is GORGEOUS. (Holly Black said I can have Byron if I can manage to pry him away from Simon, but that's another story.)
Classics and Collections
The Iliad by Homer
The Odyssey by Homer
D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths
Tales of the Greek Heroes by Roger Lancelyn Green
Non-Fiction for Kids
DK Eyewitness Books: Ancient Greece by Anne Pearson
Retellings and (More) Recent Releases
Split up by age of the audience:
Picture Books
Greece! Rome! Monsters! by John Harris, illustrated by Calef Brown
Juvenile Fiction
Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan
A boy learns he's the son of a Greek god - and he's not the only one. When he meets the others at a very special summer camp, it's the stuff of legends. Action-adventure: quests, creatures, gods, battles, and bravery. For ages 8 and up.
- The Lightning Thief
- The Sea of Monsters
- The Titan's Curse
- The Battle of the Labyrinth
- The Demigod Files (three short stories: Percy Jackson and the Stolen Chariot, Percy Jackson and the Bronze Dragon, and Percy Jackson and the Sword of Hades)
- The Last Olympian
Pandora: Mythic Miss-Adventures by Carolyn Hennesy
After a popular classmate accidentally opens the ill-fated box, Pandora must go on a quest to retrieve the evils she's unleashed. Comedic fantasy set in Ancient Greece, but with a contemporary feel that kids will enjoy. For ages 8 and up.
- Pandora Gets Jealous
- Pandora Gets Vain
- Pandora Gets Lazy
- Pandora Gets Heart
- Pandora Gets Angry
- Pandora Gets Greey
Dusssie by Nancy Springer
A modern-day girl discovers she's part Gorgon when her hair turns into snakes and she accidentally turns another kid into stone. Comedic fantasy set in the present day. For ages 8 and up.
Teen Fiction
Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs
Goddess Boot Camp by Tera Lynn Childs
Having to move to Greece because your mom's getting remarried? That's unexpected. Finding out that Greek gods really exist and that your new classmates are their superpowered offspring? That's REALLY unexpected. Set in contemporary times, this fun story is part fantasy, part drama, and totally recommended. For teens. Read my review.
Quiver by Stephanie Spinner
The story of Atalanta, who could outrun the boys. Short and to the point. Sticks to the original story. Shelved in teen fiction, but will appeal to younger fans of Greek myths too.
Quicksilver by Stephanie Spinner
The story of Hermes, messenger of the gods and thief. Much in the same manner of Quiver, likewise recommended.
Nobody's Princess by Esther M. Friesner
Nobody's Prize by Esther M. Friesner
These novels reimagine Helen of Troy's life before she launched a thousand ships, when she was a headstrong child and teenager who wanted to train with her brothers and go on adventures.
The Secret Life of a Teenage Siren by Wendy Toliver
A modern-day teen learns she's a Siren and uses her flute to enhance her newfound powers of persuasion. One of the Simon Pulse Romantic Comedies, this story obviously has fantasy elements, but it is set in the present day.
Sirena by Donna Jo Napoli
A siren falls for a human. If you like Napoli's other stories, you'll certainly like this. Romantic fantasy.
Adult Fiction
The Ferryman by Christopher Golden
A woman defies death and refuses to cross the river Styx with Charon the ferryman, so he crosses over into our world and demands the proper payment - her life. I love when ancient myths brave the light (and dark) of modern day, and I really love this book. Another amazing adventure from Golden. Urban fantasy.
The Menagerie by Christopher Golden and Thomas E. Sniegoski
This series, while not a through-and-through retelling of Greek myths, does have Grecian characters and elements, as the second book's title would suggest. Read more about the series. Dark fantasy. Typically shelved in sci-fi/fantasy.
- The Nimble Man
- Tears of the Furies
- Stones Unturned
- Crashing Paradise
Plays
Metamorphosis by Mary Zimmerman
The play utilizes a small cast to play multiple roles and depict the myths of Midas, Psyche, and more. I really enjoy this play on the page; I have yet to see it live on stage.
Picture This
I always recommend illustrated collections which stick to the original legends. This could be because I love illustrations of Pegasus. Even though he's not as cool as the gryphon, he does have that cool hybrid thing going on. Perhaps I'll pretend that are oddly related, like the Care Bears and the Care Bear Cousins. (Hey, if I'm supposed to believe that a lion and a bear are cousins, then a gryphon and a pegasus can be, too.)
I'd love to see Tony DiTerlizzi illustrate the Greek myths. He did a fantastic job with fantastical creatures in The Spiderwick Chronicles, and his depiction of Byron, the griffin, is GORGEOUS. (Holly Black said I can have Byron if I can manage to pry him away from Simon, but that's another story.)