Favorite Retelling of "The Odyssey" and "The Iliad"

[umsami]

While I think we'll tackle the originals in high schools, am looking for your favorite retellings for middle school aged kids.  

So far, I'm looking at one by Marcia Williams and one by Gillian Cross. 

[Amateur Actress]

"Black Ships Before Troy" and "The Wanderings of Odysseus" by Rosemary Sutcliffe.

[Zoo Keeper]

For jr high-ish, I like Rosemary Sutcliffe's Black Ships Before Troy followed by The Wanderings of Odysseus. If I had to pick just one version before high school, Sutcliffe would be it.   Alan Lee's illustrations in those books are just stunning.

For one who doesn't get so hung up on the visuals like I can, Olivia Collidge's The Trojan War is well done. We also like Padraic Colum's The Children's Homer. Colum's other mythology books were well loved by one of mine as well.

We really like Mary Pope Osborne's Tales From the Odyssey for the elementary and getting into chapter books crowd.  One of mine read and re-read those books for two years straight. ?

Edited November 17, 2018 by Zoo Keeper

[Lori D.]

Some more good versions suggested in these past threads:
"Best version of the Iliad and Odyssey for 6th grade?"
"Which children's version of The Odyssey do you like?"
"The Odyssey for age 10?"

[....]

I love The Children's Homer - and I'm reading it to my 6th grader right now, actually - but she thinks it's dry.  My oldest two read the Sutcliffe books mentioned and loved those!  

[ScoutTN]

The Sutcliff ones with the Alan Lee illustrations.

[Caprice]

Take a look at the Gareth Hinds graphic novels. The Odyssey is great and The Iliad is coming out in March:

 

 

[lilajoy]

Bernard Evslin's The Adventures of Ulysses (published in the 1960s) is an excellent retelling, with lyrical prose and an engaging style. The middle schoolers I know who have read it LOVED it, and I would say it's ideal for ages 10-14. It could be read independently but also makes a great read-aloud.