The Faerie Isle: Tales and Traditions of Ireland’s Forgotten Folklore

Quinn, Sine and Dermot Flynn, illustrator. The Faerie Isle: Tales and Traditions of Ireland’s Forgotten Folklore. 2025. 80p. ISBN 9781536240719.

The Faerie Isle unveils a captivating world of Irish folklore, introducing readers to fifteen extraordinary fae beings, ranging from mischievous leprechauns to powerful giants. The book warns of the enchanting yet perilous selkies, who dance ashore every ninth day, and the ill-omened sight of a mermaid combing her hair. It also cautions against the Charmer, whose seductive words can leave a person lovesick and heartbroken. These tales, inspired by the Irish National Folklore Collection, paint a vivid picture of a world where magic and danger intertwine.

Through dramatic illustrations and detailed descriptions of each fae's traits and origins, the book provides an illuminating glimpse into the lesser-known heroes and villains of Irish mythology. It serves as a treasured keepsake, offering a rich tapestry of stories that explore the complexities of the fae world. This collection not only entertains but also preserves the cultural heritage of Irish folklore, making it a valuable resource for anyone fascinated by the mystical creatures and their enduring influence.

Kwame Crashes the Underworld

Farmer, Craig Kofi. Kwame Crashes the Underworld. 2024. 336p. ISBN 9781250900265.

There are times twelve-year-old Kwame regrets that his grandmother immigrated from Ghana decades ago. Like when he has to visit Ghana, where he stands out like a sore thumb with his general lack of Ghanian cultural awareness, his desire for American food, and his embarrassment at wearing the dashiki his grandmother made especially for him. But he loves his grandmother, who acts as his anchor to a world he does not quite know, so her death shakes him to the core. 

It's been three weeks since her passing, and the family is traveling to Ghana to participate in a celebration of life for her. Kwame doesn't believe there is an afterlife, and he feels really lonely without her stories. On his last night before flying out to Ghana, Kwame spends the night at his best friend's house. Autumn is deaf and wears hearing aids, but the two of them usually communicate in ASL. That night, as Kwame stresses about the upcoming trip and wishes he didn't have to go, he has a strange dream of a being he recognizes as Mother Earth from Ghanan myths, and when he awakens, his hand glows a faint gold. At the same time, a strange monkey breaks into Autum's house and steals Kwame's dashiki before sprinting out again.

Chasing the monkey, which Kwame now recognizes as an aboatia, a mythical monkey from Akan, Kwame reaches the pier, closely followed by Autumn who grabbed a sword Kwame didn't know she had. When Woo the abotia (that's what Kwame named it) jumps into the water with the dashiki, Kwame does not hesitate and follows, with Autumn right behind. Which is when Kwame finds himself in the Asamando, the place where dead Ghanans travel to following their death, in the middle of an election campaign for a new Mother Earth to replace the one who died 12 years ago. There, he encounters his grandmother in a much younger form, and together they set up to unravel a divine plot by nature gods who plan to destroy humanity ...

A great immersive experience in a culture most readers are not familiar with, Kwame Crashes the Underworld is fast-paced and action-packed, and explores such issues as cultural alienation, differently-abilities, intergenerational relationships, identify, and love. 

The Labors of Hercules Beal

Schmidt, Gary D. The Labors of Hercules Beal. 2023. 352p. ISBN 9780358659631.

Living on Cape Cod, Hercules Bean is no hero. His parents both died in a gruesome car accident last year, and now he lives with his older brother, who moved in with his girlfriend to keep the family's garden center. He's more of a weakling. Being named after a Greek demigod has meant nothing but ridicule. Now in 7th grade, Hercules is confronted by a new social studies teacher, a retired Marine commander who runs his classroom like a drill training ground. He's strict and demanding, but he's also fair. When he assigns a year-long project connected to various aspects of social studies, everyone groans. Hercules' fear is realized when he's assigned the performance of Hercules' Twelve Labors. How is Hercules supposed to do all of that mythical stuff in real life?

Missing his parents terribly, and convinced that his brother's girlfriend is a vampire (seriously, Hercules has never seen her out in the sun), Hercules has to figure out a way to perform the twelve labors and report on his progress in monthly meetings. Working with his teacher, Hercules soon accomplishes the first of his twelve labors, and discovers along the way that they not need be exactly like what Hercules the hero confronted. His friends and his family join him and start giving him leads, helping him complete more of the labors. When a hurricane hits Cape Cod, Hercules is faced with his hardest labor yet. 

Making friends along the way, Hercules manage to accomplish all of the labors, and realizes that there is more to a community than working alone. A really humorous story, The Labors of Hercules Beal will thrill the fan of Greek myths with multiple references and how these would apply in real life. Despite his sorrow, Hercules remains upbeat and optimistic, and eventually successfully completes this assignment, learning valuable lessons along the way.

Fas of The Labors of Hercules Beal should take a look at the Wednesday Wars.

Faust

 von Goethe, Johann Wolfgang. Faust. 1998. 503p. ISBN 9780385031141. 

Though medieval in origin, the tale of Faust is as old as time itself, with man seeking to escape the bonds meant to retain his humanity. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe crafted a retelling of Faust on and off for over sixty years, with the final product published after his death in the early 1800s. In Goethe's story, Faust has reached the pinnacle of humanity, but is unable to exceed it. His knowledge is extraordinary, his power is great, and he enjoys life, but it is not satisfying. Faust's existential crisis attracts the attention of Mephistopheles, the German version of the Devil, who offers Faust a wager. Mephistopheles tells Faust he will provide him with every kind of experience imaginable in order to find the one that will satisfy him. If he fails, Faust will get to enjoy an even better life than before. But if he succeeds, and if Faust finds a moment in time where he is truly satisfied, he will lose his soul.

Scared of the bargain but eager to perhaps reach true happiness for the first time, Faust agrees to Mephistopheles's terms, and soon he experiences things beyond the comprehension of most humans. But none of these experiences satisfy him. Then he meets Gretchen, a young woman, and the lustful relationship takes Faust closest to being fully satisfied before Mephistopheles destroys the young woman and her family, causing Faust eternal grief. 

Still bound by his deal with Mephistopheles, Faust and the Devil travel through time, living in different eras. Faust cannot forget Gretchen, however, and though life can be sweet, it is nothing but the taste of ashes in his mouth, and Mephistopheles is nowhere close to collecting Faust's soul. Then Faust meets Helen of Troy, renowned beauty, Faust finally feels satisfied with his life. Mephistopheles attempts to collect Faust's soul, but God intervenes in Faust's favor following Gretchen's desperate pleading. Carried up to paradise, Faust is reunited with Gretchen, and Mephistopheles crawls back to Hell, having failed in his mission. Faust was thus saved by Gretchen and his eternal love for him.

The Lightning Thief

Riordan, Rick. The Lightning Thief. Book 1 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. 2005. 377p. ISBN 9780786838653. Available at FIC RIO on the library shelves.

Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson has never known his father, and though his mother does her best to protect him, her no-good husband, Percy's stepfather, is a self-centered and abusive jerk who wants Percy out. Attending a private school, Percy once again finds himself close to being suspended. Despite himself, he's always getting in trouble. It's as if trouble followed him wherever he goes... At school, Percy's only friend Grover does his best to help him stay on the right path, but it is so difficult. The only thing Percy enjoys is his Latin class, where the teacher makes the antique world come alive.

On a class field trip to a museum, Percy is attacked by his math teacher, and soon discovers that he is in fact the son of Poseidon, god of the sea. The Greek gods survived to today, and they continue to toy with humanity. Someone stole Zeus' lightning bolt, and Percy has been blamed for the theft, and Poseidon is threatened with war if it is not returned. Percy is stunned to learn all of this from his friend Grover, who is actually a Satyr sent to protect him.

Percy's mother decides to take him to Camp Half-Blood for his own protection, because all kinds of mythological monsters and beasts are now hunting him, but she is killed by a Minotaur on the border of the camp. Camp Half-Blood is a safe space for the children of the gods, and there Percy meets Annabeth, daughter of Athena, and soon he, Grover, and Annabeth find themselves on a quest to retrieve the lightning bolt, save his mother from Hades, and prevent a war between the gods. Percy will need all of his wits to survive a cross-country trip with gods, monsters, and beasts all wanting to be the ones to capture him and deliver him to Zeus for swift punishment....

A fantastical tale where the gods are still present and living in New York City, the story of Percy combines heroics of Greek mythology and modern sensibilities to deliver a fast-paced tale that readers who appreciate fantasy or tales from the antiquity will surely enjoy.

Lore Olympus, Vol. 1

Smythe, Rachel. Lore Olympus, Vol. 1. 2021. 384p. ISBN 9780593160299. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Hades is the king of the underworld, and his life is pretty lonely. The other gods make fun of him, and the guy usually is an afterthought in his brother Zeus' mind. Invited to yet another of Zeus' parties, Hades calls the nymph Minthe to see if she will join him. She declines, and Hades finds himself alone once again at a social gathering. 

Persephone is invited to the same party by her roommate Artemis, and the two girls have a good time.  Hades notices Persephone and he is instantly smitten. Wanting to get back at him for indiscrete comments he made, Hera, wife of Zeus, arranges for Eros, god of love, to get Persephone drunk and leave her in Hades' car, causing an embarrassing situation for the both of them. 

Hades doesn't notice Persephone until he arrive back to his mansion. He takes her inside and places her in a bedroom. When she awakes, she strolls through the mansion before encountering Cerberus, whom she quickly tames. Finally, Hades and Persephone spend some time together talking about live and love. But soon enough it is time to return to the world above, and Persephone leaves Hades behind. Hades is still smitten, but since Persephone doesn't have a cellphone, he has no way of contacting her.

Meanwhile, Apollo, brother to Artemis, attempts to seduce Persephone, since he's certain she deserves better than the god of death. As Persephone experiences her own tragedy, Hades finally connects some dots and realizes that Persephone has been trying to reach him ...

A modern remake of an ancient tale, that of Hades and Persephone, Lore Olympus is rendered in sharp colorful contrasts and witty dialogs. The characters inhabit our current world, and have the same tools and gadgets we use. Plus, their issues are very human ones as well. Fans of Greek mythology will appreciate this story, and graphic novel lovers will enjoy the gorgeous illustrations.

Rise of the Wolf

Nielsen, Jennifer. Rise of the Wolf. Book 2 of the Mark of the Thief series. 2016. 352p. ISBN 9780545562041. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

While Nic and his younger sister Livia now live in Rome, away from the slave mines where he was forced to work in The Mark of the Thief, dangers continue to surround him as his grandfather, General Radulf, moves forward with his plan to destroy the Roman Empire from within, using cunning and magic. However, Radulf's enemies, the Praetors, are themselves on the move, and they seek to awaken the Mistress, a Vestal virgin who was buried alive after betraying Julius Caesar three hundred years ago. She possesses a powerful magical artifact that can then be used to craft a Jupiter stone, delivering power to their faction. Their ultimate goal is to help the goddess Diana overthrow the gods and, by extension, Rome.

Despite his misgivings and his fraught relationship with Aurelia and his grandfather, Nic finds he has no choice but to help the Praetors, for they hold his mother captive. Short on time and ideas, Nic makes one more bargain with their leader, Brutus. In four days' time, there will be a chariot race, and Nic will compete against whomever the Praetors want to send against them. If he wins, they will leave him alone, free his mother, and never seek to use his magical abilities again. If he loses, he agrees to go with them and sacrifice himself to create the Jupiter stone.

With his life and that of his friends and family, yet alone the fate of Rome, in the balance, Nic is about to discover whether his magic is powerful enough to defeat an ancient threat ...

Never Look Back

Rivera, Lilliam. Never Look Back. 2020. 320p. ISBN 9781547603732. 

Originally from Puerto Rico, Eury and her mother fled the island following Hurricane Maria, when their home was destroyed. Ever since she was very young, Eury has been accompanied by a spirit, Ato, that no one else can see, but who can bring destruction on those she loves. Ato wants Eury to come and live with him in his paradise, and he has been making his life miserable, even suggesting that he was responsible for the hurricane. Moving first to Tampa, Eury continues to be plagued by Ato, so her mother moves again, this time to the Bronx. For a while, Eury is content, and Ato seems to have lost her.

Pheus is a skilled musician, who loves nothing more than to entertain others with his music, and to chase girls. When he meets Eury while she stays with her cousin Penelope, Pheus instantly falls for the lovely girl with the brooding mood. As he gets to know Eury, Pheus realizes she's literally plagued by an actual demon. Wishing to help her, Pheus becomes embroiled in a battle that no human should survive.

A modern adaptation of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, Never Look Back examines what it means to internalize trauma, and how others can help. Fans of fighting against the odds will appreciate these two characters and how they helped each other.

Perfect Nine: The Epic of Gikuyu and Mumbi

Thiong'o, Ngugi wa. Perfect Nine: The Epic of Gikuyu and Mumbi. 2020. 240p. ISBN 9781620975251. 

The Gĩkũyũ people of Kenya come from nine beautiful daughters, and one crippled one. These first girls, dubbed the Perfect Nine, were strong, courageous, and energetic. The youngest could not walk, but was an expert archer. She was often left behind as her sisters adventured.

Looking for suitable suitors for their daughters, Gĩkũyũ and his wife Mũmbi consulted with God, and were rewarded with a large pool of men eager to marry the daughters. Through heroic quests, trials, and challenges, the men are slowly winnowed down until ten remain, and were married to the ten daughters. While the nine eldest traveled the world on their adventures, the youngest learned to walk and became strong in her own name. 

These two stories, those of the suitors and the nine eldest daughters, intertwine with that of the youngest daughter to create a riveting lyrical tale. A foundational myth used to explain their origins, the Perfect Nine embraces strong women and retells, through tales of adventure, how the Kenyan tribes came to be. Fans of epics will appreciate this story, filled with legends, heroes, and villains. 

Monkey

Wu, Cheng-en. Monkey. 2020. 819 mins. ISBN 978-1094016429.

Monkey rules over a tribe of monkeys on the summit of a mountain. There, Monkey acquires enough smarts, weapons, and skills to pretend to join the Jade Emperor's court in Heaven. Monkey may be many things, but what he is most certainly not is patient and humble. In confrontations with deities, Monkey makes enemies, and fights many battles. He is quarrelsome enough that even the Jade Emperor is forced to banish him from Heaven. 

Seeking enlightenment, Monkey heads to a renowned school, where he learns the many forms designed to reach Buddha's grace. He unfortunately angers Buddha himself, who casts him off and imprisons him underneath a mountain. For five hundred years, Monkey is stuck and must reflect on his wanton ways.

When a monk tasked to head west from China to India, to retrieve holy scriptures and bring them back to the Chinese court passes by, he rescues Monkey, who joins him as a disciple. Accompanied by others who are also castaways from Heaven, the small group make their way to India where, after countless perils, adventures, and confrontations with demons, they secure an audience with Buddha himself, and gain a copy of the holy scriptures.

Returning to China, the group is redeemed and achieves enlightenment, and even Monkey learns to become a better individual.

Originally written in the 16th century but most likely told even before, this story tells of the many adventures of the Monkey King. Combining folk tales with lessons on humility and achieving enlightenment, these stories are entertaining and filled with advice. Fans of this story will also enjoy The Epic Crush of Genie Lo, inspired from the Monkey King's epic tales, or the graphic novel American Born Chines.

Heroes in Greek Mythology

Nardo, Don. Heroes in Greek Mythology. Part of the Library of Greek Mythology series. 2017. 80p. ISBN 978-1-60152-968-8. Available at 398.2 NAR on the library shelves.

Of all of the ancient Greek myths, from monsters to gods and goddesses, from creation stories to natural phenomena, all of these share a central element, that of a hero. The hero of myths was bigger than life, with an outsized personality and powers that derived from the gods and put them out of the leagues of most mortals. From Achilles' invulnerability in battle, except for the heel that wasn't dipped in the river Styx, to strong Heracles, heroes were able to do things that most humans were not able to. They mingled freely with the gods. They fought and protected Greece from its enemies. They fought against oppression and chaos. And in their stories was redemption and hope.

Told by the ancient Greeks to explain the world around them, heroes were from another age, and often inspired by real people who had played major roles during Greece's bronze age five hundred years earlier. Many of the heroes fought against monsters such as giants, cyclops, or Medusa. Some fought for true love, defying Hades and retrieving a lost soul from the Underworld. Others toppled tyrants and dictators. Some were on quests, sometimes of their choosing, like Jason and the Argonauts, but sometimes as punishment, such as Odysseus. Others were lovers whose relationship was so pure the gods wept to see them so happy. All of them, however, remain popular and relevant to this day, permeating our own culture and connecting us to universal ideals, impulses, and desires.

Books in this series include:

• Natural Phenomena in Greek Mythology
• Heroes in Greek Mythology
• Monsters in Greek Mythology

Monsters in Greek Mythology

Nardo, Don. Monsters in Greek Mythology. Part of the Library of Greek Mythology series. 2017. 80p. ISBN 978-1-60152-970-1. Available at 398.2 NAR on the library shelves.

Myths often use elements of reality and incorporate them into fantastic descriptions to explain a specific phenomenon or a historical occurrence. For the ancient Greeks, monsters were part and parcel of their experiences. How could they explain the skulls of prehistoric elephants with a hole in the middle where the trunk would be attached? Cyclops. How about the deadliest animals for humans, raptor birds, big cats, and venomous snakes? Flying dragons. Builders of ancient ruins that used stone blocks so tall and heavy that the technology of the day could not move them? Giants.

All of these monsters populated the myths and legends of the ancient Greeks. Some came from the birth of the world, when the gods created the Giants who eventually waged war on the Olympian deities. Others were Cyclops who preyed on men. Many monsters were condemned to the underworld. Some where ugly monsters, cursed by the gods like Medusa. Still others had unknown origins but ended up as constellations in the sky, like Orion and the Hydra.

Throughout Greek myths, recurring figures are often sinister reptilians with the face of a woman. Both themes were heavily influenced by man's perception of women as inferior and villainous, creatures who consorted with snakes to poison men's lives. 

These myths continue to be popularized in movies and books, and retain a foothold in our science-based world, providing a basis of understanding that underpins most of Western Civilization. Fans of myths and history will enjoy the way in which ancient Greeks conjured monsters to triumph over.

Books in this series include:

• Natural Phenomena in Greek Mythology
• Heroes in Greek Mythology
• Monsters in Greek Mythology

Natural Phenomena in Greek Mythology

 Nardo, Don. Natural Phenomena in Greek Mythology. Part of the Library of Greek Mythology series. 2017. 80p. ISBN 978-1-60152-972-5. Available at 398.2 NAR on the library shelves.

For ancient people, the world was a mysterious place. Natural phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, and storms had no rational explanation. Why were some people struck dead, while others survived? Why did famine affect an entire nation one year, only to have the following year bring a bountiful harvest? Humans crafted myths to explain what was happening around them. Inspired from Egyptian and Babylonian civilizations, ancient Greeks of the bronze age told stories of gods and their battles, dalliances, and meddling in human affairs to explain the events that were taking place.

By the time Classical Greece emerged, these stories and myths permeated the whole society, from rich folks to slaves, and offered a common understanding of the world around them. Despite the growth of philosophy and science, myths continued to be told and retold, ensuring that stories that explained natural phenomena and environmental catastrophes were widely shared.

Natural Phenomena in Greek Mythology shares stories of myths that centered around events and phenomena that happened in nature and that the Greeks could not explain. From the daily rotation of the Sun to the four seasons, from earthquakes to the name and appearance of animals and flowers, fans of Greek mythology will appreciate the details outlined in this book and the ways the Greeks explained what they saw around them.

Books in this series include:

• Natural Phenomena in Greek Mythology
• Heroes in Greek Mythology
• Monsters in Greek Mythology

The Star-Touched Queen

Chokshi, Roshani. The Star-Touched Queen. Book 1 of the Star-Touched Queen series. 2016. 342p. 562 mins. ISBN 978-1-42727298-0. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive. 

Born in the harem of the Raja of Bharata, Maya has always been considered cursed by the other inhabitants of the harem. When her horoscope was drawn, it was foretold that her marriage would bring death. As a result she is considered bad luck, has no friends and no hopes of marrying. Maya spends her time avoiding the politics of the harem, her tutors, and eavesdropping on her father's Council. 

Spying on her father and his Council one day, she learns that she's about to be married off to one of her kingdom's enemies in hopes of settling peace. She is stunned. She does not want to marry and does not want to leave Bharata. She plans for escape, but is instead imprisoned until the wedding. The night before, her father visits her and reveals that his plan was to use her as bait and draw their enemies here. Under the guise of a ceasefire to celebrate a wedding, the Raja fully expects his daughter to not go through with it and poison herself instead, allowing him to break the ceasefire and deal with the leaders of enemy kingdoms.

Unfortunately his enemies have spies, and they brought their own soldiers. On the day of the wedding, Maya is presented to the attendees, and when she leaves to make her choice, war breaks out. Maya is rescued by an enigmatic king who takes her away to the supernatural land of the Night Bazaar, before bringing her back to his kingdom of Akaran. King Amar wishes Maya to become his equal. Amar has secrets, however, and he asks her to wait until the new moon before he can reveal them.

Enough information is available, however, and Maya soon realizes that Amar is the Agent of Death himself, and she has just joined him! Monsters haunt the kingdom. The dead travel through its halls on their way to a new life. And whispers tell her that Amar intends to sacrifice her. With her life in danger, Maya must decide whom she can trust. How do you escape from death itself?

An Indian retelling of the myth of Persephone and Hades, Maya seems to be making bad choices one after the other, yet in the end manages to redeem herself and the kingdom. Fans of mythology will appreciate the descriptive world the author created and will enjoy Maya's struggles and eventual triumph as she finally finds her voice.

Dark Shores

Jensen, Danielle. Dark Shores. Book 1 of the Dark Shores series. 2019. 368p. ISBN 9781250317728. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

The Maarin people are seafarers who travel up and down the coast of the Celendor Empire, a continent-wide conquering power. Backed by its powerful legions, the Senate leads with an iron fist. Only the Maarins, who transport valuable goods between distant locations, are exempted from the harsh rules that apply to all Cel citizens, such as taxes and the giving up of the second boy of every family to the legions.

Teriana lives on the Quincense, her mother’s ship. As second in command of the ship, she is also heir to one of the three leaders of the Maarins. When their ship arrives in the capital in time for the election of the next Consul, she realizes that all is not well in Celendor. Two full legions have gathered on the outskirts as one of the candidates plans a power play.

Marcus commands one of the two legions, the 37th. This is the Empire’s blood-thirstiest legion and is known to have massacred a whole island, enslaving over 160,000 people and glutting the slave markets. Cassius, one of the senators running for the post of Consul, blackmails him into voting for him with his entire legion otherwise he will reveal Marcus’ secret of being an ill first son who was swapped in favor of his  younger brother. Not wanting to bring ruin to his family, Marcus agrees.

Cassius then proposes to send Marcus, his legion and the 41st to the other side of the world on Maarin ships. The Maarins, much like Marcus, have secrets they wish to hide, and one of them is that their trade routes take them to another vast continent across the ocean. They protect this secret with their lives, but a mistake on Teriana’s part has revealed this information to Cassius, who now wishes to direct imperial forces to seize these new lands.

A pariah to her own people, Teriana is forced to act as a guide to Marcus and take his forces across a watery magical way to a continent where people still believe in gods and where these very gods play an active role in the lives of their people. With secrets upon secrets, Teriana and Marcus become involved in a deadly dance where they both need each other to survive the journey and free the Maarins, but only at the cost of enslaving a whole continent....

The Epic Crush of Genie Lo

Yee, F.C. The Epic Crush of Genie Lo. 2017. 310p. ISBN 978-1-68335-122-1. Available as an ebook on Overdrive.

Eugenie Lo is taller than most at her school, and at sixteen is driven to get into a top college to please her relentless mother. With divorced parents, Genie cannot wait to escape stifling parental surveillance and spread her own wings. Her school year is filled with studying, tests, and the dreadful college essay that she must write to set herself apart from all of the other Asian students competing with her for the same few spots in top colleges.

Her entire life is suddenly changed, however, when, on her way to school, she comes across a boy being beaten up in an alley. She distracts the bullies, but leaves her backpack and all of her books behind. At school, she is surprised to meet that very same boy, Quentin, in most of her classes. A transfer student from China, Quentin quickly proclaims that Genie belongs to him.  That immediately sets her off, and she violently punches Quentin. He keeps on following her, however, turning up in the strangest places.

What she thought was obnoxious and annoying suddenly turns deadly when Quentin reveals that he is in fact Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, who has come to San Francisco to chase a group of demons who have escaped from prison. The Monkey King reveals that Genie is in fact his ancient weapon, who has become self actualized. Genie is pissed, but as more and more demons attack her and the Monkey King and threaten her friends, she is forced to deal with a side of her Chinese heritage she didn't know existed. Can Genie manage to balance her life to both save the Bay Area from a demon invasion while remaining on track to get into the college of her choice?

A great and entertaining read, The Epic Crush of Genie Lo feature unforgettable characters and an interesting setting. Those interested in learning more about the Monkey King should first read American Born Chinese, where the story of Su Wukong is presented, or Monkey, the original Chinese tale translated in English.

The Mark of the Thief

Nielsen, Jennifer A. The Mark of the Thief. Book 1 of the Mark of the Thief series. 2015. 352p. 507 mins. ISBN 978-0-545-56154-9. Available as an audiobook on Overdrive.

As a lowly mining slave, Nic Calva has no rights. Working the mines is punishing and physically demanding, but at least it keeps Livia, his sister safe. Always looking for an opportunity to escape, or at least cause mischief, Nic does not kindly accept the abuse from his master. When other slaves discover the sealed chamber where Julius Caesar’s treasure was buried, Nic knows it is only a matter of time before Rome’s rich and powerful attempt to seize it. Even though more than three hundred years have passed since Caesar’s death, the magic that was given to him by the gods is still very much present.

General Radulf, head of the Praetorian Guard and commander of the Roman Army comes to the mine to retrieve Caesar’s treasure. He orders Nic to enter the room and retrieve a bulla, an amulet that Caesar would have worn as a child. The two previous slaves that entered the room either died or went insane, so Nic is not keen on doing so. He extracts a promise from Radult that he will take care of Livia. In the cave, Nic is confronted by a griffin, but when he puts the amulet on he suddenly feels the magic that powered Caesar fill his veins, and the griffin stops its attack. He manages to escape the caves, but is recaptured by the slavers and shipped to Rome. During the trip, he is guarded by Aurelia, a surly girl who is an expert with a bow and a knife, but who has no lost love for Rome’s elites.

Once there, Nic realizes that he is at the center of a dramatic power play between General Radulf, who seeks to unseat Emperor Tacitus and destroy Rome from within, and those Senators who are opposed to this action. With enemies on all sides, Nic must quickly find out who he can trust, before Caesar’s magic costs him his life.

A good fantasy set in Roman times, Mark of the Thief provides a very descriptive recreation of the Roman Empire of the 3rd century. Fans of historical fiction might balk a little at the presence of magic and mythical creatures, but will enjoy the political conspiracy at the heart of this book’s plot.

The story continues in Rise of the Wolf.

Fish Girl

Wiesner, David and Donna Jo Napoli. Fish Girl. 2017. 186p. ISBN 9780544815124. Available as an eBook from Overdrive.

Fish Girl has gills and a tail instead of legs. Fish Girl can’t talk, but can breathe air. Fish Girl lives in an aquarium by the sea on the boardwalk. Though she has an underwater room with all the furnitures of a regular teenage girl, she can’t leave the building. Working with Neptune, the God of the Sea, her role is to swim around and offer tantalizing hints that she exists to the paying customers, without ever being seen. At the end of each day, she collects the coins tourists have dropped in the water and brings them to Neptune, who tells her a story from the time when mermaids lived in the sea and Neptune himself was powerful.

A chance encounter with a girl the same age as Fish Girl changes all of that. Fish Girl is not supposed to be seen, but she was, and the girl is convinced she saw a mermaid. When she returns the next day, the girls begin playing games, and even make contact on the third floor. Neptune’s return interrupts the moment, but the girl covers for Fish Girl and Neptune is none the wiser. Fish Girl begins to notice details that had escaped her. Neptune is not the powerful God he claims to be, but rather a fisherman who found her in the ocean and brought her back here. He tricks the tourists through machinery.

Fish Girl longs for freedom, but doesn’t know how to leave. Livia, her friend, continues to visit, and every time opens up a little more a window to the world Fish Girl did not know existed. Named Mira by Livia, she exists the aquarium one night and discovers to her surprise that her tail transforms into legs. Soon, she is exploring the entire house and even the boardwalk beyond. But Neptune is not as dupe as he appears, and he closely monitors Fish Girl. When he catches Livia and Mira together, Neptune knows that Livia will tell the authorities, and he schemes to hide Mira forever. Mira has other plans, however, and with the help of her trusted friend Octopus, she will attempt to find her voice before the storming sea reclaims the aquarium.

Beautifully illustrated by three time Caldecott illustrator David Wiesner, Donna Jo Napoli’s story is based in the folklore of the mermaid and demonstrates that sheer will can overcome most obstacles, but that a friend can help take the first step.

Dateline: Troy

Fleischman, Paul. Dateline: Troy. 1996. 80p. ISBN 1-56402-469-5. Available at 398.2 FLE on the library shelves.

The Trojan War is one of the better known ancient conflicts that pitted Greek city states against Troy. When Zeus was asked to judge who was the fairest between Hera, Athena and Aphrodite, he decided that Paris of Troy should judge. Reputed a fair judge, Paris was promised Helen’s hand if he selected Aphrodites as the fairest. After doing so, Helen was struck and when she met Paris she immediately decided to be with him. Paris maneuvered Helen’s husband out of the way, then departed with the Greeks’ treasure and their most beautiful woman and returned to Troy.

Bound to help the King of Sparta, other Greek cities sent soldiers and commanded that Troy send Helen back. Upon Troy’s refusal, the Greeks set sail and lay siege to the city. At turn plagued and helped by the Gods, who were fighting each other, the Greeks eventually managed to enter Troy’s formidable defenses using a wooden horse as an stratagem. Many Greek heroes died during the ten years that the war lasted, and in the end all most the combatants found ruin and death.

Out of this foundational myth arise stories such as Odysseus and the founding of Rome.

Told in alternate pages with a summary and newspaper headlines, this book demonstrates that the story lines that influenced live over 2,500 years ago are still with us today. The tragedy that is Troy and humankind’s cupidity continues to influence the world today.

Persian Myths

Sarkhosh Curtis, Vesta. Persian Myths. 1998. 80p. ISBN 0-292-71158-1. Available at 299 CUR on the library shelves.

Occupying a strategic between India and China to the East and the Mediterranean world to the West, Iran has always been a land of conflict and contrast. Like other great civilizations before, the Iranians have foundational myths that explain the rise of the nation and the battles it had to fight to secure its existence. Traditional tales feature confrontation between holy kings and mighty heroes against armies led by evil men, demons and dragons. Supernatural creatures such as Simergh, a magical bird from the tallest mountain, or Rakhsh, the mightest horse of the hero Rustam, populate these tales and attempt to explain the world as it was.

The arrival of Islam in the seventh century saw a shift from Zoroastrianism to Islam, but the myths and legends of ancient Iran were too powerful to disappear and were instead coopted by the new religion. These tales, which include the original Thousands and One Night, were distributed orally through minstrels, storytellers and religious leaders, but were eventually documented in several books such as the Avesta, the holy book of the Zoroastrians, as well as the Shahnameh, the Book of Kings.

These myths and legends fueled Iranian art over more than six centuries and continue to provide inspiration for modern adaptations. Fans of myths will enjoy reading familiar tales of good versus evil in an unfamiliar setting, and will appreciate the rich culture of ancient Iran.