I have always described myself as a huge Classics-nerd. Now taking Latin and Ancient Greek classes throughout middle and high school may have contributed to that, but I also just loved the stories and mythology. I mean the word epic comes from the ancient Greeks and their epic poems! If your young reader (or you yourself!) devoured the Percy Jackson series, and all the Camp Half-Blood Chronicles, movies, shows, etc. then we think these books will be just the right thing to jump into next!
Let’s say you took the Percy Jackson series, and made a mash-up with the Middle School series—that’s Dr. Zeus! You’ll meet Nick Andino, an average kid who enjoys working at his family’s diner, avoiding his bully, and pining over his crush. Then, the over-the-top king of the gods Dr. Zeus appears, and gives Nick a quest where he must travel back to ancient Greece to save Andinos past and present from being erased from history. The story is filled with illustrations throughout, and while Nick must work to make sure his family story isn’t another Greek tragedy, there is also plenty of humor and heart.
If we’re talking Greek mythology, you can’t miss Homer’s Odyssey and what better way than with this retelling, perfect for young readers. Odysseus is far from home and must face a multitude of obstacles including a one-eyed giant, a beautiful witch, and a sea serpent. And this is only part one!!
If you’re after stories that contain epic quests, dive into the Amira & Hamza series. This thrilling, magical adventure intertwines Islamic legend and history. When Amira’s little brother Hamza opens the forbidden Box of the Moon, on the day of a rare super blue blood moon eclipse, neither knew all that the universe had in store. Everyone falls under a sleep spell, a chunk of the moon breaks off, and Amira & Hamza come face-to-face with jinn who inform them that they have a role to play in an ancient prophecy.
Loki’s Wolves is the first in The Blackwell Pages series, an action-packed adventure that brings Norse mythology to life. Matt Thorsen is a descendant of Thor, but that’s relatively “normal” for those in his small town. Everyone is either a descendant of Thor or Loki, but they live relatively average lives. Except now Ragnarok is coming and it’s up to Matt and his classmates to prevent the end of the world. That’s not exactly what I would call normal!
If you’re looking for gods and goddesses and all sorts of fantastical creatures, you’re going to want to meet Tessa Miyata. This fantasy adventure is steeped in Japanese lore and mythology and follows Tessa as she visits her grandparents in Japan. She’s excited for an adventure of a lifetime but soon realizes she’s stuck at home and with the neighbor kid Jin who does not want to hang out with her. Little does she know what adventure is in store! Tessa and Jin accidentally break a priceless family heirloom…that then releases a malicious samurai god Taira Masakado. They discover a hidden part of the city where gods and mythological creatures walk among humans and it’s up to Tess and Jin to stop Taira Masakado before he traps the entire city under his command.
