I will be the first to tell you that I have not read The Odyssey or any of those old Greek myths in their original form. But really, they are some good stories, so I always pick up a rewrite. I haven't read the story of Jason and the Golden Fleece before though, so when I got my hands on Voyage with Jason by Ken Catran I started reading right away.

The book is told from the perspective of Pylos, a peasant boy that Jason and his boat full of heroes take with them on their hunt for the golden fleece. What's most interesting about Pylos' tale is that his interest is in describing the heroes' characters. His take on Hercules, Jason, and Castor and Pollux is really interesting. Part of that is the fact of Pylos' birth. Being a peasant, he sees things that the heroes don't, especially about themselves. Hercules is one of the most interesting characters in the first half.

There's also enough blood and adventure to keep most boys hooked, I would think. That's the great thing about Greek myths: they're ultra gory.

Voyage with Jason by Ken Catran
ISBN 1894965434
208 pages