Artemis

The Greek goddess of the hunt, moon, and nature is the subject of this volume in the Gods & Goddesses of the Ancient World series. Unlike the majority of Greek deities, who were frequently driven by love, lust, or jealousy, Artemis devoted herself to purity though Loh-Hagan provides many examples of the divine archer's vengeful streak. Readers are introduced to the function myths played in ancient cultures before encountering snippets of Artemis' exploits and powers. Color illustrations show a few representations of the goddess, but others fail to illuminate the text. Additional information can be gleaned from text boxes on Artemis' family tree, modern-day archer Ki Bo Bae, and lunar phases. Despite jarringly short sentences, this can be used for struggling readers or as a springboard for more comprehensive reading.--Smith, Julia Copyright 2017 Booklist

Gr 3-6-Short, simple sentences provide reluctant readers access to their favorite characters from Greek mythology. More than just retellings, these volumes introduce the complex motives behind the gods' and goddesses' actions (jealousy, revenge, vanity, etc.) and make real-world connections (for instance, a sidebar on famous archer Ki Bo-Bae in Artemis). Early on, "Family Tree" sidebars establish relations among the featured figures, a useful element to ground unfamiliar readers. Stock photographs of people and ancient sculptures, cities, and landmarks are paired with illustrations and generally reflect the text well. VERDICT In-text cross-curricular connections offer a fresh approach to ancient characters and story arcs. © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.