Persephone

Book 7 Early Myths

Children - Fable
34 Pages
Reviewed on 05/04/2019
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Lois J Wickstrom for Readers' Favorite

Persephone, by Simon Spence, is the Greek myth that explains why planet Earth has seasons. Persephone was the daughter of Demeter (the goddess of the harvest) and Zeus, king of the gods. Hades, the god of the underworld, saw Persephone picking flowers and decided he wanted to marry her. He went to her father, Zeus, and asked permission. Zeus didn’t ask Persephone or Demeter what they wanted. He just said, “Yes.” Then Hades kidnapped Persephone and took her to the underworld where dead people live. That’s only the beginning. Will Persephone decide that she likes her husband, Hades, and will she enjoy being the queen of the underworld? How long will she stay in the underworld?

Simon Spence tells a young-person friendly version of the myth of Persephone. This is the seventh in his series of Greek Myth tales. The art by Colm Lawton is based on art from Greek vases and other ancient drawings that have survived. Even though it ends “happily ever after,” Hades was no Prince Charming – he didn’t ask Persephone for her hand in marriage. And her mother didn’t approve. This version of the story is designed to encourage family discussions about power and family, and about the responsibilities of rulers to the people they rule. Love and power make a complicated mix. This retelling of the famous myth treats the dramatic plot gently for young readers, yet still manages to handle the problems of power both within the family and in the community while maintaining the traditional cautionary tale warnings.