Winter 2006 Review:

        Hermes is known to be one of Zeus's many children. In this book, there are a few of his adventures as the messenger. During one of Hermes messenger duties, he must enter the underworld and bring back Demeter's daughter, Kore. While in Hades domain, Hermes must walk past the giant Tityus, who's being eaten alive by two vultures. Then he goes past Tantalus. His eternal punishment is hunger. He hangs above a huge banquet table, longing for all the food. He also has to trudge past Sisyphus who has to roll a huge boulder up a steep ramp, just to watch it go back down. He gets past all this in order to save Kore. All of that, almost for nothing.
       Then there's another story about how Hermes helps Perseus slay Medusa. Hermes borrows the Adamantine Sickle from Ares. Perseus uses this and Hermes winged sandals to kill Medusa and return home. Hermes also goes after Pegasus and rides him while Perseus uses the winged sandals. Perseus rescues Andromeda from the sea monster, and then they are married.
       There are also a few other Greek myths that include Hermes. These include a brief tale of Odysseus and the Trojan War.
       I thought this book was a good, entertaining read. I read it in a couple hours on a Saturday afternoon. I know several Greek myths and legends, but being able to read it from Hermes point of view made it even more fun. It's a good book for middle school and high school students who enjoy mythology and want to read it from the point of view of a character who played the small part of messenger to the Greek gods.

~ Kayla Aldan, 10th grade, Boardman High School