Jason and the Gorgon's Blood

Have been shamelessly promoting this book on the basis of having read two other titles by Yomen and Harris (Atalnta and the Arcadian Beast and Hippolyta and the Curse of the Amazons) and was not disappointed when I read this one. It follows Jason, son of Aeson and the real heir to the throne of Ioclus who has been raised by the centaur Chiron. When other centaurs beat up Chiron and steal two jars of gorgon's blood, Jason and his companions (include his evil cousins, the princes) must go across the mountains to retrieve them. There's a fair amount about leading and following, being good people, etc., but mainly it is fighting and roaming about the Greek countryside trying to cross chasms, with narrow escapes. Next, I need to read Odysseus and the Serpent Maze. If your library does not have these, buy all of them!

Theodore Taylor's Billy the Kid was also full of chases and gun battles, but made Billy a nicer character than the real one. For fan's of Gary Paulsen's Mr. Tucket series and anyone who likes Westerns. Doesn't seem to be a popular theme anymore.


Also read Rich Wallace's Fast Company, Betty Ren Wright's The Dollhouse Murders, and Valerie Tripp's Happy Birthday, Samantha. Could not get into Gray's Evernight because it was more vampires, although my 9thgrader liked it and I will probably buy it. Klein's Two Girls of Gettysburg was a bit long for the students who need historical fiction, so I may pass.