Smart, wildly funny and just as naughty as the original myth, this verse novel is no bull. Some are more focused and formal while others wander, only to snapped back by Poseidon and his tale. The use of different forms of poetry is masterful, each serving to show the character as unique. As narrator, he moves the story along at lightning speed, serving to open the curtain on the play that is afoot, both carnival barker and puppeteer. Immediately upon starting this book, the voice of Poseidon demands attention, speaking in a modern vernacular and offering rude commentary, zinging puns, and humor that is shocking and great fun. Even if readers know the myth, this book is impossible to put down as the full story unfolds. Other characters speak too, each in their own poetic form, the structures serving to inform their voice. Poseidon serves as the narrator of the story, taking credit for not only setting the story in motion but also meddling to keep it heading in the direction he wants. Readers learn about Asterion, the half-bull boy who will become the monster of the labyrinth, in his own voice as he grows up, son of royalty. Told with a wild irreverent tone, this novel follows the arc of the original myth faithfully but builds upon it, including points of view from all of the characters. This verse novel takes on the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. So pick it up for a teen in your life, or maybe even for yourself.Bull by David Elliott (9780544610606, Amazon) Some of its language and imagery make it inappropriate for younger verse novel fans. Though BULL, like many verse novels, is a quick read and could appeal to many reluctant readers, I would reserve this one for teens older than 13. As a verse novel, it is a daring breath of fresh air. Told in several shifting points of view, BULL is a reimagined version of the greek myth Theseus and the Minotaur, told in poems that are an exciting mix of shocking, humorous, and heart-wrenching. SEE THE STORY OF THESEUS AND THE MINOTAUR IN A WHOLE NEW LIGHT And after reading the jacket flap copy, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! So, when I stumbled onto BULL by David Elliott while searching "verse novels" on my local library's catalog, I was intrigued. Though they occasionally touch on the paranormal (like in Lisa Schroeder's I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME or Carolee Dean's FORGET ME NOT) it is rare to find a verse novel that ventures outside of the real world.
They are most often realistic stories set in a familiar world or one we can read about in history books. Verse novels often deal with difficult issues such as heartbreak, death, abuse, broken families, bullying, illness, and even slavery. By that I don't mean the characters or settings (although that is good too, of course), but diversity in the types of stories told in the verse format. I have always believed there should be more diversity in verse novels.
0 kommentar(er)
