Wings of Olympus

December 1, 2018

Gr 3-6-Life in ancient Greece isn't easy for orphaned Pippa, but she can withstand loneliness and neglect if she gets to work with her beloved horses. One morning, after falling asleep by the roadside, she is shocked to wake up on Mount Olympus. Pippa has been selected to ride in the once-a-century Winged Horse Race. Manipulated by powerful gods and goddesses, Pippa and the other child riders must use all of their wits to make it through their training, the fantastical occurrences on Mount Olympus, and the final thrilling zip to the finish. The moral lesson of the denouement is a little blurred, as positive outcomes arise partially out of deception, but the overall importance of making sacrifices for those you love comes through. Pippa's lasting bond with her winged steed, Zephyr, and the hard-earned connection with her fellow riders show that one can find family in unexpected places. Pencil drawings help readers visualize unfamiliar mythological characters, such as the Greek Fates. The story will spark interest in further exploration of ancient Greek mythology. VERDICT A high-flying adventure to supplement middle grade fiction collections.-Alyssa Annico, Youngstown State University, OH

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2018
A foundling and a winged horse compete in a race planned by the Greek gods.Pippa, nearly 12, loses her job in an Athenian stable after running off to follow a horse's wing she saw in the sky. Could it have been Nikomedes, the flying horse ridden by Zeus? That night she falls asleep beneath a bush only to wake on Mount Olympus, the heavenly home of the gods, having been chosen by Aphrodite to ride her stallion Zephyr in a once-a-century race. The winning horse will become Zeus' next mount; the winning rider, a demigod. Zephyr's an unlikely champion, being both undersized and fidgety. This book is billed as the first in a series and bears many of the hallmarks of mediocre series fiction: shallow characters, contrived emotions, and lots of exclamation points. Despite her sad backstory, Pippa never inspires sympathy. Stereotypical Greek gods float in and out of the story without enough background to anchor them; the setting is vague despite lots of Greek words; and the plot doesn't hold narrative tension. There aren't serious consequences for losing the race, so it's hard to care whether or not Pippa wins. The horses are multicolored; the riders seem to be white, and the gods appear also to be default white. With a first book this flat, it's hard to envision a series. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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November 1, 2018
Grades 3-6 In George's latest, a foundling competes in Mount Olympus' Winged Horse Race. Pippa doesn't know why her parents abandoned her as a baby, but at least her talent with horses allows her to survive on the streets of Athens. When she is chosen to compete in the Winged Horse Race?the contest that decides Zeus' next steed?Pippa is transported to Olympus, where the gods and goddesses aren't above cheating to ensure their horse wins. Neither are the other riders, who want the chance to stay in Olympus forever. Pippa never wants to leave her beloved steed, Zephyr, but according to the Fates, he has no chance of winning. Will Pippa cheat to stay in Olympus with him? The winning premise should draw readers who are into horses and Greek mythology, although Olympus is a gentler place than Pippa fears, and her rule breaking never leads to the harsh punishments she is warned about. Still, Pippa's choices should prompt readers to ponder how love, fate, and trust determine our actions. A fun series starter.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2019
Selected by Aphrodite to race on her behalf, orphan Pippa bonds with her winged horse, Zephyr. A visit to the Fates convinces Pippa they can't win, however, and Ares threatens to slaughter Zephyr if they lose. Can working with the other riders change Pippa's destiny? The lightly handled plot is low on a real sense of menace, but the Olympian setting holds together nicely.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)