Category Archives: Mythology

Ferryman by Claire McFall

13 Thursday May 2021

Posted by in Ghost stories, Mythology, Uncategorized, Young Adult

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Dylan is involved in a deadly train crash in a tunnel in Scotland after she took off to meet the father she has never known. She wakes up and begins to make her way out of the wreckage. Her cell phone doesn’t work, and she has no idea where she is. She thinks she has survived unscathed, but she couldn’t be more mistaken. She is dead and actually in a wasteland that is being created by her own memories, thoughts and fears. She must cross this wasteland to get to her afterlife destination. After she emerges from the tunnel, she meets a teenage boy sitting on a rock. Tristan tells her she is to come with him, and since she has no other choice, she follows him. Gradually she learns that she is dead and that Tristan is her Ferryman. It is his job is to guide Dylan’s soul safely across the treacherous landscape, a journey he has made a thousand times before. Only this time, something’s different. What occurs between Dylan and Tristan is not the usual things that have occurred during crossings.

What happens to us when we die is a question that is ever in our minds. The answers we accept are determined by our understanding of the essence of man–his soul. Our concept of death and the possibility of life after death is the major theme of this book. McFall pulls ideas from several religions and mythologies of the past to explain what is going on in her story. The idea of a ferryman is, of course, taken from the myth of Charon who ferried the dead across the River Styx. Tristan is not the dirty fearful image of Charon. He is able to take on whatever form is needed for the newly dead to willingly agree to go with him on the journey to the next life. In this case, he is a young teen-age boy who is attractive to the girl who has been killed in a train wreck. Is it possible for the dead to love another being? Is it possible for the ferryman to love someone? Is it possible for the dead to return to this world? All these questions McFall answers very satisfactorily for the reader. I highly recommend this novel for teen readers.

I understand that Ferryman (with its sequels,Trespassers and Outcasts) is in development to be a major motion picture.

Harry Potter: a History Of Magic

31 Monday Dec 2018

Posted by in Fantasy, History, Mythology, Uncategorized, Young Adult

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Harry Potter: A History of Magic (American Edition)
British Library and New York Historical Museum and Library

Once in a while, I run across a book that just makes me want to say, “WOW!” This is such a book.

It may be hard to believe, but it has been 20 years since, J.K. Rowling first introduced Harry Potter to the world. This anniversary edition is done by the British Library and The New York Historical Society. The book is actually subtitled; The Official Companion to the British Library Exhibition at the New-York Historical Society Museum & Library. I understand that there is an exhibit in New York of the history of magic going on now.

As one might suppose, the history of magic through the ages is presented to the reader, but is it done in a rather unique format. The chapters are arranged to lead the reader through the history as if he or she were taking classes at Hogwarts. The titles of each chapter is the name of a class that Harry would have taken at Hogwarts; i.e Herbology, Divination, and Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Most things presented in the text are actual historical items, but interspersed with the historical are copies of drafts of Rowling’s drafts for the texts of the Harry Potter series and actual artwork for those books. Some illustrations are pen and ink drawings by Rowling herself, but the fantastic color illustrations were done by Jim Kay for Bloomsbury Books.

The book is well-bound. It is delighting to the eye, interesting to read, and engaging for all Harry Potter fans, ages 6-60. It also could be used as a source for research into the history of magic. There is an index of the exhibits shown in the text and brief biographical sketches of Rowling and of the curators of the British Library Exhibit. I highly recommend the purchase of this book for public,middle, and high school libraries.

Public Enemies by Ann Aguirre

16 Monday Nov 2015

Posted by in Fantasy, Mythology, Young Adult

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This is the second book of a series entitled The Immortal Game. Readers of the first book, Mortal Danger will be waiting in line to get their hands on this one.  The story of Edie Kramer, a mortal who has been pulled into a game played by immortals makes a very exciting tale. Kian, the boy who saved her from destruction at the hands of the immortals now awaits his death. Can Edie save him, her father and herself?  That is the problem in this book.

It is a mystery/horror mashup based on religion and mythology.  I waded through the first few chapters and finally had enough understanding of the first book to really get into the storyline.   I recommend the purchase of this book ONLY if you already have, or are intending to purchase, Mortal Danger.  The characters are not given enough backstory in this book for the reader to easily figure out who they are.  The events that took place in the first book are mentioned, but not enough pieces are given to put them  together until near the end of the book.

I also cannot recommend this for any parochial school or for middle school libraries.  There is a very graphic sex scene near the end of book which would not be acceptable for most parents of those students. Optional purchase for high school or college age readers IF you have the first one.

The Eternal City by Paula Morris

08 Friday May 2015

Posted by in Fantasy, Mythology, Young Adult

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eternal city

The past is the past, and it’s over and done with. Right? What if it is not? What if, just because people stopped believing in them, the Roman gods and goddesses never stopped existing? What if something that was stolen from them in the past needs to be returned to stop calamity in the future?  Such is the premise of this book.

Laura is a high school student from the U.S. on a trip to Paris with other students of Ancient History. She and the rest of her group get trapped in Rome because of a volcanic eruption which stops all air traffic.  But, then things get weirder and weirder. Statues come to life and birds seems to have strange powers, but Laura is not sure that these things are really happening.  The most unlikely people help her sort out her problems and help save her life and all of Rome itself.

This is a good love/adventure story involving history, mythology and religion.  Readers  in grades 7-12 will enjoy it.