Categories/Genres for this class fulfilled by this book: Traditional Literature & Graphic Novel 
 Estimate of age level of interest: Grades 9-12 
 Estimate of reading level: Grade 9 
 Brief description: 
 Ulysses has been away from his family for years. This is Homer's classic story of his adventures going home to his wife and son told in graphic novel form 
 Identify at least 2 characteristics of this genre and subgenre and discuss how they appear in your book: 
 Graphic novels contain "sophisticated illustrations and...there is a continuing conversation between text and illustration" (Chance 27). Hinds is obviously a talented artist, and he has shown his craft many times, bringing traditional literature (such as Beowulf and King Lear) to a form that is more accessible to kids. He has modernized the text, and it works well with the illustrations. The story goes back and forth from being moved by text to being moved by pure illustration. He does a wonderful job of bringing life to his characters, showing the emotion of the words through the realistic facial expressions of the speaker. 
 The Odyssey is also a classic hero myth. There is an (obvious) strong, highly desirable hero (all the goddess ladies want him), and there is an epic adventure. There are monsters to battle, gods to outwit, and supernatural powers to endure. One cannot find a more classic epic hero myth. 
 In what ways and how well does the book as a whole serve its intended audience?: 
 Let's face it. The Odyssey is not an accessible novel for current middle or high school students. They find the language extremely hard and the storyline also difficult to negotiate, despite its ongoing adventure. With this graphic novel, Hinds allows students to experience this novel. This novel in particular benefits from his hand because he brings the mythical creatures to life in a visual way. It is during this middle school to high school transition period that students are just fine-tuning their abilities to create pictures in their minds of what they read--something brain science tells us is the difference between a good reader and a poor reader. By giving them the pictures, he is making the story even more accessible. 
 Awards if any: 
 Booklist starred 09/15/10 
 Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books starred 01/01/11 
 Horn Book Magazine starred 11/01/10 
 Kirkus Reviews starred 10/01/10 
 Library Media Connection starred 11/01/10 
 Links to published reviews from professional sources: 
 Horn Book Magazine November/December, 2010 
 School Library Journal November 1, 2011 
 Publishers Weekly September 6, 2010