I hugely recommend 'Gods, Men and Monsters from the Greek Myths' by Michael Gibson, which I had (and loved) as a boy.

Robert Graves, as John suggests, is the definitive work, but perhaps a bit daunting for a teenager.

I'm currently reading Graves' book, and the interpretations that go along with the myths are certainly idiosyncratic, in a good way. I recall reading Bulfinch's Mythology when I was much younger. It's not definitive, and I think he uses the Roman names for the gods, but I still have fond memories of it.

Sean

The definitive work is Timothy Gantz, which I linked to above, if what you want to know is: what are the stories? what are the variations? what are the sources? But it is not a book for reading cover to cover, or for children, or for pleasure reading of any sort. It is, however, tremendously helpful for its synoptic overview of the primary sources. If you're looking to enjoy yourself, though, I bet Graves is great.

C

Graves takes a reductively historical view of myth, the euhemerist prejudice. Not my cup of tea at all.

Nemo

Interesting range of responses. I know Hamilton's book, and Graves has long been my handy reference work on myth. But for my soon to be 11-year-old granddaughter, I've settled on D'Aulieres' volume (for its introductory level comprehensive organization) for her birthday, and will supplement it with Gibson's Gods, Men, and Monsters, the story format of which will I think better serve to fill the "down" hours--long flights, train rides, evenings in hotels--during our upcoming trip to South Africa.

Thanks all for comments and suggestions,
Jan

As an adult, I think Graves' books are the best (they were recently compiled into a single trade paperback edition), but when I was in high school, I learned a lot from Bulfinch, and his edition is very readable for a young teen. I might be wrong, but I think he skips some of the saucier myths such as Leda and the swan, as well as the more insidious elements of the labyrinth myth (i.e.: how the minotaur came to be...).

I suppose they're too old for Hawthorne's Tanglewood Tales?

I've got a great old illustrated volume of the Hawthorne that belonged to my father when he was a child.

Nemo

And I stole a phrase from my copy and hid it in a poem.