[Jan D. Hodge]

Can someone recommend a good edition of Greek myths suitable for a middle school (young teen) student with a lively interest in the subject?

Thanks,
Jan

[G. M. Palmer]

While I will say (to the chagrin of a certain MC here) that the glossary in my book is a pretty good start, my big recommendation to folks who just want the stories without all the encyclopedic information is to get Heroes, Gods, and Monsters of the Greek Myths by Bernard Evslin. It's many of the stories collected in a fun-to-read prose. It's no art but it's good.

[R. S. Gwynn]

Edith Hamilton. Still very readable.

[John Whitworth]

Robert Graves in two volumes was what I had. And still have.

[Simon Hunt]

Everybody has already mentioned the books I was going to suggest, but I'll add this: I haven't read the Percy Jackson series myself (it's a YA series combining the Greek myths with a contemporary protagonist and marketed very successfully in the post-Rowling mode...), but my son and various high schoolers I have taught LOVE these books and have really learned their stuff mythology-wise (pretty accurately, as near as I can tell) by reading them.

[Michael Juster]

I'm with Sam.

[Chris Childers]

Timothy Gantz, Archaic Greek Myth! Callimachus Aetia by Annete Harder!



Okay, I'm joking. As a kid, maybe younger than you're talking about (can't remember) I had an illustrated edition called D'Aulieres that I loved, long before I ever thought of studying classics. I have this vague notion that as a classicist I should be upset with Edith Hamilton over something, but am not sure what it is, and anyway, I doubt it matters too much.

C

[R. Nemo Hill]

D'Aulieres is superb!!
Amazon has it here

Nemo

[Jan D. Hodge]

Thanks all for the responses. I'm not familiar with the Percy Jackson series, and the approach has possibilities, but the D'Aulieres' edition is just what I was looking for, and so thanks again to Chris and Nemo.

Jan

[S. A. Wyatt]

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