What a great way to bring Ancient Greek mythology to life for children! I loved this book. It’s full of adventure, humour, and just enough mayhem to keep young readers turning the pages.

If you remember Jason and the Argonauts and their quest for the Golden Fleece, you’ll have some idea of what’s coming. But Clare Pollard has given this ancient tale a wonderfully entertaining twist.

Eleven-year-old Phoebe is bored with life on her island and desperate for adventure. So when Jason and his crew arrive, she sneaks aboard the Argo, and that’s where the fun really begins.

Along the way, she teams up with Perry, whose shapeshifting abilities don’t always go according to plan, and Cora, a would-be siren who isn’t particularly good at singing. Together they become the Othernauts, and what a wonderfully unlikely bunch of adventurers they are.

There are monsters, witches, harpies, and plenty of danger, but also lots of laughs. I particularly enjoyed how Pollard makes these legendary Greek heroes seem a little less heroic and a lot more human.

What I really liked was the way the mythology comes to life without feeling like a history lesson. Children can enjoy the adventure without needing to know anything about the original Greek myths, although I suspect some will be curious enough to want to find out more.

Macha Yao’s illustrations add to the fun, and there’s never a dull moment.

Would I buy this for the grandchildren? Absolutely! It’s exciting, funny, and a terrific introduction to stories that have been entertaining people for thousands of years.

I’d happily recommend it for readers aged eight and over; it’s a fabulous adventure and definitely one of my favourites.