The Minotaur of Knossos (Journey Through Time)
Grade 3-5-This is one of those problematic books that works neither in fiction nor in nonfiction. Pieces of the ancient Greek myth of "Theseus and the Minotaur" are woven into a tale about a modern boy who falls asleep while doing homework about ancient Crete. When Robbie opens his eyes, he and his dog find themselves in the palace of Knossos, where he meets Sir Arthur Evans, the archaeologist who discovered the palace. Robbie goes off on his own to explore, and is followed by a mysterious girl and boy who look like the characters in the wall paintings. They warn him about the Minotaur, but he ignores them. While looking for his dog, he finds the hideous monster instead. At that moment, he awakens in his bedroom with nothing but Sir Arthur's palace map as proof of his incredible journey. The last few pages of the book offer facts about the Cretans and the myth. The fictional tale is slight and lacks the drama of the actual myth, and the nonfiction section is very brief. The colored-pencil illustrations give a cartoonish, comedic effect to the story, which doesn't add anything to the mood or style of the book. Readers will be more intrigued by Warwick Hutton's Theseus and the Minotaur (McElderry, 1989).Cheri Estes, Detroit Country Day School Middle School, Beverly Hills, MICopyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.