ATALANTA AND THE ARCADIAN BEAST

In their third entry in the “Young Heroes” series, Yolen and Harris (Hippolyta and the Curse of the Amazons, 2002, etc.) craft another fast-paced historical novel set in ancient Greece. Young Atalanta, abandoned on a hillside as an infant, has been raised by a loving hunter in the woods. When a mysterious beast kills her father, Atalanta sets off to hunt it, accompanied by a friendly bear. Along the way she joins forces with other hunters, including Orion, who is as pompous as he is skillful, but who learns to respect Atalanta’s speed and prowess at hunting. The role of leading the hunt falls to Atalanta after her realization that she was born of a royal lineage and so destined to kill the beast. Combining plentiful action and dialogue, with frequent cliffhangers at chapter ends, the story will keep readers entranced. Appearances by Artemis and Pan introduce Greek mythology but take second seat to the well-told tale. An afterword discusses which elements come from Greek literature and which the authors created for this entertaining adventure with its strong heroine. (Fiction. 9-13)