Mythology is huge in my classroom. I imagine it will only get crazier with the upcoming February release of Rick Riordan’s The Lightning Thief movie. But there are lots of other mythology books out there for tween readers. If you are looking for some great mythology-based books for your favorite tween, here are some of my favorites…..
We have to start with one of my all-time favorites- Percy Jackson. I read the first book in the series aloud to my students each year and they love it. Percy is funny, always getting in trouble, and easy to identify with. I’m sure when the movie is released there will be a second wave of Percy Jackson fans running around my hallways at school. The entire series has been released and there is an awesome boxed set available: Percy Jackson and the Olympians Hardcover Boxed Set: Books 1 – 5.
Maryrose Woods’s Why I Let My Hair Grow Out is a fantastic romp through Celtic mythology. It’s a different culture and very different from the typical Greek and Roman mythology typically seen in middle grade/YA literature. Plus, I’m Irish and I love seeing Irish mythology/literature in mainstream middle grade/YA books!
Irish mythology not what your tween is looking for? How about some Egyptian mythology? Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos is the first book in a series that focuses on the ever-popular Egyptian mythology. Theo is like a combination of Nancy Drew and Indiana Jones. While not focused solely on Egyptian mythology, the story deals with ancient Egypt and evil curses. How can that not be fun?
The Seven Serpents Trilogy is a reissuing of Scott O’Dells fantastic epic based on Mayan culture and mythology. It includes all three books in the original series, repackaged into a single book.
Finally- I have many tweens who want to know every.single.thing. about Greek mythology. I’ve recently discovered the Mythlopedia series from Scholastic and I can not keep it on my library bookshelves. The books include: All in the Family: A Look-it-Up Guide to the In-laws, Outlaws, and Offspring of Mythology (Mythlopedia), Oh My Gods!: A Look-it-Up Guide to the Gods of Mythology (Mythlopedia), She’s All That!: A Look-it-Up Guide to the Goddesses of Mythology (Mythlopedia), and What a Beast!: A Look-it-Up Guide to the Monsters and Mutants of Mythology (Mythlopedia). Each book is set-up like Facebook profiles which really appeals to my students. Plus, I’ve even learned a lot while reading!
This is just a taste of some of the mythology books out there for tweens. Do you have any favorites I forgot? Please leave them in the comments!
Filed under: mythology, Tween Gift Ideas | Tagged: Tween Book Buying Guide for the Holidays, Tween Gift Ideas |
The Reading Zone 
Oh thanks for these! I’ve always loved mythology, especially as a kid and I love all the series that are coming out lately. I’m especially looking forward to seeing how they did with The Lightening Thief.
The sequel to Why I let My Hiar Grow Out was released yesterday–What I Wore To Save the World.
And Odd and the Frost Giants is lovely Norse mythology, that isn’t too young for tweens, I think….
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