Book
The battle begins / by Tony Abbott ; illustrated by Antonio Javier Caparo.
"Owen Brown is your average fourth grader. Or he was, until his best friend, Dana, disappeared right in front of his face, through the floor of the school. Owen's average life has turned upside down. He's determined to find Dana -- before anyone realizes she's missing. Owen sets out on a mysterious, mythological rescue mission with his friends Jon and Sydney. But what none of them know is that Dana's disappearance is part of a much larger riddle. And they're at the center of it."--From publisher.
Record details
- ISBN: 9780545308311 (pbk.)
- ISBN: 0545308313 (pbk.)
- Physical Description: 101 p. : ill., maps ; 20 cm.
- Publisher: New York : Scholastic, c2011.
Search for related items by subject
| Subject: | Mythology, Greek > Juvenile fiction. Mythology, Norse > Juvenile fiction. Missing persons > Juvenile fiction. |
| Genre: | Fantasy fiction, Juvenile. |
Search for related items by series
Available copies
- 0 of 0 copies available at Bowen Island Public Library.
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- 0 current holds with 0 total copies.
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| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Holdable? | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fernie Heritage Library | J FIC ABB (Text) | 35136000443128 | Junior Fiction | Volume hold | Available | - |
| Lochside Elementary School | FIC ABB (Text) | 21050000374082 | Fiction | Volume hold | Available | - |
| Sechelt Public Library | J Chapter ABBO (Text) | 33260000220070 | Children's Chapter Books | Volume hold | Available | - |
| Sk'elep School of Excellence | F ABB (Text) | 37535300025055 | Fiction | Not holdable | Available | - |
| Smithers Public Library | JPB ABB (Text) | 35101000396015 | Children's room | Volume hold | Available | - |
| Taylor Public Library | JPB ABB (Text) | 35156000075167 | TPL - Juvenile Fiction | Volume hold | Available | - |
| Whistler Public Library | EJ ABB (Text) | 33987000890698 | Early Juvenile Books | Volume hold | Available | - |
- Booklist Reviews : Booklist Reviews 2012 June #1
Thinking back, Owen Brown recalls signs that the day was not normal, long before the floor opened up, swallowing his best friend, Dana. Owen and two new friends soon find themselves on a quest to save Dana from Hades and thwart Loki's efforts to start a war in the Underworlds. With advice from the Valkyries (disguised as lunch ladies), Owen finds the lyre of Orpheus, which quickly dispels all danger. But although Owen's innate ability to play the lyre stretches credulity, nonstop action with a dash of humor is the focus of the book, not careful logic and nuance. The series mixes Greek, Norse, Babylonian, and Egyptian mythologies and contains plenty of illustrations and a glossary to help struggling readers (though it lacks pronunciation guides). Written as a beginning chapter book, but with fourth-grade protagonists, it will appeal to both younger and older readers. The slim volume ends with a two-page introduction to the Underworlds series' next book, which promises equal thrills and fast pacing. Copyright 2012 Booklist Reviews. - Kirkus Reviews : Kirkus Reviews 2012 January #2
Looking to feed the insatiable appetite of mythology-mad readers comes a new series that brings the legendary characters up close and personal, especially for four elementary students who face off against Greek and Norse monsters. Owen realizes the day is unusual when his friend, Dana, gets sucked through the school floor while a voice hisses, "The…battle…begins…" Owen teams up with Jon and Sydney to rescue her, and, with the help of Bulfinch's Mythology, they begin a surreal adventure with mythological beasts come to life. They discover that one of the entrances to the Underworld is in their school basement and that all the Underworlds, one for every branch of mythology, are linked. Moreover, the creatures are escaping. Armed with the Lyre of Orpheus, which, when strummed, gives Owen the power of persuasion, they make a deal with Hades, who gives them a chance to find Dana. They do battle with the likes of Cerberus, Myrmidons and Loki. Hades, however, is a double dealer who ups the ante: They are forced do his bidding or lose Dana forever--which becomes the catalyst for the next installment. Intricate black-and-white sketches of mythical monsters and maps enhance this lean and lively tale. A quest just right for readers on the cusp of Percy Jackson. (glossary) (Adventure. 7-10) Copyright Kirkus 2012 Kirkus/BPI Communications.All rights reserved. - Library Media Connection : Library Media Connection Reviews 2012 August/September
This first book in the Underworlds series pits elementary student Owen Brown against monsters from several mythological traditions. Owen is warned that the monsters are coming. After telling him to find a book in her home, his friend Dana is suddenly swallowed up beneath the school floor. Enlisting schoolmates to help him, Owen finds the book (Bulfinch's Mythology) and begins his search for Dana. Armed with only the book and the Lyre of Orpheus, cunningly liberated from a museum, the three attempt to rescue Dana from the clutches of Hades. Meanwhile, Loki, the Norse trickster god, is releasing the monsters of mythology from the Underworlds. B&w illustrations add interest to this fast-paced book, which is sure to appeal to young readers not quite ready for Percy Jackson. Gregory Martin, Curriculum Materials Center Librarian, Assistant Professor of Library Science, Cedarville University, Cedarville, Ohio. RECOMMENDED Copyright 2012 Linworth Publishing, Inc.
