Rewriting the myth of Perseus and Andromeda is a formidable task, but Halam (Dr. Franklin's Island
) performs it with seeming ease and tongue-in-cheek humor. Demigod Perseus becomes smitten when Andromeda, a beautiful princess trying to escape her fate of being a human sacrifice, runs away to his island. But before romance can get off the ground, the evil king of Serifos dispatches Perseus to fetch the head of Medusa, the snake-haired monster who can turn men to stone. With some help from supernatural beings, Perseus hopes to accomplish more: save his people from tyranny and rescue Andromeda. Mythology buffs will appreciate the plethora of classical figures, while periodic references to contemporary culture (e.g., a band of rich, rowdy teens are dubbed “the Yacht Club kids”) and occasional slang drive the story home for the target audience without sacrificing its heroic dimensions. Ages 12–up. (June)
