A simplified retelling of the Persephone myth for early readers. For anyone unfamiliar with the story – Persephone (or 'Sephy' in this version) is kidnapped by Pluto, the God of the Underworld, and tricked into agreeing to be his wife. Sephy's mother Demeter (Goddess of the Harvest) is distraught by her daughter's disappearance and stops caring for the earth, prompting Zeus (King of the Gods, and in the original myth, Persephone's father) to intervene.
After some negotiation, Sephy is allowed to live half the year above ground but must remain as Pluto's consort the rest of the time - thus explaining the changing seasons. Whilst Julia Green (best known for her young adult novels) does a decent job of condensing and conveying the essence of the story, the subject matter seems somewhat inappropriate for the intended age range. The fact that Sephy is portrayed as a little girl, forced against her will to live with a beardy old man, makes the whole thing frankly rather sinister.
After some negotiation, Sephy is allowed to live half the year above ground but must remain as Pluto's consort the rest of the time - thus explaining the changing seasons. Whilst Julia Green (best known for her young adult novels) does a decent job of condensing and conveying the essence of the story, the subject matter seems somewhat inappropriate for the intended age range. The fact that Sephy is portrayed as a little girl, forced against her will to live with a beardy old man, makes the whole thing frankly rather sinister.
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