Wings of Olympus: The Colt of the Clouds: Guest review

This guest review was written by nine-year-old Shazdeh K.

Written by Kallie George

Illustrated by Celia Krampien

HarperCollins Canada

978-0-06274-154-7

256 pp.

Ages 8-12

April 2020 

Wings of Olympus: The Colt of the Clouds is the sequel to Wings of Olympus by author Kallie George about a young girl Pippa and her beloved horse Zephyr.

Pippa is now banned from Mount Olympus but is happily living with her friend Bas and her horse Zephyr, also known as Zeph. One day while she is riding Zeph, Pippa sees something she thought she would never see again: a winged horse! Pippa knows she needs to get the colt back to the mountain where it belongs, but there is one problem: she has been banished from Mount Olympus by Zeus, the king of the gods and goddesses. But Pippa, who is a lover of horses, sets a goal to get the colt, whom she names Tazo, home, even if it means getting punished by the gods. With the help of Hero, the not-so-heroic descendant of Hercules, Pippa finally gets to the mountain. When Hero and Pippa get to the top of the mountain, they find everything is in chaos, with all the gods at war and all the winged horses missing! Can Pippa and Hero stop the gods' war, find the winged horses, and return Tazo home safely?

I liked this book because it was thrilling and heartwarming at the same time. It’s a book about bravery, courage, friendship, and love. Another thing I liked about this book was that it was full of fantasy so while reading it I could get away from the real world. It gave me a chance to be part of another world. Wings of Olympus: The Colt of the Clouds should definitely be on your summer reading list. This book is a great addition to Wings of Olympus, so if you liked the first book, you are sure to like the second. In my opinion this book is best suited for Grades 3 to 6 and I would rate Kallie George’s Wings of Olympus: The Colt of the Clouds a 9 out of 10.

~ Written by Shazdeh K., Gr. 3

Wings of Olympus

Written by Kallie George
HarperCollins Canada
978-006274-152-3
224 pp.
Ages 8-12
March 2019

It is the journey that is most important. (pg. 107)

Young Pippa adores working with the horses at an Athenian stables but, when she is distracted from her chores after catching a glimpse of Zeus's steed Nikomedes in the sky, she is fired. A foundling, abandoned by her parents with only a coin engraved with a winged horse, Pippa trudges off, needing to find food and shelter. But when she awakens, she discovers she has been transported to Mount Olympus with other children to compete in the Winged Horse Race, an event that takes place every 100 years to choose Zeus's next steed.  Each child has been selected by a god or goddess to ride their winged horse, and Pippa, the only child without an impressive family, has been chosen by Aphrodite to ride Zephyr, a small horse "like a moonbeam." (pg. 40) The other children include Basileus who is to ride the powerful Kerauno for Ares, the shy Timon riding Skotos for Hades, the only other girl, Sophia, rider for Athena, Theodoros riding for Poseidon, and the arrogant Khrys riding for Apollo.

Under the direction of Bellerophon, the hero who'd tamed Pegasus, the child riders learn the many rules for the race, how to train, and how to deal with their gods and goddesses who are constantly squabbling and are willing to bend the rules or even cheat in order to be honoured with having their winged horse selected to replace Nikomedes. While Pippa is falling in love with Zephyr, who is easily distracted by butterflies and such, she is the only one who has not had an opportunity to meet her goddess. Upset with this slight, she and Zephyr fly off and get lost, only to meet the Fates, one of whom suggests Pippa will not win. Pippa is desperate to stay on Mount Olympus and care for Zephyr and so she comes up with a plan to help herself and some friends out. But how will Mount Olympus's immortals react when their rules are ignored, even for a good reason?

Taking a trip to ancient Greece and to visit the immortals who inhabit Mount Olympus is a treat with Kallie George's expressive text and extraordinary story.

The sky was her home now: blue ceilings, courtyards of clouds, and, if she was out late, stars so close and so numerous it was like they were woven tight as linen. (pg. 107)

These are worlds mythological and singular in their attributes but Kallie George invites us into that reality as welcome visitors to see the wonders of Mount Olympus and the imperfection of its inhabitants and the parallels between children then and now. There is the bully who threatens and cheats, the know-it-all child, the boy who misses his family, and the orphaned girl whose heart is teeming with love for horses and specifically Zephyr. They may be wearing belted chitons and sandals but they are young people most of us will recognize. And Kallie George's messages about love and trust are universal and perpetual.

Like the other middle-grade series Kallie George has written, including Heartwood Hotel and Magical Animal Adoption Agency, Wings of Olympus is fated to take off as a new series. There are animals and a unique time and setting and a diaphanous sheath of fantasy. I look forward to seeing where the next books land.

"Nikepteros," she whispered. "Victory in flight." (pg. 107)

••••••••••••••••••

Kallie George is launching Wings of Olympus this Thursday in Vancouver for those of you who know any middle-graders who love horses or mythology or a great story. Details here.

Wings of Olympus & Mya's Strategy to Save the World: Double book launch (Vancouver, BC)

While I'm getting ready to post reviews 

of both these wonderful novels, 

get this Vancouver book event on your calendars

for a double-dose of middle-grade youngCanLit goodness!

••••••••••••••••

Join authors

Kallie George

and

Tanya Lloyd Kyi

for the launches of

Wings of Olympus

 Written by Kallie George

Illustrated by Fiona Hsieh

HarperCollins Canada

978-0-06274-152-3

224 pp.

Ages 8-12

March 2019

and

Mya's Strategy to Save the World

Written by Tanya Lloyd Kyi

Puffin Canada

978-0-73526-525-7

200 pp.

Ages 9-12

April 2019

 on

Thursday, April 25, 2019

at

7 p.m.

at

Kidsbooks

2557 W Broadway 

Vancouver, BC

••••••••••••••••

 

 Look for my reviews today and tomorrow 

for a glimpse at the rich stories of 

Wings of Olympus and Mya's Strategy to Save the World