Gr 4 Up-Narrated by the nine Mousai, or muses, who were worshipped alongside the brilliant son of Zeus, the eighth entry in O'Connor's masterful graphic novel series continues in the tradition of his previous "Olympians" tales. Starting off with Hera's pursuit of Leto, mother of Apollo and Artemis, and Zeus's lover, the muses relate different myths, each fleshing out a different aspect of the god of light's personality and legend. From his many charms and character flaws to his often failed romances, Apollo is presented as the most human of the Greek gods. Telling his story through the muses' perspectives is a successful device that O'Connor employseach of them share a story that is in tune with their area of expertise. For example, Erato, the muse of mimicry and love poetry, recites a poem about Hyacinth, the prince of Sparta, who was caught in a love triangle with Apollo and Zephyros. Within this tale, some of the panels feature her miming some of the particulars. It is details like these, plus the creator's in-depth research, matter-of-fact and humorous tone, and expressive and dynamic art that continue to make each entry in this series a must-have. The variation of panels and the alternating dark and light-infused color palette add to the work's overall pacing and appeal. VERDICT A shining example of a graphic novel that educates and entertains. Shelley Diaz , School Library Journal

It's fitting that the entry in O'Connor's popular Olympians series focusing on Apollo, god of music, among other things, would be narrated by the nine muses. Each of the seven stories (a few of the muses pair up) matches the style of its teller. For instance, Clio, muse of history, presents the story of the death of Apollo's son, Asklepios, as a kind of documentary, referring often to "the historical record" while reading from a scroll. Meanwhile, Melpomene and Thalia, muses of tragedy and comedy, respectively, recount the tale of Marsyas, who challenged Apollo's standing as best musician and met a grim end (or a comical one, depending on who you ask). Since there are so many stories about Apollo, these brief glimpses offer a tidy overview of the god, with an emphasis on his more human qualities. O'Connor's bright, colorful, clear-lined artwork, particularly of the dancing muses, captures movement and emotion beautifully and adds an engaging undercurrent of comedy. Informative back matter, including further reading and endnotes, closes out this excellent piece of graphic nonfiction.