Product Description

Jason is a young warrior in training -- and yet there's more to him than his simple appearance might suggest. Raised by the wise centaur Chiron and believing himself an orphan, Jason discovers that his true identity is not the only secret his guardian has been keeping. What he learns sends Jason and five of Chiron's other apprentices on a dangerous journey to save the kingdom of Iolcus from a horrible fate.

In a daring race against time, Jason and his companions must bridge yawning chasms, battle vicious harpies, navigate their way down treacherous rapids, and outsmart marauding centaurs. Surpris-ingly, Jason's greatest challenge comes from within, forbecoming a great leader proves to be the most difficult task of all.

In another thrilling adventure that imagines Greek heroes as young men and women, Jane Yolen and Robert J. Harris explore the early years of Jason, before he led the Argonauts on one of the most famous quests in Greek mythology.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1795827 in Books
• Published on: 2004-02-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Library Binding
• 256 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 4-6--Jason (of the Argonauts) is a famous hero and his later exploits may be familiar to readers. This, though, is the story of his life as a boy--one that Yolen and Harris have imagined, based on other Greek tales. Jason and his fellow apprentices are catapulted into a dangerous quest when the evil centaur Nessus steals the Gorgon's blood from their mentor, Chiron. Just before they leave on their adventure, Jason learns that he is the son of the rightful king--but so does the son of the imposter king; this little bit of information is the source of tension and intrigue. There is plenty of action to keep mythology enthusiasts happy, and the band of angry and violent centaurs and attacks by hungry harpies could convert new fans to the genre. This entry in the series does not disappoint, though the themes that heroes are made when they are young and that strength of character is all-important are a bit more heavy-handed in this title than in others. Still, these messages do not get in the way of a fine story.--Angela J. Reynolds, Washington County Cooperative Library Services, Hillsboro, OR
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Gr. 4-6. In the newest episode of the Young Heroes series, Jason turns a hostile, arrogant princeling into an ally while leading a contentious group of schoolmates over rugged mountains to recover jugs of Gorgon's Blood stolen from his wise mentor, Chiron. The journey not only brings on a nonstop cascade of literal and figurative cliffhangers, punctuated by encounters with harpies, a goddess, and brutish centaurs, but also challenges Jason to exercise all of the qualities of a good leader: courage, quick wit, persuasiveness, the ability to bring out the best in his companions, and a (sometimes reluctant) willingness to swallow both doubts and pride. As in previous series titles, the dialogue can be wooden ("Is that all you think of yourself? A worthless orphan? Have I not taught you to take pride in your skills and talents?"), but the "learning to be a leader" theme folds seamlessly into the action, and, as explained in an afterword, the authors stay close to classical sources in portraying both mortal and immortal characters. John Peters
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Jane Yolen is one of the acknowledged masters of fantasy today. She is the author of more than two hundred books for children and adults. Her young adult novel The Devil's Arhtmetic won the Jewish Book Council Award. Her children's book Owl Moon, illustrated by John Schoenherr, was awarded the Caldecott Medal; her fantasy novels Sister Light, Sister Dark and White Jenna were both short-listed for the Nebula; and she's won the Nebula twice for short stories. She has also won the World Fantasy Award, the Christopher Medal twice, and the Golden Kite Award. She has written two previous books in the Young Heroes series with Robert J. Harris, Odysseus in the Serpent Maze and Hippolyta and the Curse of the Amazons. Jane Yolen lives with her husband in western Massachusetts and St. Andrews, Scotland.

Customer Reviews

"Blood"-y good
The fourth volume of Jane Yolen and Robert J. Harris' Young Heroes series is perhaps the best so far, with its thrilling plot and excellent characterization. "Jason and the Gorgon's Blood" gives an extra dimension to the mythical hero, while giving readers a likable underdog to root for.

Jason and a bunch of other boys are apprenticed to the wise old centaur Chiron. One day a bit of misbehavior gets them all sent on an errand, only to return to find that Chiron has been beaten almost to death -- and two mysterious jars have been stolen from him. He reveals to Jason that the jars hold the Gorgon's blood; one can cure anything, even raise the dead, and the other is a potent poison. He also reveals that Jason is the rightful heir to the city of Iolcus, which fellow apprentice Acastus is prince of.

Now a horde of nasty centaurs have stolen them, and it's up to Jason and his fellow apprentices to find the jars before Iolcus is destroyed. But the boys don't know enough about the dangers ahead of them: harpies, angry goddesses... and Acastus himself, secretly plotting to kill Jason. Jason has to somehow whip the boys into a cooperative team, before the army of centaurs can use the Gorgon's blood for themselves.

The Young Heroes series is an interesting idea in itself -- Greek heroes and heroines shown as uncertain teens. And Jason's gradual journey is a solid, pulse-pounding one, hinting at his future adventures with the Argonauts. It has the basics of the other books -- god cameos, monsters, hints of the adult lives of the heroes -- but somehow it's a bit smoother this time around.

Yolen and Harris's writing is detailed and fast-moving. There are a few nuggets of humor thrown in, but overall the tone tends to be grim. And of course, Greek mythology buffs will be delighted by the cameos by such characters as harpies, Chiron the centaur, Argos the shipwright and Alcestis (who makes an appearance in some myths about Hercules).

The relationship between Acastus and Jason is excellent. Jason is struggling both to keep himself alive and to be a leader, knowing that Acastus wants him dead. Acastus, on the other hand, grows from being a brat prince to being a conflicted young man who respects Jason. That theme of gradual friendship under fire is freshly written.

"Jason and the Gorgon's Blood" is an intense, intriguing look at the early life of one of the greatest Greek heroes of legend. An excellent read.