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paperd's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
iffer's review against another edition
2.0
The Arcadians was underwhelming, especially since I always have high hopes for Lloyd Alexander books. Alexander's idea of rehashing familiar mythology and spinning them in such a way that women play a more prominent role is a good one, but the execution wasn't great, and I didn't think his spoofing was particularly funny. Although I think that a younger audience might enjoy this book better, I don't know if they would recognize the Greek mythology that Alexander is spoofing. I suppose that, if they did enjoy the book, it might be a stepping stone to exploring more about mythology.
teaandspite's review against another edition
5.0
This was one of my favourite books as a child and I'm thrilled to find that it holds up. The callbacks to Greek and Roman mythology make it fun without veering into complete rip-off territory, the characters are delightful, and the pacing is just fast enough to keep even my ADHD brain engaged.
I especially enjoyed the way it features older characters. I understand why children's books now rarely go more than 2-3 years older than their target audience, but some things simply work better if you assume the characters are young adults rather than young teens. A 20-year-old fleeing execution by crooked government officials is an adventure, a 14-year-old doing the same thing is cause for an international investigation. Older characters allow for more interesting and complex storylines without falling into the "incompetent adults" trope that often ruins childhood favourites.
That's not to say that this isn't a book for children. It is. It's a coming-of-age tale that fits right in with all the classic tropes of children's stories. It's just one that expects children to be able to relate to all kinds of stories and protagonists, not only ones that are exactly like them. It treats children like rational people with the ability to see beyond their own perspective. More children's books should follow its example.
I especially enjoyed the way it features older characters. I understand why children's books now rarely go more than 2-3 years older than their target audience, but some things simply work better if you assume the characters are young adults rather than young teens. A 20-year-old fleeing execution by crooked government officials is an adventure, a 14-year-old doing the same thing is cause for an international investigation. Older characters allow for more interesting and complex storylines without falling into the "incompetent adults" trope that often ruins childhood favourites.
That's not to say that this isn't a book for children. It is. It's a coming-of-age tale that fits right in with all the classic tropes of children's stories. It's just one that expects children to be able to relate to all kinds of stories and protagonists, not only ones that are exactly like them. It treats children like rational people with the ability to see beyond their own perspective. More children's books should follow its example.
kindleandilluminate's review against another edition
3.0
I'm a huge Lloyd Alexander fan, & The Arkadians is too much a part of my early childhood not to adore it. Nevertheless, re-reading it as an adult, I have to admit it isn't his best work. The characters are much sketchier and less developed variations of those we've seen before - as another reviewer said, you can have some fun matching up Arkadians characters to their Westmark and Prydain counterparts (and, a bit, Vesper Holly versions). But it's a charming and enchanting little story, gently spoofing classic Greek myths and the nature of storytelling. For the mythology-obsessed kid I was (...and am), that angle more than made up for the stock characters.
joyfulme's review against another edition
5.0
This complex quest story is wonderfully comical and makes a fun family read aloud. Ironically, two of the main characters are aspiring storytellers, which leads to entertaining discussions on literary devices. Students of Greek myths will recognize the allusions to those stories. There are so few clean, funny, classic reads out there; I’m thankful for this author.
frabjousfairy's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
pinoncoffee's review against another edition
3.0
Alexander is certainly playing with the Greek source material, but I didn’t love the new thing he made out of it. His plot about gender equality was rather ham-handed and most of the characters were kind of annoying. The religious tolerance plot was also unpersuasive. For a kind of fun but out-of-the-blue twist, it ended like a Shakespeare comedy!
cmbohn's review against another edition
4.0
Just finished this one. Great story with lots of twists.
schomj's review against another edition
2.0
I picked this up at a library booksale maybe 15 years ago, or pretty close. Probably the most positive thing I can say is that I've finished it and can now get rid if it.