Book review: 'Zeus the Mighty: The Trials of Hairy-Clees' tries too hard

Ever since Percy Jackson, reading about the ancient Greeks has enjoyed a comeback. While Zeus the Mighty: The Trials of Hairy-Clees has fashioned its main characters after ancient Greek Gods, that's one of the few things this book has going for it. The silly conversations in this book fall flat and have nothing to do with the plot. However, the illustrations are this book's saving grace and are the only things I found worthwhile.

Image from Amazon

This third installment of the Zeus the Mighty series only has a few things that may alarm parents. It does hint at taking the Lord's name in vain by using phrases such as, "my gods," and its characters have several spats, but that's about it.

Image from Amazon

The main characters in Zeus the Mighty are animals in a pet shop who go on adventures and get into trouble. They argue, make jokes, and are leery of the newest animal, a chicken. While some children may find their humor and escapades as funny, we found them tiring at our house.

Image from Amazon

This book's redeeming quality, however, is the delightful illustrations. Artist Andy Elkerton has a playful style that helps this book appeal to children and will likely have them turning pages just to view his work. 

While Zeus the Mighty: The Trials of Hairy-Clees is mostly a clean book, it is not one I would recommend due to its long length and little literary merit.

Book Breakdown:

192 pages

Geared toward ages: 8-10

Educational factor: low

Moral content: Use of the term, "my gods"