Theseus and the Minotaur is one of our all-time favourite myths, and it’s been so fun seeing all the different reinterpretations of it emerging over the past few years. Is the Minotaur really as monstrous as he’s made out to be? Or is he just.. trapped? It can be tricky to find new ways of exploring these myths, but Lucy Strange and Pam Smy have absolutely smashed it out of the park with The Storm and the Minotaur, forthcoming with Barrington Stoke. Greek mythology via North of England industrial history? Yes please!
This powerful little novel follows nine year old George, as the time comes for him to leave school and begin his career in the mines – like his father and uncle. It doesn’t matter that George can read and write better than anyone else in his family, or that a terrible tragedy has already struck his own in the mines. George must start contributing – especially since he’s already stayed in school a year longer than he really should have.
Tucked away within the chimney in his bedroom, George finds a book of Myths and Legends. Among the fantastical stories of Medusa, Icarus, and Pandora he encounters the terrible story of the Minotaur, introduced poignantly as ‘the monstrous child’. George dreams of being trapped in the twisting tunnels of the labyrinth with the Minotaur – but discovers this gigantic gentle creature is just as scared of the labyrinth as he is.
Meanwhile, George embarks on his career in the dark and stuffy mines. Deep underground, through dark spaces and thick air, George keeps catching glimpses of the Minotaur, looming into life through Pam Smy’s atmospheric illustrations. When another tragedy starts to unfold, will George be able to escape his own underground maze?
Partly based on the true story of the flooding of the Huskar Pit mine in Yorkshire in 1838, this short novel introduces children to the realities of life – and labour – for their predecessors during the 19th century. The language is well-pitched for a reading age of 8+ and it is accessible for children at the younger range to read independently. The striking illustrations draw the reader into George’s world – from his little bedroom to the claustrophobic mines underground – and there is an impressive synthesis between the text and illustration. If you’ve encountered Pam Smy’s breathtaking illustrated world before, you’ll know what to expect – emotionally packed black and white scenes that immerse you fully in the world of the story. There’s also a historical note at the back which gives more details about the Huskar Pit, and poignantly lists the names and ages of the children who died in the terrible flood.
This would be a fantastic book to use for KS2 History, whether during a study of industrial Britain or for examining what life was like for children in different historical periods. It would also be an impactful choice for local history projects for those based in the North of England. Incorporating the Minotaur is such a clever way of weaving in the sense of mystery and fear as well as loss, and the creators do an excellent job of communicating a myriad of complex themes to a younger audience. Plus, any opportunity to spend a bit of time looking at myths alongside history is always a winner. Looking forward to getting our own physical copy when it is released next month! Huge thanks to Barrington Stoke and NetGalley for the ARC – we absolutely loved it. And if you fancy recreating your own Theseus and the Minotaur story, don’t forget to check out our previous post on making your very own (terrifying) masks!
wee classics 