By SAWYER A.

Watertown Splash staff reporter

     In Watertown, Mass., middle school students read a shorter, simpler version of “The Odyssey” in seventh grade. A few also read the Robert Fagles translation.

     Is the seventh grade too early to read such an advanced book? Should every single student be reading the full translation? Or are you never too young for something beautiful?

     At a symposium about “The Odyssey” sponsored by Children’s Literature New England, I asked five authors, storytellers, and illustrators these same questions. They all had very different answers.

     Gregory Maguire -- whose “Out of Oz” was released the week of the symposium -- was asked if he was influenced by “The Odyssey” while writing the “Wicked” series. His reply was that no, there had been no direct connections. Maguire went on to add, though, that he thought there had been many moments in his subconscious as he was writing, where small bits became slightly related to “The Odyssey.”

     When asked about what age group he recommended read “The Odyssey,” he was very surprised to hear that Watertown students read it in the seventh grade. After pondering the question a little more though, he said that at every age, someone gets something different out of “The Odyssey.”

     At 5, children may enjoy just that bit about a cyclops getting blinded by a red-hot poker. At 15, teens begin to comprehend the underlying themes in the book. And at 95, people may enjoy looking back on the things they got out of it when they read it at a younger age.

     Sebastian Lockwood, alone on the Cambridge Public Library stage, did a brilliant storytelling. When asked what age he thought was most appropriate for reading “The Odyssey,’’ he thought for a minute then answered, “As early as possible.”

     He went on to say that whether at 4 or 5 -- focusing on the simpler aspects of the story, or later, when someone can really begin to appreciate everything about it -- everyone notices something new every time they read about Odysseus’s toils across the Mediterranean. 

     Tracy Barrett had quite a different view. I asked the author of “King of Ithaka,” “Anna of Byzantium,” and “The Sherlock Files,” the same thing, “Is the seventh grade too early?”

     Her answer was no, it isn’t too early. As long as the reader understands that they haven’t read the whole story. They’ve gotten the great descriptions, the interesting characters, and the like. But they haven’t gotten everything. The seventh grade is fine -- as long as they go back, and read it again later when they can understand all of it, was Barrett’s bottom line.

     Gareth Hinds, an illustrator who has done a graphic novel version of “The Odyssey” said the same thing.

     The final interview of the day was with award-winning poet and illustrator Ashley Bryan. His approach was much more ... straightforward.

     “Never let anybody tell you you’re too young, or too old,’’ he said. “You’re never too young or old for something beautiful.”

     Sure, some people think the seventh grade is too young. Though, like Bryan said, you’re never too young for something beautiful. 

     --April 25, 2012--