Book Thoughts: Lysis Goes to the Play (Snedeker)

  • a 13-year-old Athenian boy is beyond excited for an annual performance of plays
  • he breaks several rules, especially those that relate to the ancient gender customs, but is given grace in the end
  • convo: slavery, almost every page mentions a Greek god or two (praying to them, worshipping them, idols & statues, etc.), wine mentioned, one man drunk, a mean man threatens to whip a boy (he doesn’t), a girl dresses in boy clothes, brief lying but is addressed
  • language: x1 stupidly

Type: short chapter book
Ages: 7-10
Author: Caroline Dale Snedeker
Illustrator: Amanda Ho

The story shines a light on how deeply embedded god-worshiping was in Ancient Greece while giving us a glimpse into a really unique aspect of their culture: the annual plays performed in theaters during the festival of Dionysus.

Lysis and his younger sister have quite the adventure one day together. It’s a brief story, so I don’t want to give too much away. Also, I appreciated how their family unit was strong and all loved one another. There was a sweet reunion in the end to wrap it up nicely.

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