Bull - by David Elliott (Paperback)

About the Book

David Elliott turns a classic on its head: this rough and rowdy retelling of the Minotaur myth in verse will have readers reevaluating one of mythology's most infamous monsters.

Book Synopsis

David Elliott turns a classic on its head: this rough and rowdy retelling of the Minotaur myth in verse will have readers reevaluating one of mythology's most infamous monsters.
THE MYTH OF THE MINOTAUR? THAT'S BULL.

Garnering six starred reviews, this update of the timeless story of Theseus and the Minotaur has been called "beautifully clever," "a literary feast fit for the gods," "powerful and engrossing," "irresistible, slick, and sharp," "a genre of its own," and "rude...crude, and it's a whole bunch of fun."

Resurrected from the dark depths of the labyrinth, this fresh, deliciously shocking, and darkly comedic novel-in-verse takes on the Theseus and Minotaur myth and shines a light on one of history's most infamous monsters.

Review Quotes

"Beautifully clever."--Weekend Edition Saturday ? "Razor-sharp rhyme schemes and sly, vicious humor make Bull a bawdy yet sophisticated romp, a literary feast fit for the gods." - Shelf Awareness, starred review ? "Elliott contemporizes the ancient story of blackmail, betrayal, and revenge with humor, poignancy, and profanity . . . . the personalities and voices Elliott brings to these mythical characters make this powerful and engrossing book a genre of its own." --Publishers Weekly, starred review ? "...Elliott's clever verse version of the classical story of the Minotaur: its title, Bull, is topically and colloquially apt." --Horn Book, starred review ? "There's nothing half-blooded or Disneyfied in David Elliott's energetic, multi- voiced verse novel retelling . . . . Brief, useful notes explain both the liberties taken with the myth and choices of form for each character. Nods to Hamilton are inevitable, but whether or not Lin-Manuel Miranda had anything to do with inspiring what we hope will be a trend of transforming old stories into hip-hop gold, all readers and educators can say at this point is keep 'em coming." --Bulletin, starred review ? "Elliott's absolutely magnetic rhythms will wake up any high school class, and the book could also work as a play. Irresistible, slick, and sharp (no bull!)--with plenty of bull to dissect." --Kirkus, starred review ? "This striking reexamination of the Greek myth Theseus and the Minotaur [is] a conceit that easily could have floundered; in Elliott's capable hands, it soars." -- Booklist, starred review "Elliott's contemporary take on the classic myth incorporates modern slang, profanity, and a bawdy sense of humor into an accessible, highly entertaining, and original novel... Recommended for most large collections, particularly those in need of engaging interpretations of classic myths." --School Library Journal "It's rude, it's crude, and it's a whole bunch of fun."--BookPage "David Elliott's Bull does for mythology what Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton has done for U.S. history. Teens of all genders and reading levels will devour this salty, quick-witted retelling and the timely truth of this story: It takes a god to make a boy into a beast, but it is us humans who turn him into a monster. I loved this book." --Allan Wolf, author of The Watch That Ends the Night and New Found Land "Stunning, explosive, and brilliantly-crafted. BULL is a perfect addition to the new canon of classics." --Liz Wright, Brazo Books "Dark, disturbing, and devastatingly good." --Elana K. Arnold, author of Infandous and Sacred "What an extraordinary book! Saucy and thoroughly modern, Bull feels both ageless and of our time, and is, above all, a bracing, unforgettable read." --Jane Brox, author of Brilliant: The Evolution of Artificial Light "The voices in this poem--as much hip hop as epic--taunt in a spirit that is at once modern ghetto and ancient philosopher. As a lover of the Greek tales, I'm so grateful for this dizzying ride." --Donna Jo Napoli, author of Sirena, Bound, and Beast "Irreverent and witty, the book is a fantastic labyrinth of its own, with new turns and twists that deliver us to the wisdom at its center." --Kyoko Mori, author of --

About the Author

David Elliott is a NY Times bestselling children's author whose many titles include And Here's to You!, The Evangeline Mudd books, In the Wild, On the Wing, and Nobody's Perfect. David has worked as a singer, a cucumber washer, and a popsicle stick maker. He lives in New Hampshire with his wife and a three-footed dog. www.davidelliottbooks.com