Echo Echo: Reverso Poems About Greek Myths by Marilyn Singer

Bibliography

Singer, Marilyn. (2016).  Echo Echo: Reverso Poems About Greek Myths.  Ill. By Josee Masse.  New York, NY:  Dial Books for Young Readers.  ISBN 9780803739925

Plot Summary

This book tells two sides of the story for twelve different Greek myths, including Pandora’s box, Medusa’s defeat by Perseus, Pygmalion and his statue come-to-life Galatea, Icarus and Daedalus, the former of which flew too close to the sun with his wax wings and perished, and many more.  Each pair of poems for each myth have the same words written both forwards and backwards, and most of the poems show each character’s perspective on the events that occur.

Critical Analysis

Each page divided into two halves, both pages with poems and with pictures, which reflects the two-sided nature of each poem.  Verses are cleverly and meticulously composed so that the meanings are completely different when read forwards and backwards.  For those who are not familiar with the myth, Singer includes a brief synopsis at the bottom of the page, which helps readers to make more sense of the poems.

Paintings are reminiscent of ancient Greek drawings in the curls of hair, pointed beards, and simplicity of the faces, but the backgrounds include more modern-looking detail.  Colors are blended with up and down strokes to make the pictures appear like they are aged and consist mainly of hues of blue and gold, much like the blue waters of Greece.  Most of the lines and edges of the figures in the illustrations are curved to show flowing garments, plants, or body movements, which contrasts with the sharp division of the page into two halves. 

Review Excerpts

School Library Journal Starred, 1/1/2016:  Patricia Manning says "the demanding wordplay is deftly handled and prettily displayed. Perfectly complementing—indeed, enhancing—the sly subtlety of the text are Masse's compelling stylized acrylics: Narcissus gazing raptly at his reflection, Daedalus soaring into airy blueness while molting, and melting Icarus plunging into the ocean."

Publishers Weekly Starred, 12/21/2015: Brenda Bowen says "Masse’s acrylics, dominated by rich colors and vertical symmetries, evoke weathered frescoes."

Connections

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in mythology, even adults, as each poem gives a new perspective on very familiar ancient Greek myths.  Readers may also enjoy other books by Marilyn Singer, including Mirror Mirror:  A Book of Reversible Verse, ISBN 9780525479017 and Follow Follow:  A Book of Reverso Poems,  ISBN 9780803737693