Simply the Quest

Maz Evans's Simply the Quest is a very silly and surprisingly moving adventure for 9 year olds about a boy who shares his farmhouse with the Greek gods.

What happens

It's book two of the Who Let the Gods Out series. Elliot Hooper is twelve. A few months ago a Constellation called Virgo crashed into his cowshed, and now Zeus, Athene, Aphrodite, Hermes and Hephaestus live in his house. So far they've cost him three doors and two sofas.

Virgo is up in front of the Zodiac Council. Her lawyer, Themis, arrives late and waves a receipt for a prawn vindaloo as her big piece of evidence. The verdict? If Virgo wants her old life back, she has to prove she's a hero.

So she goes looking for a quest. The first one arrives by text from Hermes, and it's to buy more loo roll.

The jokes never let up. Hermes calls everyone "babe". Zeus bellows "WE DO NOT MENTION CHRISTMAS DAY!" every single time someone mentions Christmas Day. Hera turns up to announce that she'll be keeping an eye on the gods. Zeus hurls a tractor across the paddock, then a thunderbolt at her feet.

Virgo is a joy. She takes everything literally, calls things "sub-optimal" and asks whether Ivor ever got medical attention for his sore hand. Elliot mostly rolls his eyes at her, which is exactly what you'd expect.

But there's a real heart underneath all the silliness. Elliot's mum, Josie, is ill. She forgets things, asks him over and over whether he's watered Grandad's plants, and will only let Elliot look after her. He does it all, and he's tired. Then a letter comes that frightens her badly, and Elliot reads it when he shouldn't.

It's worth knowing that his worry about his mum is a big part of the story. It's handled honestly and kindly, but it could hit hard for a child with someone poorly at home. There are also a few grown-up jokes about divorce and Zeus's taste in magazines that will sail over most heads.

If your reader loves being made to laugh and then being caught off guard by a sad bit, this is super.

What to read next

If they haven't met Elliot and Virgo yet, start with Who Let the Gods Out, which opens with Elliot being hauled into the headmaster's office for falling asleep in Mr Boil's assembly.