Quiver
				Spinner, Stephanie. 2002. QUIVER. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
					“‘You stood before Artemis and Aphrodite,’ she said. ‘They asked you to choose between them. You choose Artemis.’ So I would, I thought. My loyalty has always been to Artemis, Mistress of the Wild.”
	Abandoned as a baby, Atalanta was rescued by the goddess Artemis and placed with a group of hunters. Her loyalty has always remained true and obedient to Artemis, even to the point of not marrying. The king, however, having no other heirs besides Atalanta brings her back to the palace and commands her to marry and reproduce. Not wanting to disobey Artemis Atalanta, known as the fastest mortal alive, proposes a seemingly foolproof plan: “‘I will marry, but only if two conditions are met. First, the man I marry must outrun me. [Second] anyone who loses against me must die’” (page 98).      Set during the time of Greek mythology, Spinner introduces numerous gods and goddesses to the readers. The book ends include a map of the region, an author’s note, and an “about the gods” section. The author’s note explains the variations that are available regarding the story of Atalanta, while “about the gods” provides a listing of the gods in the original pantheon which ruled from Mount Olympus and a brief history of each god who played a part in QUIVER. The information is helpful is gaining more insight into the story of Atalanta and into Greek mythology.      QUIVER tells the story of Atalanta in first person, except during the conversations between the immortal gods. With these conversations, readers are able to understand things that are happening that Atalanta does not understand. Throughout the story, Atalanta proves to be a strong female protagonist. Her deep loyalty to Artemis and to the hunters is obvious; her determination to not marry is unbeatable, and her physical abilities are incomparable.      “The setting is well done, putting readers easily into the ancient world, and the language is refreshingly unmodern” (School Library Journal review). With a short prologue, the novel is immediately filled with action, which remains throughout the book. The quick pace of the story fits well with the protagonist, who is always running or riding. The story is a short, easy read that will leave readers surprised and content. “QUIVER has it all: spiteful gods, revenge, humor, romances, suspence, and a startling ending. Stephanie Spinner’s brilliant retelling of the legend of Atalanta remind you why the Greek myths are still the best stories in the world” (Whelan). Reynolds, Angela J. 2002. School Library Journal. New York: Reed Business Information, Inc. Available at http://www.amazon.com Whelan, Gloria. Available on the back cover of QUIVER.                                            YA Literature Home Page