According to Wikipedia, "Myth is a genre of folklore consisting primarily of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society." In other words, myths are useful tools for passing along values and lessons that are important to a culture. Modern retellings of myths are nothing new, Rick Riordan has done it successfully for younger readers for years!
If you are looking to expand your knowledge of modern myth telling, check out one of the books below. Bonus points for figuring out which myth or mythical figures the authors are updating.
Lovely War by Julie Berry- "In the perilous days of World Wars I and II, the gods hold the fates-- and the hearts-- of four mortals in their hands. They are Hazel, James, Aubrey, and Colette. A classical pianist from London, a British would-be architect-turned-soldier, a Harlem-born ragtime genius in the U.S. Army, and a Belgian orphan with a gorgeous voice and a devastating past."
Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie- "Isma is free. After years of watching out for her younger siblings in the wake of their mother's death, an invitation from a mentor in America has allowed her to resume a dream long deferred. But she can't stop worrying about Aneeka, her beautiful, headstrong sister back in London, or their brother, Parvaiz, who's disappeared in pursuit of his own dream, to prove himself to the dark legacy of the jihadist father he never knew. What sacrifices will we make in the name of love?"
Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen- "Transformed by the goddess Yemoja into...an African mermaid charged with collecting the souls of those who die at sea, Simi goes against the gods to save a living boy, Kola, from drowning."
Daughters of Sparta by Claire Heywood- "For millennia, men have told the legend of the woman whose face launched a thousand ships-but now it's time to hear her side of the story. Daughters of Sparta is a tale of secrets, love, and tragedy from the women behind mythology's most devastating war." (Cover image) If you like this one, check out Heywood's other retelling about the women around Perseus.
Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia - "The Jazz Age is in full swing, but Casiopea Tun is too busy cleaning the floors of her wealthy grandfather's house to listen to any fast tunes. Nevertheless, she dreams of a life far from her dusty small town in southern Mexico. A life she can call her own. Yet this new life seems as distant as the stars, until the day she finds a curious wooden box in her grandfather's room." You can also find this book in our Spanish-language collection!