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The Morning of the Gods
Depressed over the death of her mother, twelve-year-old Carla makes a visit to her mother's aunt and uncle in Greece where she finds comfort and joy with the family situation, but shock and danger with the political situation in the early 1970s.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 1987
About the author
Edward Fenton
41 books4 followersEdward Fenton is the author of many books for young readers, including The Phantom of Walkway Hill, which won the Edgar Award for the best juvenile mystery of its year. His three translations of the Greek write Alki Zei have all received the Mildred L. Batchelder Award for outstanding books translated from a foreign language. In addition, his poems and stories have appeared in several magazines, among them The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly, Cricket, and The Horn Book.
Mr. Fenton was born in New York City, but is "Greek by adoption." he and his wife, Sophia Havarti, a well-known educator and child psychologist, live in Athens and in Galixidi, an old sea captain's village on the coast near Delphi.
Mr. Fenton was born in New York City, but is "Greek by adoption." he and his wife, Sophia Havarti, a well-known educator and child psychologist, live in Athens and in Galixidi, an old sea captain's village on the coast near Delphi.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 13, 2022
“All governments, good or bad, are there to be ignored. It’s the only way to survive… I want to fight for freedom, not for politics.”
I had goosebumps when I selected this book off of my shelf, with no recollection of buying or finding it, or even seeing it before. I opened it, read a few sentences of the blurb, and knew it would be a special read. I too moved to Greece to connect to my culture and identity there, being Greek American like Carla. And I must say that this is the most realistic capture of what Greek life is like that I have ever read. Hands down.
Never mind that it is a children’s book - there are depths to this story, the journey of Carla, the mysteries of Greece, the hospitality of Greek culture that jump off the page and stick with you. Carla’s journey of self-acceptance as a half-Greek girl growing up in a white-washed American world was so poignant and relatable for me: the awkwardness of feeling foreign, the otherizing even your closest friends treat you with, the shame of not feeling like it’s ok to be Greek - and then, most beautifully of all, how a visit to Greece changes all of that.
The philosophical uncle Theo and the caregiving, maternal, and strong aunt Tiggie personify so many wonderful people I have met in Greece. The village, never named, is so characteristic of village life in Greece even today. Taking place in 1974 when the Colonels of the Fascist regime were running Greece in an extended coup, the history is rife within the story. But I was moved to see how true to life the characters stayed - how Greek they were. It really showed my the timelessness of Greece, the fact that I can relate, fifty years later, to the exact treatment, food, daily rituals, greetings, activities, and personalities that pervade this perfect story.
I cannot believe this book wasn’t more popular, and isn’t on reading lists across the country. It is exceptional, and I hope you can find a copy and dive in.
My favorite quote, from uncle Theo’s daily libation to the Gods he knew never died or left Greece: “Beloved Pan and all ye other gods that haunt this place, give me beauty in the inward soul, and May the inner and the outer man be at one.” - The Phaedo, by Pluto
I had goosebumps when I selected this book off of my shelf, with no recollection of buying or finding it, or even seeing it before. I opened it, read a few sentences of the blurb, and knew it would be a special read. I too moved to Greece to connect to my culture and identity there, being Greek American like Carla. And I must say that this is the most realistic capture of what Greek life is like that I have ever read. Hands down.
Never mind that it is a children’s book - there are depths to this story, the journey of Carla, the mysteries of Greece, the hospitality of Greek culture that jump off the page and stick with you. Carla’s journey of self-acceptance as a half-Greek girl growing up in a white-washed American world was so poignant and relatable for me: the awkwardness of feeling foreign, the otherizing even your closest friends treat you with, the shame of not feeling like it’s ok to be Greek - and then, most beautifully of all, how a visit to Greece changes all of that.
The philosophical uncle Theo and the caregiving, maternal, and strong aunt Tiggie personify so many wonderful people I have met in Greece. The village, never named, is so characteristic of village life in Greece even today. Taking place in 1974 when the Colonels of the Fascist regime were running Greece in an extended coup, the history is rife within the story. But I was moved to see how true to life the characters stayed - how Greek they were. It really showed my the timelessness of Greece, the fact that I can relate, fifty years later, to the exact treatment, food, daily rituals, greetings, activities, and personalities that pervade this perfect story.
I cannot believe this book wasn’t more popular, and isn’t on reading lists across the country. It is exceptional, and I hope you can find a copy and dive in.
My favorite quote, from uncle Theo’s daily libation to the Gods he knew never died or left Greece: “Beloved Pan and all ye other gods that haunt this place, give me beauty in the inward soul, and May the inner and the outer man be at one.” - The Phaedo, by Pluto
February 14, 2022
I found this children’s book by Edward Fenton while cleaning out my bookshelves. The beautiful cover attracted me instantly - a painting by Ted Lewin.
This is the story of Carla, a young girl who has just lost her mother. Ismene was Greek and Carla’s father sends her to Greece to be with her mother’s aunt and uncle, Tiggie & Theo while she struggles to deal with her loss. This book has charming descriptions of life in a tiny Greek village but is primarily a coming of age story. It tackles dark themes of death, grief and a loss of freedoms under an oppressive regime.
Fenton keeps the narrative simple and straightforward yet manages to weave in undercurrents of oppression throughout - whether through the troubles of the hapless ex-judge Solon; or the frustrations of Lefteris - a boy left behind, angry and helpless; or the wary nonchalance of Anghelos Eliou - a marverick poet under surveillance by the military regime; or the sly activities of the spy Panaghiotis. He balances these out by showing the flip side - the courage and defiance of the Hermes man, the Python woman and of course Theo and Tiggie and Carla herself who stand up for their rights in their own way.
As Carla or Eris as she calls herself, is gradually drawn into the slow, languid pace of life in the village, she learns the importance of the grieving process, of love and trust and begins to heal her broken heart. She opens her heart to Tiggie and Theo, makes friends and finds the courage to be the girl she has always wanted to be. In doing so, she finds within herself the mother she has so tragically lost.
Years later, she returns to Greece as a young woman drawn by more loss, but she now has the tools to deal maturely with the emotions this brings. This was an engaging, heart-breaking and yet heart-warming read. Recommended.
This is the story of Carla, a young girl who has just lost her mother. Ismene was Greek and Carla’s father sends her to Greece to be with her mother’s aunt and uncle, Tiggie & Theo while she struggles to deal with her loss. This book has charming descriptions of life in a tiny Greek village but is primarily a coming of age story. It tackles dark themes of death, grief and a loss of freedoms under an oppressive regime.
Fenton keeps the narrative simple and straightforward yet manages to weave in undercurrents of oppression throughout - whether through the troubles of the hapless ex-judge Solon; or the frustrations of Lefteris - a boy left behind, angry and helpless; or the wary nonchalance of Anghelos Eliou - a marverick poet under surveillance by the military regime; or the sly activities of the spy Panaghiotis. He balances these out by showing the flip side - the courage and defiance of the Hermes man, the Python woman and of course Theo and Tiggie and Carla herself who stand up for their rights in their own way.
As Carla or Eris as she calls herself, is gradually drawn into the slow, languid pace of life in the village, she learns the importance of the grieving process, of love and trust and begins to heal her broken heart. She opens her heart to Tiggie and Theo, makes friends and finds the courage to be the girl she has always wanted to be. In doing so, she finds within herself the mother she has so tragically lost.
Years later, she returns to Greece as a young woman drawn by more loss, but she now has the tools to deal maturely with the emotions this brings. This was an engaging, heart-breaking and yet heart-warming read. Recommended.
May 10, 2023
charming, excellent book.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews