Labors of an Epic Punk

by Mark Dursin, Sheri Dursin

Mac is an epic punk. No wonder: after his dad went off to fight in the Trojan War and never came back, Mac spent his childhood evading his mom's scumbag suitors—all one-hundred-and-eight of them. Of course, he turned out this way—a moody, friendless sixteen-year-old who blows off work, alienates everyone at school, and pulls pranks. But when he trains a flock of birds to defecate on the headmaster, Mac (short for Telemachus) goes too far. The administrators give him an ultimatum: prove that he's truly the son of Odysseus by doing something heroic—or get out. A school story that just so happens to take place 3,000 years ago, Labors of an Epic Punk is a tale of friendship and transformation, regret and redemption, and a reminder to us all that even heroes need to survive adolescence.

Genres: Fantasy

306 pages, Paperback

Published December 1, 2017

Reviews

[Meghan Paulekas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing a novel is a “labor” in and of itself… And yet the Dursins have pulled off a seemingly effortless debut. The novel features a lovable cast the authors aptly compare to “The Breakfast Club”. The entire novel is well paced and engaging, perfect for tweens, teens, and any adults looking to relive those angsty high school years. The novel is at times painful to read, as you’re sucked into the angst we know all too well- looking to care about something, while simultaneously trying to appear as if you care for nothing. Truly the epitome of teenage angst, written so beautifully you almost don’t mind reliving it. This book is filled with heart and salutes to Homer’s “The Odyssey”. It is infinitely clever and funny. Anyone who enjoyed the “Percy Jackson” series will adore this, as it holds similar humor. Not to say this book is fated to live in Percy Jackson’s shadow- it is a unique and quirky piece and a more than welcome addition to my shelf.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought Labors of an Epic Punk was a good read despite it not being from my preferred genre I usually read. I did not know what to expect from it when I read the blurb. I decided to give it a try anyways and was pleasantly surprised to find that I did like it. It was unique and refreshing to read.

I would give Labors of an Epic Punk four stars and will definitely pick up other books from the authors in the future.

I received this book from the publisher. This review was 100% my own honest opinion.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved EVERYTHING about this book. The mythology, adventure, teen angst, everything. I could not put it down. If you love Harry Potter, Percy Jackson and John Hughes movies, then you will love this book. The writing is amazing, the mythology is added in effortlessly and the characters are perfect. I HIGHLY recommend Labors of an Epic Punk.

[M.T. DeSantis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Read an excerpt, check out an interview with the authors, and follow the Goddess Fish book tour here.
Move over Percy Jackson and co. There’s a new Greek kid in town. Mac’s the name (short for Telemachus), and while he may not be the child of a god, he’s the son of a hero, which is just as tough.
When I switched my college freshman seminar from something vaguely societal-sounding and “easy” to Homer’s Epics, my counsellor looked at me like I was nuts. “Why?” she asked. My response: “Because I love Greek myth.”
In short, I also loved this book. Mac’s transformation is fantastic. His entire character makes sense, and his relationship with his mom is the most beautiful parent-child relationship I’ve read in a long time. As the book’s description says, this is a school story that just happened to take place 3000 years ago. It’s ancient but modern, serious but funny. It’s everything I remember about every “I’m not good enough” teenage feeling I ever had, times a thousand. Mac’s under the ultimate pressure. It’s bad enough living up to normal standards. He has to live up to a great war hero’s image. It’s huge, and yet, while it was times a thousand, it was all just so normal. I could relate to Mac’s situation as clearly as if it were happening today.
I love Mac’s friend’s, too. Homer (yes, that Homer) is the friend who wants Mac to succeed but also to live vicariously through Mac’s heroism. Outgoing Theo and caring drama student Calliope are twins but so distinct as characters. Their sibling relationship comes off so well, too. And Andie. Oh, Andie. She has a special place in my heart. She has just as many emotional struggles as Mac, and I loved how their situations kind of mirrored each other. I loved watching their relationship blossom and grow into something truly spectacular.
The narration flows great. The dialogue is fresh and snappy. There’s plenty of action that’s set off by slower scenes of Mac and his crew learning to be a group of friends. I saw myself in some of these characters and was able to identify with them easily.
To sum up, I could probably think of something to criticize, but I’d have to really sit here and think—maybe read the book again and search for missing commas or something. This is the high school story about Odysseus’s son I never knew I wanted. The end ties everything up, which makes me a bit sad. I want a sequel so badly.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely, refreshing read. I didn't know if high school and ancient Greece were going to work together, but the book knew exactly what it wanted to be and ran with it.

The characters deserve recognition, as they're one of the book's greatest strengths. There's also the inclusion of a gay disabled character - and one of the main ones, at that. Major points for that!