Nandi has always loved her Great Aunt Ellie coming to stay. She travels all the way from a tiny Greek island called Ithaca, to see her only family – Nandi, her mum and her nephew Jason. Nandi treasures her gifts from Aunt Ellie, the time she spends with her while visiting, the stories she tells, especially of the Greek Gods, Odysseus and Proteus.

Nandi’s favourite gift is a Globe of the World, that she can spin to view all the countries of the world, and it also glows at night to keep her company. When Nandi learns as a late teen that Aunt Ellie won’t be visiting again due to her age, she is devasated. A walk along the Yarra river in her home city of Melbourne helps her make a decision – and the sight of a flying fish is part of that plan.

When school life is behind her and she has worked hard for months, she sets off for a Greek Adventure. She is keen to surprise Aunt Ellie on her tiny island.

What Nandi finds however is another side of Aunt Ellie. She might be a wonderful story teller but she never spoke of her past. Down on the wharf all alone every evening, Nandi meets a strange creature who tells her of Elena, a young Greek woman defying danger every day, meeting the love of her life and being the rock that hundreds of Greeks needed at a time of disaster and sorrow.

Michael Morpurgo is well known for his stories of war. This is much more personal in the way of a story that morphs into diary entries by a 17 year old girl learning of her Great Aunt’s exhilarating past. It is a life of love and loss, generosity and kindness – all told to her by a strange creature claiming to be a god.

Much is learnt by Nandi of the Greek Gods and history, which spills out in the narrative. The description of a tiny island in Greece called Ithaca, transports you there to its startling blues, warm winds and glorious beaches.

This tale scopes more than generations, stretching from Homer’s Odyssey, through a war, an earthquake and to the fleeing refugees of Syria. All ends happily, leaving the reader to think whether anyone in their family have interesting stories to tell of their past. 

Author – Michael Morpurgo

Illustrator – George Butler

Age – 10+

Read more reviews of Michael Morpurgo Titles here

(2021, Harper Collins, War, Family, Love, Courage, Romance, Historical, Blended Family, Adventure, Greece, Ithaca, Homer, The Odyssey, Penelope, Greek Gods, Trojan Horse, Globe, Stories, Great Aunt, Travel, Memories, Family secrets, The past, Ocean, Beaches, Swimming, Gods, Flying Fish, Proteus)