Kudos to the artist who did the cover art. Amazing. It made me request this book! And when I found out it was written in verse, even better. Novels in verse have been very popular lately at my school library. What I found is that the contents of the book are just as beautiful as the cover art. The book follows three different narrators:

Narrator 1 = Mary, a Greek girl in the 1930s who does not want to be what her family expects a “good Greek girl” to do (marry young, not work, not drink or smoke, etc.) She faces xenophobia, even though she was born in America. Her parents want her to marry a much older business owner, Dimitris, but she falls in love with a dashing all-American boy, Billy. He takes her to Coney Island where they fall in love over a delicious chocolate malt. He talks to her about Greek mythology and says that she reminds him of the goddess Athena, strong and powerful.

Narrator 2=Giorgos (Mary’s father) 1915-1918 Central Greece, America, France. In Greece he witnesses marital disputes and domestic assault. His twin sister, Violetta, is expected to marry young. They have a close relationship. Violetta marries a good man, but when times get tough, Giorgos urges her husband to steal a sheep to feed his pregnant wife. They are caught, and Violetta’s husband is shot and killed. Giorgos feels at fault and hops on a ship heading for America. It is there that a recruiting officer tells Giorgos that if he wants to become an American citizen, he must enlist and fight for his new country. Giorgos is shipped back to Europe and is injured on the front. He then meets Jeanne, Mary’s mother.

Narrator 3=Jeanne (Mary’s mother), Saint Malo France, 1915-1918. Her father is a doctor and called for the war effort. Her life up to this point has been one of affluence and comfort. She dreams of being a doctor someday and volunteers at the local hospital, aiding wounded soldiers. It is there that she meets Giorgos and falls in love.

Everything about the book is beautiful--the language, the storytelling, the characters. One of the best examples I’ve seen of a novel in verse. Colby Cedar Smith, you just made this middle school librarian’s heart soar.

Athena is a warrior goddess. She is one of the most important figures not only in the Olympic mythology, she has an equal importance with Zeus and sometimes even surpasses him, this being rooted in the earliest period of development of Greek mythology - the matriarchy. In strength and wisdom, she is equal to Zeus. She is honored after Zeus and her place is closest to Zeus. Along with the new functions of the goddess of military power, Athena maintained her matriarchal independence, manifested in her understanding as a virgin and protector of chastity.
The associations between her and one of our main characters of the novel - Mary as the American-born daughter of Greek and French immigrants is not a hazarded one. Mary tries to prove her equality with men and her independence. She is struggling to adjudicate her right in the society of 1930 Detroit.
American agriculture was in bad shape in the 1920s. After the end of the First World War, the prices of agricultural products began to fall when agriculture in Europe started growing, the Americans losing an important market. Many farmers left the countryside to move to urban areas, where they hoped to have a better life. For Mary’s parents the life in America was a new beginning. American prosperity arrived at an abrupt end in 1929, with the outbreak of the great economic crisis. In 1929, the American economic system underwent a sudden change in a short period of time, moving practically from prosperity to a very severe economic crisis. The crisis was the result of major weaknesses in the economy, which weakened and intensified throughout the 1920s.
What I loved most was that the entire story was told following 3 narrative threads: the life of Giorgos, Mary’s father, the life of Jeanne, Mary’s mother starting from childhood and how they met and in the meantime the life of Mary struggling to become an emancipated young women. The entire story starts from real facts and tries to describe the struggle that a family of immigrants is facing in those years.

"Call me Athena. She wasn't a Good Greek Girl either."

First, thank you for providing this lovely ARC. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and I am glad that I gave this a try. And what a lovely coincidence, that I finished this on international women's day.

I might be biased because of my name, but goodness me, this little book was very enjoyable to read. Now I will admit to being absolutely shocked when I first opened the book because somewhere along the line I must have missed the bit that said this book was written in verse. However, I am glad I missed it because I honestly would not have picked it up otherwise. Having said that, I must say I enjoyed it more than I had expected. In fact, the format lends itself perfectly to the deep feeling of "Sehnsucht" you will find in the book.

What a beautiful, strong family that strives for independence and has to deal with the harsh reality that threatens their hopes and dreams at every turn. Coming from a Greek immigrant family myself, I am all too familiar with the stories of war-torn Greece and Europe that shape this book and found the book to struck a balance between the suffering and hopeful longing it portrays. The story of Mary and her parents is so beautifully connected and shows just how much people are willing to sacrifice for what they love and long for.

Call Me Athena is a beautifully written book in verse based loosely on the author's grandmother. The writing is exquisite and at times heartwrenching. The story follows a sixteen-year-old American-born girl, the daughter of Greek and French immigrant parents. Mary's story is told in alternating chapters with her parent's stories, which are told through memories and love letters. The poignant storytelling from three very different perspectives leaves the reader with so many feelings. I read this novel, all 576 pages of it, in two sittings. I could not put it down. The settings are richly developed and you cannot help but empathize with Mary's parents who left their lives overseas to build a life of opportunity for themselves and their family. Mary fights for her own independence against an unwanted arranged marriage and a chance to make her own mark on the world. The addition of photos of the author's family at the end is a really nice touch to this book. Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoy novels in verse and this one was well written with interesting characters, However, something was lacking and I couldn't quite pinpoint what; I just needed something more to pull me in

This book was such a pleasure to read. I am not usually a fan of novels written in verse but this was well written and wove a beautiful tale. I liked the letters written back and forth and the strength of each of the characters. I found myself unable to pull away from the story. The descriptions were on point and made me feel like I was right there experiencing it all. I would highly recommend this read to others. Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for this awesome read.

Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo. This book twists and turns, taking you on a journey across tow continents, spanning World War 1 and the Great Depression.

If you know Detroit, this book is such a treat - from Belle Isle, to the Fox Theatre, to the broken windows of the Ford Factory. The setting itself is perfect for the story - coming of age, overcoming tragedies and defying expectations. It could have only happened in Detroit.

The book is gorgeous, and the descriptions of the Diego Rivera Murals (and the reaction they caused amongst people and the protagonist) a particular highlight.

I ordinarily love novels in verse - they're short reads that often pack a punch with lyrical writing. Unfortunately, this one did not. I found it dragged and I often lost my way with the characters and I was never quite sure where we were and what was going on.