The Epically Awesome Odyssey by R.A. Spratt

Title: The Epically Awesome Odyssey

Author: R.A. Spratt

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Penguin Australia

Published: 16^th June 2026

Format: Paperback

Pages: 192

Price: $16.99

Synopsis: ‘An imaginative retelling that will spark the interest of the child in a most engaging way. Hilarious, very clever and educational.’ – Wendy Jeffrey, ReadPlus

Finally, Nanny Piggins sets the record straight and reveals what really happened 3,000 years ago on the most epically awesome journey of all time – The Odyssey! Spoiler alert – Homer totally left out the fact that Odysseus was a staggeringly beautiful woman and a pig.

Travel with Odysseus and her crew as they face man-munching monsters, Greek Gods with rage issues, Sirens brandishing cake batter to tempt sailors to their doom and a forbidden sausage sizzle on the Island of Helios.

This is the perfect book for before bed, avoiding homework or for those times when you’re shipwrecked on a desert island, perhaps because you’ve angered the Sea God Poseidon by poking his son in the eye.

‘This is a terrific book! I loved reading about everything the monsters ate. I just wish there were recipes, so we could recreate the meals at home.’ – Scylla (murderous six-headed giant lizard)

‘At the time, I couldn’t understand why Odysseus’ journey took so long. Now I’ve read this book, I’m amazed she got home as quickly as she did.’ – Penelope (Odysseus’ husband)

‘I really enjoyed the audiobook.’ – Polyphemus, the Cyclops

~*~

So, we all know the story of Odysseus, the Ithacan bloke who spent ten years fighting in the Trojan War, and another ten getting home to Ithaca after really upsetting all the gods. Big time. And of course, we all know that Homer wrote the stories down. But did you know that Nanny Piggins knows the real story? No? Here’s your chance to read about what actually happened.

Anyone who has read or listened to any of the Nanny Piggins stories knows she has a penchant for taking the stories we all know so well and retelling them, Or, as she says, telling them more accurately with wholesome and rather large doses of chocolate.

So settle back and read or listen to the real story of the Odyssey and what really happened. And make sure you don’t try and bring logic into this, because Nanny Piggins will make sure the chocolate frees you from that. In Nanny Piggins’s version, Odysseus is a woman and a very beautiful pig.

R.A. Spratt’s signature style shines in her latest take on the Greek myths, reimagining them for children through Nanny Piggins and her family story version. It’s filled with fun ad whimsy, and slightly dialled back from the original version, yet with just enough of the danger and nasty stuff that we all know comes with ancient myths. I loved the twists and changes to what Odysseus and her men went through with Circe and the Cyclops, and the changes made are what brings this version to life.

This novel focuses on Odysseus’s journey, and constantly talks about the ancient Greek myth days, ensuring that Derrick, Samantha and Michael know these are very old stories and that they are getting a very exciting and, according to Nanny Piggins, the most accurate version of the story that there has ever been.

Much like R.A. Spratt’s other books, there is a funny side to all of this, a sense of sarcasm and need to set the record straight that begins on the first page and makes its way through the whole story. It also cleverly takes the key moments from the original text, and pinpoints what happened to Odysseus. Having read the Odyssey, this is a great retelling that will engage younger readers who may not be ready for the full version or new movie yet, because it hits the key beats and does so with funny twists that younger readers will really enjoy. It’s a lot of fun and it captures the magic of the original stories, the myths and everything I love about retellings.

I think fans of Nanny Piggins and R.A. Spratt will love this one, because it’s a great one and cool addition to her Greek and Shakespeare retellings. I’m very lucky this year with two good R.A. Spratt books coming out, and I can’t wait to share the other review with you later this month! And enjoy the little bits that Homer supposedly left out of his account that has informed everything we know about the Odyssey.

Another great R.A. Spratt book!