Bull

When King Minos of Crete reneges on a deal with the god Poseidon, Minos is punished when his wife Pasiphae gives birth to a minotaur – half-man, half-bull – who she names Asterion. While Pasiphae loves Asterion, Minos loathes him and eventually places Asterion in the centre of a maze. Although his sister Ariadne plans to rescue him, the Minotaur is killed by Theseus. This modern re-telling of the Minotaur legend in poetic verse uses humour, present-day language, and innuendo to imbue the Minotaur with humanity and create empathy in the reader. Suitable as an independent or whole class novel, it deals with issues of jealousy, entitlement, discrimination, power, and revenge. Social considerations noted.