The Boy Lost in the Maze

Gr 7 Up–Coelho takes on the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur, an allegory for the human condition. In alternating chapters of verse, parallel stories in ancient Greece and modern London unfold, revealing two young men, Theseus and Theo, on exhausting and exhaustive journeys in pursuit of absent fathers. Theo, 17, an aspiring poet who has been raised by his mother in urban poverty, takes extra jobs to earn money for people-finder services by a scammer who leaves him empty-handed, until the man’s attractive daughter steps in to aid Theo. Teacher Mr. Addo mentors Theo and supports his exploration of the retelling of the Minotaur myth, but blurs the line between teacher and father figure. This results in an outburst of rage so extreme that Theo blacks out and imagines himself as the minotaur facing Theseus and recognizes a brotherhood between the hero and monster; Theo sees himself as hero and anti-hero in his own story. Allusions appear throughout, like the handlebars of Theo’s bike that resemble the horns of a bull, “a heroic symbol of all that is male.” Coelho’s verse alternates between freeform and rhyme, with use of alliteration, repetition, acrostic poetry, and other forms that are complex yet accessible. The inventive use of the “choose your own ending” device is playful and compelling. Rough pen-and-ink drawings illustrate the layered and intricate story, which is both character-driven and action-packed, intricate, hopeful, suspenseful, and thought-provoking. Characters are diverse (Theo is biracial), introspective, and authentic.