The Bow: Win or Lose? takes place in Ancient Greece. It is the second of Mayo’s novels set in this period, the first book being Murder at Mykenai. A teenage Odysseus is helping to protect his father’s kingdom. After the death of his grandfather, Arkeisios (in the city of Argos), Odysseus travels with Eurybates (his father’s squire) to find his grandfathers hidden wealth. Odysseus is disguised as servant to Eurybates, who is dressed as an Egyptian priest. He finds gold hidden in the grandfather’s tomb, but finds himself under attack, and is saved by his grandfather’s friend Diomedes and his soldiers, and hidden in their fortress. During his time as Diomedes’ guest, Odysseseus learns to shoot a bow from the master Stenelos whom he quickly surpasses in skill. When the fortress and town come under attack, Odysseus and Eurybates leave with the gold this time disguised as women. On their way, they save a young slave girl, Skotia, who had also escaped, and whom Odysseus had previously met and developed feelings for. But Skotia is unaware of who he and Eurybates really are as they escape through valleys, mountains, and waterways, narrowly evading capture from their enemies. They eventually reach her home town and she is reunited with her aunt. After leaving Skotia Odysseus returns home and faces other challenges, which involve defending his father’s stolen property within the theatre of Greek law. During this time Skotia has recurring dreams about him and his impending death, so she travels to warn him. While achieving the impossible (stringing and shooting the Great Bow of Eurytos), Odysseus is distracted and is almost killed by an enemy - only to be saved by Skotia’s impassioned cry. In the end, Odysseus does not ‘get the girl’, but instead recognises the importance of friendship (because he was saved by both Skotia and Eurybates). The themes of religion and ritual are woven throughout the story. The second half of the book is dominated by the goddess of Arkadia, Demeter, whose domain is of mountain caves and crops. The masculine energy of Odysseus and Eurybates is balanced by Skotia and her aunt Danae.

The Bow: Win or Lose? follows on from Catherine Mayo’s first novel Murder at Mykenai but can easily be read separately. While Odysseus is a practical and ‘noble’ youth, aware of his place in the world, he willingly disrupts these roles through the disguises he wears: firstly he becomes a servant to Eurybates (thus reversing the order of master-servant); secondly he and Eurybates dress as women; and thirdly he plays the role of a possible husband to a girl who was a slave. This reflects the reality of adolescent ideals of equality and fairness, issues that are readily important in the school situation as well as politically in the Western world. Gender equality is a large theme of this book, where Skotia is not overcome by Odysseus’ position as son of a king, but rather, saves his life out of friendship and a need to be free of obligations to him. The thread of religion and ritual throughout the book is explored and shifts between belief in old ways, balanced by the necessity of survival. A large part of the narrative acknowledges the abilities of adolescents to make good decisions even if this means they must defy authority.

In order to create the world for the reader, Mayo uses objects as a way into getting a feel of life in the Bronze Age. The characters engage with these objects (for example, tablets, weapons, paintings, buildings, as well as clothing) which brings the story to life. In addition her attention to geology of the areas her characters cover is detailed and descriptive.

Reviews: 

Docherty, Bruce, "The Bow: Win or lose? by Catherine Mayo", Bobs Books Blog: Children’s and Young Adult Book Reviews by Bob Docherty, available at bobsbooksnz.wordpress.com (accessed: July 20, 2018).

Maps:

Mayo, Catherine, "The Bow: a drift map of Dysseus’s flight from Tiryns as described in the Bow", Pinterest,  (accessed: July 20, 2018).

Teacher resources and quizzes:

National Geographic, "10 facts about Ancient Greece: learn all about this super-cool civilisation!", (accessed: July 20, 2018).

Greek-Gods.Info Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Greece, www.greek-gods.info (accessed: July 20, 2018).

"Ancient Greece Test Quiz", Ducksters Education Site,  (accessed: July 20, 2018).

"Trivia Quiz: Ancient Greece for Kids", (accessed: July 20, 2018).

ancienthistory.about.com (accessed: December 10, 2017).

In a blog written for Christchurch Kids Blog in 2014, Mayo writes about how quickly a building can be caused to disintegrate, linking suddenness of the destruction of the Parthenon to the earthquakes so well known in Christchurch. 

See: Cath Mayo, "How fast the world can change" Christchurch Kids Blog, 2014, (accessed: July 20, 2018).