Styx and Stones

Hennepin County Library delivered my e-book version of Styx and Stones last Tuesday, fresh from my Hold list.

We take Wednesdays off. Instead of housecleaning, I sat and read this book for (almost) the entire day. I couldn’t wander too far away. I finished that evening.

I knew I wanted to share this book with you but … what could I say?

Part of the charm of Styx and Stones is discovering what’s going on, so I don’t want to spoil it for you. The authors Gary D. Schmidt and Ron Koertge reveal the story at a just-right pace. I was impatient to know what would happen next, which is the best kind of tension.

I enjoy Schmidt and Koertge’s books individually. They’re among some of my top favorites (The Labors of Hercules Beal and Shakespeare Bats Cleanup). I admired A Day at the Beach, a mélange of stories and the first book they co-authored. Now they’ve written a book together that’s a wonder.

Simon, the protagonist, is a boy of 12 (maybe) who carries eons of wisdom … and I find his mentors enchanting. He died during the Peloponnesian War. When Simon achieves the impossible, he appears in a middle school in the boys’ bathroom. When Zeke finds Simon “buck naked,” he takes the first step by finding Simon clothes to wear from the locker room laundry (not yet washed). Simon has no artifice, perhaps that’s why he gains friends effortlessly.

So where’s the tension? Oh, boy.

The setting, the characters, and the plot reveals are unlike those I’ve read before. The whole experience is delicious because these are two masters at the top of their game.

Simon is one of the most winsome characters I’ve encountered in a novel. And his new best friend Zeke isn’t far off that mark. Sure, the twenty-first century sidekick has modern-day afflictions, but they’re not resolved in a tired, predictable way. Together, they help us look at loneliness and loss.

The whole book feels fresh, which will enthrall the legion of adults who read middle grade and teen books because they enjoy them. (Aside: It’s storytelling. The only age limit is published on the back of the book. A shame. I believe these books would be far more widely read if we could forego someone telling us at what age we need to stop reading them. It wouldn’t take much to print “ages 8 and up” instead of “ages 8 to 12.”) Young readers will enjoy the Greek mythology, the fast-paced story, and the exploration of realms unknown.

The novel is filled with humor, action, and witty dialogue. All of it feels attuned to the tale being told: how do we deal with grief? The juxtaposition of these story elements is immensely satisfying.

I invite you to read Styx and Stones. I can’t stop thinking about it.

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Styx and Stones
Gary D. Schmidt and Ron Koertge
Clarion Books, May 2026

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