The main narrator in this marvelous story is an adorable Fox Terrier named Μάγκας! (Magkas). Now, I wish I could try to explain in English what the word Magkas mean for Greeks in order to understand the significance of the dog's name in this book, but I can't. There is not translation for the word Magkas. I am sure there is some other Greek person who can try to explain well what the word means, but for me, it would take me hours to find a way to translate/explain what it means, so I will leave it.

Anyway, this wonderful and lovely story set in early 20th century blends the funny and heartwarming incidents in the life of Magkas and the family he belongs to with teachable moments we all, adults and children, can benefit from, and also teaches the history surrounding the Greek heroes of Macedonia fighting for independence during the wars with the Bulgarians and Turks in the 19th century.

Filled with moral lessons, patriotism, and history, Magkas is a marvelous reading that will never get old for me.

I have always credited Penelope Delta's stories among those that are responsible for my love of reading.

-- I was nearly moved to tears, so touched I was to find here in the U.S. the books of Penelope Delta-- One of my most favorite Greek authors growing up in Greece-- first on the online bookstore of Barnes & Nobles and on Amazon, which is very rare to find books in Greek, and then on an open books online library site for ebooks and audio books in the Greek language.

I could not wait to start reading in Greek also. Despite my 24 years in California and that by now I am fluent in English, it is always easier and faster to read in Greek most books. Also, I cannot listen to audio books in English and understand or remember what I heard, but I have no problem at all with audio books in Greek, which is how I reread this Greek childhood historical fiction favorite classic "Μάγκας" (Magkas).