If your son's an avid reader, he might enjoy the Rosemary Sutcliff versions more. My son did Children's Homer in 4th, the Sutcliff versions somewhere around 7th, and of course the full versions are in AHL. I think each is a step up, and there's some value in preparing the way by revisiting those over the years. However, I can't say my son really remembered tons from one time to the next. I do like the Children's Homer version myself, because it starts in the "middle" with Odysseus's wife having all those suitors in her house, and I think it's funny

(if you look at the Iliad & the Odyssey as a continuum, the suitors start at the beginning of the Odyssey). But I think I remember having to help my son see it as funny since he hadn't been a suitor yet
Another little benefit I appreciated in reading Children's Homer in 4th was pushing my son a step up in literature, a step higher in vocab & sentences. It seems like MFW did that with one book every year. However, it doesn't sound like your son really needs you to worry about that. So if he's reading and if he's able to do these things with other books, I personally wouldn't have any trouble at all subbing something else in there. But I think it would be good to sub something else about Greece maybe, because it's really part of the "history" part of your day, rather than part of the "deluxe/optional read-alouds." But like everyone is saying, of course it's your school
Oh, and I think you probably did, but make sure you used the Trojan Horse book first even though it's kinda young, because it prepares the way & it covers something that's not in the Iliad/Odyssey. Anyways, some other conversation is here:
http://board.mfwbooks.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4690
Julie
Julie, married 29 yrs, finding our way without Shane
(
http://www.CaringBridge.org/visit/ShaneHansell)
Reid (21) college student; used MFW 3rd-12th grades (2004-2014)
Alexandra (29) mother; hs from 10th grade (2002)
Travis (32) engineer; never hs