Nobody's Princess
by Esther Friesner
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Read in February, 2008
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Read in September, 2007
This is the story of Helen of Sparta - the girl who would grow up to become Helen of Troy with the face that launched a thousand ships. But this story is definitely not about her face.
Friesner draws a portrait of young Helen as a true Spartan queen. She is bright, stubborn, and has a true warrior's heart. Tired of spinning and weaving, Helen joins her brothers Castor and Polydeuces in learning combat, archery, and hunting. In this adventurous tale Helen irritates and comforts her sister Cly...more
Friesner draws a portrait of young Helen as a true Spartan queen. She is bright, stubborn, and has a true warrior's heart. Tired of spinning and weaving, Helen joins her brothers Castor and Polydeuces in learning combat, archery, and hunting. In this adventurous tale Helen irritates and comforts her sister Cly...more
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Read in October, 2007
I have to say, this book did not work for me at all. It's a retelling of the story of Helen of ancient Greece. Somehow the modern voice applied to her narration just made the story feel totally shallow. "Like, oh my heck, it's the Oracle of Apollo!" Okay, it wasn't that bad, but the modern language took away the credibility of the story for me. Another problem was that the character's "voice" didn't change to adjust for her age at all. She spoke the same way at 6, at 10 and...more
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Read in November, 2007
recommends it for:
readers of historical fiction or Greek myths
Leave it to Esther Friesner to come up with a really new and strange way to tell the story of Helen of Troy. I think she may have had to condense several Greek myths and legends to set up what she is doing, but so far it’s working. This is the start of a multi-volume retelling of things from her side, beginning with her childhood. By the end of this volume she is 14, rebellious and flatly refusing to sit back and be a typical good girl, even though she is destined to be Queen of Sparta.
In t...more
In t...more
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I'm a big fan of Greek Myths so I practically jumped for joy when I saw this on the library shelves. It was good though not as good as I had been hoping. The plot was a little far fetched for me. No woman in that time period would have been able to get away with doing the things Helen does. She goes way out of the bounds for a normal girl, let alone a princess but I supposed it is fiction so it can be forgived. Setting asside my History Buff self, this was a pretty well written book and quite en...more
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This was a fun read. It was an interesting take on who Helen of Troy was before Troy. The author started Helen's story as a young girl and the adventures she went on. I liked that the author made her into a great person with an overwhelming desire for adventure, compassion, and abilities for leadership. Most stories you hear about Helen have her painted as just this object of Paris's desire and the cause of the downfall of an entire population. I like to think that there may have been a lo...more
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i actually give it 1.5 stars. it was just kinda boring & there wasn't really a point. or i missed it. the only thing i can think of...and i'm reaching...is that the journey is more important than the goal and her character is what will bring her to her ultimate place in life. but it's a book and a book requires a plot not just a character. so this book is kinda junk. and what is more annoying is that there is a book 2 and i probably have to read it b/c i want to know what happens even ...more
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Read in April, 2008
I loved it!!! It's about Helen of Troy when she was young. It skips about in the beginning to get to the better parts, but it's kind of a neat transition to her different ages.
I think I love this book because she's so head strong, and she was talking back before she was 10!! I would swear it would have been about me, if she weren't (in the book) the future Queen of Sparta--which in itself, is pretty cool, b/c I love Sparta, ever since 300 came out.
Anyway, I'm going to read the sequil to ...more
I think I love this book because she's so head strong, and she was talking back before she was 10!! I would swear it would have been about me, if she weren't (in the book) the future Queen of Sparta--which in itself, is pretty cool, b/c I love Sparta, ever since 300 came out.
Anyway, I'm going to read the sequil to ...more
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Read in July, 2008
She never had to use her knife. Helen is a tomboy princess, but there isn't much unique about her. She disobeys, learns to fight and ride horses, but no one's out to kill her (unless the wild boar counts), she'sn't being forced to marry yet, she's already heir to the throne....what is the conflict? She wants adventure and runs away. Oh, and she's so beautiful that she often gets her way.
And there's only the smallest mention of magic.
And there's only the smallest mention of magic.
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Read in July, 2007
recommends it for:
Greek myth lovers
While definitely not as good as Adele Geras' phenomenal <i>Troy<i>, this is a pretty good book 115 pages in. It's definitely a quick read! The author takes a whole "grrrl power" approach to the story, and while I'm not sure how accurate it is, I think it works for this particular book. Ironically enough, it's better than <i>Alanna: The First Adventure<i> by Tamora Pierce, whose blurb is on the back!
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Read in June, 2008
I thought it was pretty good; not amazing, but good. I thought it had a cool plot, how all the greek history and legends were tied in. I luv greek mythology, so I liked that! One thing that annoyed me though was that the author has this annoying habit of writing every other word in italics!!! That kind of got on my nerves... but other than that, a good book over all.
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I liked it, though it was an earlier story of Helen of Troy. I don't know why, but knowing that the later story is already set doesn't make me enjoy the book as much. Maybe because I already know that when somebody dies, there is no hope that they will come back, because it is history.
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Helen of Sparta is a fascinating character that I always felt gets a bit shafted in the history books. She's mainly used as the scapegoat for the Trojan War, and not much is known about her. Here, Esther Friesner tells Helen's story, beginning when she was a child. Helen is strong, fascinating, and clever. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel, Nobody's Prize.
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recommended to Clare by:
my librarian
recommends it for: ANYONE!
recommends it for: ANYONE!
A great book about a girl who is a princess...and she's beutiful! The problem is that she gets sick of getting her way easily because of her looks, and because shes a girl. You can follow Helen of Sparta on her journeys, fighting with swords and spears, joining a hunt, escaping arranged marrages, and much more! A great goodreads book!
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Read in May, 2008
Helen of Troy novel that just came in for my school library. The copy I put in the new books was checked out within hours.
Update: while it looks and sounds appealing, I found it pretty dull. The characters never came alive for me, and there were long, repetitive passages about learning to fight and ride horseback and such.
Update: while it looks and sounds appealing, I found it pretty dull. The characters never came alive for me, and there were long, repetitive passages about learning to fight and ride horseback and such.
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Read in August, 2008
I liked the book most of the way through, but it didn't sit right with me near the end... Helen wanting to sail with Prince Jason on the journey to find the golden fleece and all. I didn't mind the incorporation of many myths, however, there might be one to many. I will read the next book anyways, and maybe it will be good.
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Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
everyone
I thought this book was really good. I love that Helen is a girl in the ancient times, but she acts like a girl would nowadays. She doesn't believe that she should be limited just because she is a girl. Its funny to read what she gets herself into. Can't wait to read the next one. Thank you dad for buying it for me!!
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Read in May, 2008
Meet Helen before her beauty caused the fall of Troy. We see her as a courageous, brave and outspoken young girl who isn't afraid of questioning the role of women in her time. This is an interesting adventure story that will appeal to those seeking strong female characters and those interested in greek mythology.
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Read in October, 2007
this book is about a girl named helen. Helen of Troy is a beautiful girl. Everyone is stunned by her beauty. In this book it shows how Helen doesn't want to be beautifu. She wants to fight with her brother and help them. In a digise of a oy she fulfills her duty, but it won't be long before the secrets out...
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Read in December, 2007
I really loved this book, although it did leave off in a way I didn't like - obviously having a sequel. I like the way she writes Helen in this book, courageous and hard-headed, but still having her faults and misbehaviors. There's a lot of mythology in this book as well which always makes for a good read.
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