Nobody's Princess

Friesner, Esther M. Nobody's Princess. Random House Books for Young Readers, 2008. ISBN-13: 978-0375875298.

Plot
Helen of Sparta is known for her beauty, but there's more than meets the eye with her. Actually she does not like being dressed up and fretted over at parties. Her ideal way to spend the day is learn how to fight and ride along with her brothers. Together with her brothers they embark on several adventures including some very interesting people and foes.

Critical Evaluation
The premise of the book will be interesting to teens, especially teenage girls since Helen is very headstrong. However, there are some parts of the narrative where the story seemed to drag just a little. Overall, it is a fun read and readers will enjoy how Helen finds a way to outwit, outplay and outdo challenges so that she can learn how to fight and not miss any of the action.

Reader's Annotation
Helen of Troy is famous for her beauty. However this girl does not care for beauty at all. She rather fight and be on the hunting parties like her brothers which she always manages to sneak out and do.

About the Author
Esther Friesner received her degrees in Drama and Spanish from Vassar College. Afterward she studied at Yale University and got a M.A. and Ph.D in Spanish. She taught Spanish at Yale for several years before she started writing full time.

She has written twenty-seven books so far and has received several literary awards for her work. She currently lives in Connecticut with her husband and their two children.

Genre
Fiction

Curriculum
Historical
Fantasy
Greek Mythology

Book Talking Ideas
Did the skills of Helen's mother surprise you?
Do you think it was acceptable for women to learn how to fight and hunt?
Why is knowing how to win conversations just as important as winning a fight?

Reading Level/Interest Age
12+

Challenge Issue
None

Why Included in Selection
It is a good book with mythology incorporated in the story.