Nobody's Prize

From Barnes & Noble

Her older brothers think that the quest for the Golden Fleece is man's work, but not Helen of Sparta. In this sequel to Nobody's Princess, this pretty adventurer disguises herself as a boy and, accompanied by her faithful friend Milo, sets off on the Argo. Keeping her real identity secret on a long sea voyage is no simple matter, but that is only one complication that the future queen of Sparta must confront.

Children's Literature - Monserrat Urena

This novel is the sequel to Nobody's Princess. It finds the young Helen of Sparta following her older brothers on the quest for the Golden Fleece. They do not know she is tagging along; she and her friend Milo are in disguise. Together, they begin an amazing quest filled with danger and unexpected experiences. A novel with a cross-dressing, future Helen of Troy? It sounds interesting, right? At points in this sequel, I was pulled into the idea of an adventure. But the feeling never came to fruition. Despite this, I cannot say that I entirely disliked the text. Unfortuately, I cannot say that I liked it either. While it was in my hands, the book was interesting enough. The slightest distraction, however, and I would forget it. Still, if you are interested in reading a modern interpretation of a figure in Greek mythology, this might be an option. If you are interested in reading a text with a strong-willed heroine, this might be an option. If you do choose to read this book, be warned: There will be times when your previous understanding of Helen of Troy will clash with the heroine in this book. Reviewer: Monserrat Urena

VOYA

AGERANGE: Ages 11 to 18.

The future Helen of Troy continues her adolescent adventures in this sequel to Nobody's Princess (Random House, 2007/VOYA October 2007). Helen is eager to follow her older brothers as they join Jason in his quest for the Golden Fleece, but of course, young women are not invited on that particular journey. Helen, however, has some experience in posing as a boy, which she puts to practical use in her plans, accompanied by her friend, the ex-slave Milo. Helen's intelligence and daring help to conceal her true identity as she tangles with the men of Greek myths, such as Herakles and Argus. She even falls in love, but ironically the subject of her desire turns out to be more interested in boys. Her true gender is revealed in a scene that will surely rival any true stories about the onset of menstruation. The book ends before Helen's most famous exploits, promising readers further volumes to anticipate. Friesner is an accomplished writer who is able to interweave a contemporary feel for these ancient characters with pieces of history and mythology. She can also be funny, as readers can virtually feel Helen rolling her eyes during the course of her narration. It is possible for readers to begin with this book for there are surprisingly few references to incidents in the earlier installment. But it is surely best enjoyed as part of a series, and libraries with the first book will want to make sure fans get their second helping. Reviewer: Diane Colson
April 2008 (Vol. 31, No. 1)

KLIATT

AGERANGE: Ages 12 to 18.

The princess is Helen. It’s the Bronze Age, and Helen is having another adventure before she has to settle down and get married. She decides to disguise herself as a boy and get on the Argo and sail with Jason (of the Golden Fleece quest). With her is the devoted servant/friend Milo, who tries to save her from whatever peril she faces. Milo cares about Helen a great deal. Helen’s brothers are also on the Argo, sailing with Jason, but they don’t know for some time that Helen is on board too. As the narcissistic Jason sails on, trying to increase his heroic standing, several unfortunate romances ensue. For instance, Hercules (yes, that Hercules) sees Helen’s boy self and gets a crush on her/him. At the end of this series of adventures, reunited with her family as Helen’s twin sister Clytemnestra is now a queen, married to Agamemnon, Helen looks at herself in a mirror and realizes she is growing up, and that she is a woman too. The man lurking in the scene, presenting the mirror, is Prince Menelaus. If you know your Homer, you’ll know where Helen’s fate lies. Friesner has a Ph.D. from Yale University, and she clearly is gifted at weaving myth, history, and adventure into an exciting YA novel. Reviewer: Claire Rosser
March 2008 (Vol. 42, No.2)

School Library Journal

Gr 6-9- In this sequel to Nobody's Princess (Random, 2007), the future Helen of Troy and her friend, the former slave Milo, join Prince Jason and the Argonauts on the quest to gain the Golden Fleece. Helen, disguised as a boy, is faced with trying to keep her identity secret from her brothers, who have also joined the quest. Her true gender is revealed when she gets her first period, so she claims to be the warrior Atalanta, a figure from the first book. When the crew of the Argo reaches Colchis, Helen meets Princess Medea, presented as a sinister and scheming figure. As Helen travels back to Sparta, she is captured by Theseus of Athens, who wants to marry her, and she needs to use both her strength and her wits to escape. Readers familiar with legends about Jason and Helen will enjoy finding familiar adventures and themes, while readers new to these myths will appreciate Friesner's detailed vision of ancient Greece. Characters are given depth and flaws, such as Jason's self-centeredness and Herakles's stretching the truth. Details about food and customs of the time are woven into the story. Helen's determination to choose her own future will resonate with modern teens, who will also appreciate her resourcefulness and determination to help those who help her. A solid choice for fans of Rick Riordan's "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" books (Hyperion/Miramax).-Beth L. Meister, Pleasant View Elementary School, Franklin, WI

Kirkus Reviews

Continuing the saga begun in Nobody's Princess (2007), a fictional Helen (of Homeric fame) goes on the quest for the Golden Fleece with Jason and the Argonauts, disguised initially as a weapons carrier. When her gender is discovered, she pretends instead to be Atalanta, the famous huntress. Events proceed as in the myth (the Isle of Lemnos, the Harpies, Medea, etc.), though this version is purposefully mundane. As in the first book, Helen is a spunky tomboy who just wants to be herself, a thoroughly modern character borne of the reading public's current fascination with Greek mythology and the Princess Diaries phenomenon. The story lacks narrative tension or character development, as Friesner simply overlays this conceit upon set events which seem to unfold as if preordained, never taking the reader anywhere beyond this rather limited expose of certain Greek myths. This is certainly not the last in the series, which will have its fans. Anyone needing another strong-female-character-with-a-sword series will enjoy it, but it is only mildly accomplished and strongly forgettable. (Fiction. 11-14)