Nobody's Prize

Reach for this book when your daughter feels frustrated by limitations placed on her because of her gender or when she needs to see that 'pretty' and 'powerful' can exist in the same person. This historical adventure follows Helen of Sparta as she defies her royal expectations, disguises herself as a boy, and joins the legendary Argonauts. It is a story about claiming one's own narrative before the world tries to write it for you. While the setting is ancient Greece, the emotional core is deeply modern. Helen grapples with the transition from tomboyish freedom to the looming responsibilities of womanhood and the unwanted gaze that comes with her growing beauty. Parents will appreciate the way it deconstructs the 'Helen of Troy' myth, presenting her not as a passive prize, but as a skilled, resilient warrior. It is ideal for middle schoolers ready for complex themes of identity and autonomy.