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Goddess of Yesterday

3.87 of 5 stars 3.87 · rating details · 1,707 ratings · 153 reviews

Anaxandra is taken from her birth island at age 6 by King Nicander to be a companion to his crippled daughter, Princess Callisto. Six years later, her new island is sacked by pirates and she is the sole survivor. Alone with only her Medusa figurine, she reinvents herself as Princess Callisto when Menelaus, great king of Sparta, lands with his men. He takes her back to Spar...more

Paperback, 272 pages

Published May 12th 2009 by Ember (first published June 11th 2002)

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Apr 16, 2008 Laura Leonard rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: people who liked Troy, True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle & Bloody Jack.

Shelves: fantasy, teen

Anaxandra is taken from her home island when she is six, so that she can be a companion to Princess Callisto. Six years later, her new home island is attacked by pirates and she is the sole survivor. She takes on the identity of Princess Callisto and is taken to Sparta with King Menelaus. This is how she becomes involved with Menelaus' wife, Helen of Troy, and the following war.

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Apr 21, 2008 Nikki rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, young-adult, historical-fiction, own-it

Just finished reading this for the second time (April 2008). An absolutely incredible book. Definitely one that should not be judged by its (unfortunate) cover. The research alone that went into the setting of this book makes every page an amazing experience, but I also love love love the characters and the plot is so compelling. I want to read it over and over.

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Jan 03, 2010 Beth added it · review of another edition

A whole new view of Helen of Troy, the woman whose face launched a thousand ships, is delivered through the eyes of Anaxandra, a sailor's daughter masquerading as a princess after being captured by invaders. Not just a pretty face, Helen is a shrewd and poisonous viper, suspicious of the new girl in her home. Anaxandra/Calisto comes to love her new home and makes quick friends, but trying to stay one jump ahead of the lovely yet black-hearted adulteress queen is exhausting. Will her impostering...more

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Jun 03, 2013 Evelyn rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-summer, fantasy, historical

Better than I thought it would be. Might have liked it more if 40% of the book wasn't given away on the back cover; might have liked it even better if the detail of Anaxamandra's Red Hair was not brought up so often. About to sound a little bitter, but what is so alluring about it? And why so ubiquitous? I can forgive it a little because Menelaus had red hair and so it was kind of a plot point, but remain somewhat peeved. Is it so precious that Anax would cry over losing it and call the gods mea...more

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Sep 23, 2012 Kerry Hennigan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've had this little young adults' paperback for years, from the time I collected anything, fiction and non-fiction, on the fall of Troy. I certainly didn't do myself any favours by leaving this one unread for so long, because it's an excellent re-imagining of the familiar tale.

The narrator is a young girl who is taken as hostage by the king of the island kingdom of Siphnos. On the island she becomes a valued companion to the Princess Callisto. When the island is raided by Trojans the girl, Anax...more

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May 27, 2012 Talyn rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: greek-mythology, loveable-child, fighting-against-all-odds, secrets

I read this back in middle school, and I absolutely loved it. It had everything I needed. I don't even know what I need to like a book, but this book very quickly sucked me in.

I loved how Alaxandra was so naive that she didn't even know what a statue was. She believed that they were transfigured by a monster into stone; 10 times out of 10 she is referring to Medusa and Gorgon Co.

She is sold by her father who lives on some nameless island and is taken in by a king. Soon she somehow ends up caugh...more

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Apr 02, 2012 Dani rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

There were many reasons why I enjoyed reading The Goddess of Yesterday, mainly because at the time when I first picked up the book, I was absolutely fascinated with Greek Mythology, and how life was truly like in Ancient Greece. After inquiring about the topic, I was steered toward this book, and after reading it, I think I truly have a grasp of what life was like back then. The book tells the tale of Anaxandria, a girl living with her father the pirate on an island he rules. It kicks off when s...more

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May 12, 2011 WillowBe rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ancient-greek-life-female-perspecti, a-heroines-journey

The cover of my book was much more prosaic- an irish looking red haired girl on the cover. I enjoyed this. Be aware, this is a book for 13 and up. The realities of being female in such a time. The heroine is physicallly still a child, so escapes sexual violence. But her life and livelihood are always tenuous. Characters are murdered, in great detail, cruelty happens, innocents are cast adrift. But given that i have read several Roman/Greek era books, the gritty realism is all part of the "charm"...more

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Jun 03, 2012 Mell rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, ya

I don't normally give 4 stars to such short books, because there usually isn't enough time to build characters and storylines that I can get into. But Cooney packs a great story into this little paperback. I loved reading Greek mythology and The Iliad in high school, so returning to this topic was fun.

Anaxandra is a strong character and a vivid narrator as she witnesses events leading to the Trojan War. She gives insight into life during the Greek age, explaining the culture and religions of the...more

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Apr 21, 2009 Shayla Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved this book! It was different from the usual Trojan War books that i've read. One of the main differences is that Helen is a "Bad guy" and that this book sides with the Greeks rather than the trojans.

The book is about Anaxandra, a slave that is brought from her home to a kingdom to play with the king's crippled daughter Callisto. The kingdom is attacked and Anaxandra is the sole survivor. She is found by King Menelaus and is taken to Sparta under the alias of Callisto. She ends up going to...more

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Mar 26, 2012 TheBookSmugglers rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

(more like 3 and 1/2 stars)

Anaxandra is six years old when King Nicander comes to the small island of her childhood and takes her away as a tribute and to be a companion to his sickly daughter Callisto. Unable to ever return to her family, Anaxandra comes to feel at home at Siphnos and to love her adopted family and for six years life goes unchanged. Until pirates attack the island and Anaxandra is the sole survivor. She is then rescued by King Menelaus of Sparta and afraid to be taken as a slav...more (more like 3 and 1/2 stars)

Anaxandra is six years old when King Nicander comes to the small island of her childhood and takes her away as a tribute and to be a companion to his sickly daughter Callisto. Unable to ever return to her family, Anaxandra comes to feel at home at Siphnos and to love her adopted family and for six years life goes unchanged. Until pirates attack the island and Anaxandra is the sole survivor. She is then rescued by King Menelaus of Sparta and afraid to be taken as a slave, she assumes the identity of Princess Callisto and because of that she is welcomed with opens arm into his household. Except that is, for his wife Helen, who doesn’t believe Callisto’s story and becomes a constant danger to Anaxandra. When Paris, the youngest spoiled son of the powerful city of Troy comes to visit, he and Helen fall in love with each other and leave Sparta for Troy. But Helen doesn’t go alone, she takes hers and Menelaus’ youngest son and is bent on taking their daughter Hermione as well. But Anaxandra who has come to love Menelaus’ family will do anything to protect the children and assumes once again, the identity of another person. In Troy, at the brink of the upcoming war Anaxandra will find herself having to choose sides.

I have been in the mood for historical fiction lately and I quite enjoyed Goddess of Yesterday both because of its ancient Greece setting and connection to the Trojan War but also because of its resilient main character, Anaxandra. Anaxandra is a creation of this author but I liked how the minor role she comes to play in the Trojan War is one that could have been. Taking care of Helen’s youngest child Pleisthenes and protecting him from Helen’s carelessness and Paris’ murderous intentions becomes Anaxandra’s main mission whilst in Troy. Oh, how I loved the author’s choice of portraying both Helen and Paris as dangerous, self-serving, egotistical, loathsome people.

The plot moves forward with increasing tension with the combination of Anaxandra always scared of being found a liar, Pleisthenes’ life in danger and the inevitable war looming in the horizon. The Trojans’ belief that they are unbeatable and the knowledge I had of how things turn out to be only made this story all the best to be read – especially when Anaxandra becomes friends with Hector, his future wife and his sister Cassandra (poor Cassandra) .

Anaxandra is the sort of character whose rebellion – if we can call it that – is that of the quietly reflexive kind and her main skill is her ability to adapt and to forgive in order to survive. I admit that at times, I felt a bit frustrated by how easily she would find herself being extremely sympathetic to “her kings”: Nicander, Menelaus and Priam but to be honest, this felt true to the character. She is quite perceptive as well and her narrative is full of keen observations about life in Ancient Greece– from the different ways of life in the different places, the different languages, and customs not to mention the horrid reality of slavery and violence throughout. I also loved how the Gods and Goddess are portrayed as being an intrinsic part of everybody’s everyday lives including people’s belief that their fate was completely on their Gods’ hands. Would I have preferred to see Anaxandra raging against being the plaything of Gods and Goddesses? Yes. But it made sense that she accepted it, and prayed and hoped her Goddess of Yesterday would be fair to her when other Gods weren’t fair or good to other people. Plus, it’s not like she just sat there and waited for things to happen as she took an active role – lies and all – to survive. I loved that.

Goddess of Yesterday is a short yet fulfilling story and I enjoyed reading it very much. I hear this author has a huge backlist – any recommendations about what I should read next?(less)

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Oct 09, 2012 Mallori rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Mallori by: book smugglers

3.5 stars
This book was interesting- I enjoyed having ancient Greece and Troy as the settings for a fictional story, so that the reader could revisit the scenes and actions described in the Iliad. Anaxandra was a clever and compelling protagonist and I finished the book quickly, reading on to see if things worked out for her.

I really liked getting different takes on the characters described by Homer, seeing them more fleshed out and getting glimpses into the rationales behind the actions we are...more

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Nov 14, 2010 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, youngadult

This book confirmed my theory that Helen of Troy was a spoiled ... um ... witch. Just think about this: you've been told your whole life that you are the most beautiful woman alive. That you are the daughter of a god, and more beautiful than the goddesses in heaven. Kidnapped repeatedly by eager suitors, married to a king . . . what kind of person would this make you?

The answer, according to Cooney: a horrible person. A person who thinks the world revolves around you, and doesn't care who she to...more

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Oct 24, 2008 Laurie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Mythology fans

Recommended to Laurie by: Shannon Hale

Shelves: favorite-books-of-2008

I wish I could give this book 4.5 stars. I really enjoyed it. Great story! I loved how the author enterwinded fact with fiction. The book had me on the "edge of my seat" as it were, for the entire last half of the book up to the very last page. She ended it nicely. I wasn't left wanting but the last 50 pages, at least, were intense!

If you are a mythology fan I HIGHLY recommned it!

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Sep 01, 2009 Sandra Strange rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, historical-fiction, young-adult

This engaging and educational retelling of the story of Helen of Troy is told from the point of view of a young (13 years old) captive who has a definite viewpoint on Helen. The novel paints this fatal princess in the most dire of terms as the young captive lives and survives adventures that run the gamut of ancient world experience: watching friends killed, learning to use a sling and to ride, making choices with often far reaching results, communicating with ancient gods, experiencing love. Th...more

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Feb 15, 2013 Janita rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, feminist-reads-challenge

One of my favourite books, Caroline B. Cooney’s Goddess of Yesterday is a beautiful and gripping tale of Troy. Compelling characters, a love interest, and a ravishing villain are woven in subtly and with finesse. Anaxandra (turned Callisto) wrestles with her place in Greek society as she tries to survive the turmoils of pirates, abduction, and persecution at the hands of the awe-inspiring but terrible Helen.

Anaxandra’s voice is young but relatable. She speaks as a character on so many levels, ex...more One of my favourite books, Caroline B. Cooney’s Goddess of Yesterday is a beautiful and gripping tale of Troy. Compelling characters, a love interest, and a ravishing villain are woven in subtly and with finesse. Anaxandra (turned Callisto) wrestles with her place in Greek society as she tries to survive the turmoils of pirates, abduction, and persecution at the hands of the awe-inspiring but terrible Helen.

Anaxandra’s voice is young but relatable. She speaks as a character on so many levels, expressing herself at different ages, breaking gender stereotypes, and voicing her doubts, confusions, and thoughts about the beauty and brutality of Ancient Greece. She doesn’t rely on men to solve her problems or save her, but instead takes fate into her own hands. She is brave and thinks little of herself in times of danger, focussing instead of the safety of friends and strangers alike. She is quick to understand the secret ploys and political machinations surrounding her in Troy while trying to battle through her own problems.

I think my favourite part of the novel is the sudden introduction of the love interest (you’ll have to read to find out who). Their companionship is fairly formal, but reminiscent of historical times so that it feels very realistic but still appropriately romantic. She has simple wants from life and doesn’t expect extravagance or luxury. Rather, she is focussed on the needs of others. She is such an admirable and heroic character despite the social restrictions placed on her gender and I love the author for that. I also love her devotion and respect to her goddess, the Goddess of Yesterday, as well as Medusa, who she views as a protector, and for the more popular and powerful gods of Sparta, Troy, and her old home. Her descriptions of the way of life, the settings, and of other characters suck you into the novel and make you feel and see what she is experiencing.

A short but beautifully written novel, Goddess of Yesterday far surpassed any expectations I had placed on it when I first picked it up years ago. Since then I have reread it many times over and I strongly recommended it to anyone.(less)

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Mar 08, 2011 Tara Van Beurden rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-read-2009, borrowed

Absolutely loved this book. Anaxandra's story was engrossing, providing an outsider's view of the Trojan war that managed to balance both the war itself and Anaxandra's own personal story, without it feeling as if either one of these was being favoured. I do have to say that I didn't like how cruel Helen was, and yet, I appreciated the different persepective and the validity of it. I guess I'm just more of a romantic going off in my little fairytale of Helen in a loveless marriage escaping with...more

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Nov 12, 2012 Misty rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Was entertained, but not sure how much I enjoy Greek Mythology except for "sparingly."

At age six Anaxandra is taken by King Nicander to be a companion to his crippled daughter on the island of Siphnos. Anaxandra has adjusted to her new life when, six years later, Siphnos is sacked by pirates, and she is the sole survivor. When a fleet of ships stops on the island to investigate, she assumes the identity of Princess Callisto to survive. The ships belong to Menelaus, king of Sparta, and he takes...more

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Jul 14, 2012 Keri (Va-Voom!) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mythology, 2012, ya, beautiful-prose, fantasy, favorites, surprising

I adored this book. 4.5 stars! This book is beautifully written. I came across it by accident because it was a book that was available as an ebook download from my library. The book is based on Greek mythology and the writings of Homer ("The Illiad" and "The Odyssey.") Ms. Cooney takes the story of Helen ("The face that launched a thousand ships,") Paris, Menelaus, and Agamemnon and makes it even richer with the addition of the story of Anaxandra. Anaxandra seems cursed by the gods. She is given...more I adored this book. 4.5 stars! This book is beautifully written. I came across it by accident because it was a book that was available as an ebook download from my library. The book is based on Greek mythology and the writings of Homer ("The Illiad" and "The Odyssey.") Ms. Cooney takes the story of Helen ("The face that launched a thousand ships,") Paris, Menelaus, and Agamemnon and makes it even richer with the addition of the story of Anaxandra. Anaxandra seems cursed by the gods. She is given away by her father as hostage and tribute to Nicander (a king from a nearby island.) Life is tenuous for Anaxandra and after six years with Nicander, pirates sack the island, killing her host family, and leaving Anaxandra all alone with no hope of rescue. Her only comfort comes from praying to her goddess of yesterday and relying on her faith. When King Menelaus comes across the wrecked island and sees Anaxandra mourning the loss of her king, he believes she is the princess Callisto. Anaxandra assumes the identity of princess Callisto and travels to Sparta with Menalaus where she meets his wife Helen, the evil beautiful demi-god (daughter of Zeus.) After the introduction of Helen, the story takes off with a visit from Paris which ends in Helen fleeing the city of Sparta with her lover and causing the Trojan War.

I love mythology, so this story appealed to me from the very beginning. However, it was the writing that captivated me most. The writing is luscious. Here are a few of my favorite quotes:

"The smack of the sea was as blunt and flat as the slap of an angry hand. I felt broken."

"Nicander had cared more about gold than about gods. And it seemed that I cared more about staying alive than being true."

"They spoke no language that I knew, but they were mothers, and for a moment, they were my mother."

"I was sorry, because a good collection of curses is a useful thing, and Tenedos probably knew some I had not yet heard."

"We passed fields of flax being harvested with scythes. I had never seen this, and I found the rhythm and the gleam of the curved blades quite beautiful. Having set in motion my new life, could I keep it swinging back and forth, like a scythe? Or like a scythe, would it cut my throat?"

"Here is my advice to you. Stay silent. Be fearful of Helen. The daughter of a god pays no price for any action she takes. She cannot suffer and so does not discern the suffering of others."

"A wasp in amber did not describe Menelaus. It described Helen."

"Greece is a violent land, with violent weather and violent men. Always the sea churns, the heroes clash and the passion burns."

There were so many more wonderful quotes. I just adored the lyricism of this story and the idea that because of her faithfulness, the heroine of the story prevails. I definitely recommend The Goddess of Yesterday for anyone who likes mythology. It is YA, but I felt it was a very sophisticated YA, and because of the beauty of the prose, I recommend it for adults.(less)

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Oct 11, 2011 Beth rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, ya-fiction

Cooney, a prolific and well-known author, has written a gripping historical fiction that captures the life or death adventures of a young teen caught in build-up to the Trojan War (as told in the Illiad). She does an excellent job of showing how the rustic girl matures into a woman, and makes the battle scenes feel breathless and bloody. The blooming romance in the last third of the book is very chaste. Which is fine, since the main action is constant: the heroine struggles to save her life and...more

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Jan 12, 2012 Terri Pray rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Young adult and fans of the Trojan war era

Shelves: historical, young-adult

Goddess of Yesterday, by Caroline B. Cooney was a pleasant surprise! Beautifully written the pre Trojan war and early days of the Trojan war told through the eyes of Anaxandra, a hostage princess who assumes the identity of Callisto - the dead daughter of the King who took her as hostage.

When fate thrusts her into the care of Menelaus and under the cold, watchful eyes of Helen, Anaxandra is forced to watch every word she speaks, and every action no matter how small.

Ms. Cooney's version of Hele...more

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Apr 01, 2012 Dawn (Flit Lit) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was loaned this book on tape (yes, tape!) by a friend. She thought I might like the book. I listened to the first half of the first tape and thought, why am I still listening...??? I kept going and that was the last time I had that thought.

Caroline Cooney spins an amazing tale about ancient Greece and Troy. She starts when Anaxandra is a six year old hostage from a siege on her home island. She is taken to live with King Nicander to be a playmate for the Princess Callisto, a crippled girl near...more I was loaned this book on tape (yes, tape!) by a friend. She thought I might like the book. I listened to the first half of the first tape and thought, why am I still listening...??? I kept going and that was the last time I had that thought.

Caroline Cooney spins an amazing tale about ancient Greece and Troy. She starts when Anaxandra is a six year old hostage from a siege on her home island. She is taken to live with King Nicander to be a playmate for the Princess Callisto, a crippled girl near her age. Anaxandra survives when a band of pirates attack and kill Nicander and most of the residents of the island. She buries Nicander and as she is standing guard over his grave, a fleet of ships lead by Menelaus picks up Anaxandra. She survives by telling them she is the Princess Callisto.

Menelaus introduces her to his wife, Helen. Helen is part goddess, her father is Zeus and her mother was Lida. Helen sees through the disguise and knows that she is no princess. Anaxandra is sure the gods are punishing her for stealing another’s birthright. She becomes friends with Hermione, the daughter of Menelaus and Helen and takes care of Pleisthenes, their youngest son (just an infant).

When Paris of Troy arrives everything changes. Helen leaves Menelaus and plans to sail to Troy with Paris. When Hermione realizes that her mother is planning to run away she is furious and decides to kill her. She is stopped by her nurse and Anaxandra. Anaxandra is disguised as Hermione and leaves with Pleisthenes in order to save the life of Hermione. When she arrives it doesn’t take long for Helen to realize that she has been deceived. Anaxandra spends the rest of the book trying to make sure that Paris doesn’t kill Pleisthenes.

Cooney shows a great deal of attention to detail in this great book. She mixes fiction with history (and the writings of Homer and others) to create a delightful story. Themes of self-sufficiency, coming of age, family and identity abound. What starts off slowly grows into a beautifully woven tale of life in ancient times.(less)

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Apr 11, 2012 Kim rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ancient, teens

I was sucked in by the cover of this book, and I'm so glad that I did. Anaxandra is a fascinating character, watching her remake herself time and time again in an attempt to survive. I veritably inhaled this book, unable to put it down.

(view spoiler)...more

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Jul 30, 2009 Gail rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult-and-tween-books

"Taken from her home on an Aegean island as a six-year-old girl, Anaxandra calls on the protection of her goddess while she poses as two different princesses over the next six years, before ending up as a servant in the company of Helen and Paris as they make their way to Troy." And then it gets even more exciting!
I had been avoiding this book because the cover is so bizarre and unappealing. However, I found it a real page-turner and a book that could interest kids who like The Lightning Thief...more

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Nov 22, 2012 Bev Diaz rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mythology, ya, 2012

Fast, engaging take on the Helen of Troy story. The main character is a little too "wise beyond her years" for me but I liked her ability to think simply about complicated issues, which the author built into her ancient times worldview. The author didn't try to give her a modern perspective and maintains limits and boundaries between classes and ideas. There are a few anachronisms like calling the Spartans and surrounding tribes Greeks, but the author does write an afterwards where she gives rea...more

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Mar 23, 2013 Yen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really liked this book.
Not just because it was historical fiction, it was based on Greek/Roman things. I just love retelling of old fairytales, myths, stories...
This version of the Fall of Troy really brings out the inner ugliness of beautiful Helen. I always wondered why did she chose another man if she had a perfectly good husband? (feelings aside) and children too? i mean, shouldn't she at least have a shred of motherliness? (it also shows how conceited Paris is)
My complaints of 'logic' asi...more

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Sep 14, 2010 Arec rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, mythology, own, favorites

First off, I should say that I absolutely love Greek mythology. I do not consider myself sufficiently schooled in the subject, but it is a passion of mine. I do not, however, like reading about the Trojan War. Therefore, I was a bit iffy when I request this book from book swap on goodreads.com . After reading it, I was pleased that the novel barely touched on the war.

There are so many thing that I love about this book that I don’t know if I can even fit it all into one review. I normally do no...more First off, I should say that I absolutely love Greek mythology. I do not consider myself sufficiently schooled in the subject, but it is a passion of mine. I do not, however, like reading about the Trojan War. Therefore, I was a bit iffy when I request this book from book swap on goodreads.com . After reading it, I was pleased that the novel barely touched on the war.

There are so many thing that I love about this book that I don’t know if I can even fit it all into one review. I normally do not like narratives, but I think this novel wouldn’t have been the same if it hadn’t been. When it first starts, the main character, Anaxandra, is only 5 years old and , thus, narrates through the eyes of a five year old (who knows how to express herself very well…). As the story progresses and Anaxandra grows older, the way she thinks and talks also evolves. You almost feel as if you grow with her, learning the things that she does and experiencing what she does with such clarity.

From page one, the plot unfolds, another thing I adore about any book. There is no excessive detail or long drawn out explanations of anything. Cooney wastes no time with excessive writing when she can sufficiently say it in a few sentences. Something I thought was very realistic considering the narrator. It almost reads like a stream on consciousness. It isn’t staccato and rough like Hemingway’s writing, reading smoothing while still sounding like what is going through a young girl's mind during the time.

The plot actually wasn’t too complicated. A young girl is given to a king as a companion for his daughter. Their village is sacked when she is older and she lies to Menalaus to save herself and thus becomes a companion for his young daughter. Helen meets Paris, and the rest is history. It sounds simple enough, but every page had something on it that progressed the storyline. It seemed that something was always happening.

Cooney's Helen of Troy had me clutching my book firmly in my claws, trying not to through it across the room in rage. I always picture Helen of Troy as a narcisstic woman who should have been put in her place. Cooney portrayed just that: a woman so caught in her own supposed birthright, beauty, and self bestowed power that, at time, Helen acted as if she was a goddess herself. She had accepted her life but was bored with it. It wasn't until someone as equally gorgeous and captivating as her came along, Paris, did she gain the courage to finally defy her husband.

I equally agreed with Cooney's portrayal of Paris. The young prince, who was also known to be quite the stud of his time, just bragged about his conquests and skills, of which, in truth, he had none.

What is not to love about two people wrapped up in themselves actually falling in love with each other? I wondered if they were only in love with the idea of them having a mate that compared to their unsurpassable looks.

All in all, there were far to many things in this novel that made me place it back on my shelf instead of donating it once I had finished. It lacks a certain maturity that I had grown use to from the other novels I have been reading as of late, but considering it is a young adult novel, I think Cooney can be forgiven for such a triviality.

If you like fiction about ancient Greece and Greek Mythology, I whole-heartedly recommend this little gem.

(less)

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Feb 28, 2010 Rebecca rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, historical-fiction

Anaxandra is the only daughter of the chieftain of a small, unnamed island in the Aegean Sea. When she is just six years old, she is taken as a hostage by Nicander, king of Siphnos. She ends up being companion and friend to his crippled daughter Callisto. Six years later, Siphnos is raided by pirates, and Anaxandra is the only survivor. When Menelaus, king of Sparta, stops his fleet of ships at Siphnos to investigate, Anaxandra lies to save herself. She takes on the identity of the dead princess...more

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May 11, 2013 Karen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ancient-history, teen-lit, historical-fiction

In THIS version of the Trojan War, Helen is a big ole' conceited biznitch. Unlike the rather likabe Helen of Troy found in Nobody's Princess. We see Helen through the eyes of a girl who takes on 3 different identities through the book: herself, a dead princess, and a runaway princess. I enjoyed seeing these "historic" events through an outsider's eyes. She always seems to be where the action is. Paris is a conceited, evil brat, as unlikable as I found Orlando Bloom's likable character in the mov...more

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May 31, 2011 Silvio Curtis rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

About the buildup and beginning of the Trojan War, as seen by an obscure pirate's daughter. This main character, separated from her family at the age of six, through a series of misfortunes winds up at Sparta and later Troy under different fake identities. She doesn't conform perfectly to ancient Greek female stereotypes, but gender is not central as it was in Nobody's Princess. The portrayal of Helen is extremely negative, more like in Women of Troy than Homer. In fact, she and Paris are the vi...more

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About Caroline B. Cooney

Caroline Cooney knew in sixth grade that she wanted to be a writer when "the best teacher I ever had in my life" made writing her main focus. "He used to rip off covers from The New Yorker and pass them around and make us write a short story on whichever cover we got. I started writing then and never stopped!"
When her children were young, Caroline started writing books for young people -- with rem...more

More about Caroline B. Cooney...

Books by Caroline B. Cooney

The Face on the Milk Carton (Janie Johnson, #1)

Whatever Happened to Janie? (Janie Johnson, #2)

The Voice on the Radio (Janie Johnson, #3)

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6544288-goddess-of-yesterday?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320415125l/6544288.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6544288-goddess-of-yesterday?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Goddess of Yesterday by Caroline B. Cooney[/url]

Goddess of Yesterday

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