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SPARROWS IN THE WIND

Gail Carson Levine

SPARROWS IN THE WIND is a middle grade fantasy retelling of the Greek myth of Cassandra, the Trojan princess who could predict the future but was cursed by Apollo so that no one would believe her prophecies. When a beautiful woman named Helen arrives in Troy to marry her older brother, Cassandra foresees a terrible war - as well as the deaths of her parents and siblings. But what can she do when no one will heed her warnings?

Rin is a young warrior, daughter of the Amazon queen Penthesilea. When the Trojans come to their camp seeking the Amazons' military support, Rin is eager for the chance to prove herself on the battlefield and in the Trojan court as the Amazons' future queen.

Cassandra and Rin become friends and allies, and soon Cassandra's curse is partially lifted so that Rin and the other Amazons can believe her predictions. But the war rages on. The two very different princesses must work together to save their families, their people, and their ways of life - and appease the gods who might intervene in their fates.
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Published by Quill (HarperCollins)

Comments

Levine's simple, crystalline prose is pure pleasure, and with so much ground to cover, events are often dispatched in brief passages, reflecting perhaps a Homeric style. All in all, a delight for young fans of Greek myths and a thoughtful adventure for fans of upper-middle-grade fantasy. -- Booklist, starred review

Russian: AST;

Twining the source material with contemporary sensibilities, Levine emphasizes strong female protagonists in a richly imagined, urgently told mythological variation. -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

An original, superbly executed reimagining of a story with enduring appeal. -- Kirkus, starred review Read more...

Levine immerses readers in a Bronze Age society, contrasting the strictures placed around Cassandra and other Trojan women with the freedom and agency enjoyed by the Amazons, whose culture is also meticulously portrayed. Cassandra's friendship with the Amazon princess adds another intriguing strand to the narrative. -- Horn Book