Pandora of Athens, 399 B.C. (The Life and Times Series) [Hardcover]

Barry Denenberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2004 | Age Level: 9 and up | Series: Life And Times.

In this departure from our first person diaries, we leap into ancient times in a third person novel filled with action, adventure, and glory -- all the drama of life in ancient Greece.

Ancient Greece is brought brilliantly to life by renowned author Barry Denenberg.

Pandora is trapped in the roles laid out for Greek women by her narrow-minded father. Much to her despair,she is engaged to marry a man more than twice her age, so that Pandora waits with dread for her fourteenth birthday, when she'll be old enough to marry. But one day, when Pandora goes to fetch water, she meets the Wise One, who is also called Socrates, and what he tells her changes her life. During his famed trial, Pandora finds herself caught up in the intrigue and turbulent politics of ancient Athens.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Reviewed with Barry Deneberg's Atticus of Rome, 30 B.C.

Gr. 4-8. These entries in the Life and Times series feature young adults facing difficulties in ancient times. In the first book, Atticus is captured by Roman soldiers and sold into slavery to an influential political figure in need of a spy. Atticus' skills help him to uncover a plot to murder the emperor and to reconnect with his father, a gladiator. In the second novel, Pandora, who chafes at the social restrictions placed on young women, meets Socrates, and, during his imprisonment, comes to appreciate his wisdom. Both novels are rich in setting details and dutifully describe a wide range of ancient customs--from clothing to personal hygiene. Occasionally, the details overwhelm the action, especially in Pandora, in which the protagonist must observe rather than participate in her own story because she is female. With short chapters and intriguing covers, however, these will be popular among students assigned historical novels or in classes in which history is taught through fiction. Caroline Lawrence's The Thieves of Ostia (2002) and its sequels provide an equally informative look at the period. Kay Weisman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 125 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Inc. (October 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 043964982X
• ISBN-13: 978-0439649827
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #458,820 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Lame--Just Lame, January 24, 2005

By 

librarylady61 (Northern Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pandora of Athens, 399 B.C. (The Life and Times Series) (Hardcover)

I wanted to like this--we certainly need good historical fiction for kids, and there's little on Greece or Rome--but this is not what I would have liked.
I know this is series writing, but the author seems to have been writing it on remote.The writing style is flat and surprisingly amateurish, and the characters are not involving in the least.
Socrates seems dragged into the book as device, nothing more.

This may be suitable for kids needing historic fiction--but it will not get them interested in the period. I'd definitely recommend Caroline Lawrence's Roman mysteries over these--they bring their time setting vividly to life while telling a good story kids can ENJOY reading!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Promising start to a new series., July 27, 2004

By 

Rebecca Herman (USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pandora of Athens, 399 B.C. (The Life and Times Series) (Hardcover)

Thirteen-year-old Pandora, living in Athens in the year 399 B.C., resents that as a young girl of ancient Greece, she has no say at all in her future. She is already betrothed, to a man she despises, and who is more then twice her age -- her stupid, useless cousin Menander. And as soon as she turns fourteen, she will be forced to marry him. But one day while Pandora is fetching water, she meets the philosopher Socrates, and what he tells her changes her life forever. She is even more determined to determine the course of her own future when she meets his young disciple, Phoenix, whom she knows she would marry if only she had a choice. Now Pandora must choose between a secure but joyless future, and throwing away everything she has for a chance at happiness.

I enjoyed this look at life for a young teenage girl in ancient Athens, but I did feel it was a bit too short, in particular I would have liked to see a more developed ending as it was a bit abrupt. I'd still recommend this to readers who are interested in historical fiction set in the ancient world, and I look forward to reading more from this new series.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Pandora Of Athens", November 14, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Pandora of Athens, 399 B.C. (The Life and Times Series) (Hardcover)

Pandora of Athens is an outstanding book.This book is about Pandora struggling having problems with her mother dieying and having a new step-mother and worrying about her having to get married at the age of 14,Intill one day when she went to the fountain and met this guy and her whole life from then changed .This book is amazing and i recommend that you read it.
By Latisha