Birth of a Warrior (Spartan Quest) - Hardcover

Michael Ford

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0802797946 ISBN 13: 9780802797940

Publisher: Walker Childrens, 2008

Synopsis

Lysander thought he left his roots as a Helot slave far behind when he discovered his true identity as the descendant of a Spartan warrior. His training at the academy has been ruthless, but now he must face his toughest challenge yet: being sent to the mountains with two other boys to prove they can survive the harsh conditions on nothing but their Spartan strength and wits. Facing starvation, wild animals, and the elements, Lysander discovers that his real enemy is in fact one of the other boys, who's bent on sabotaging him. And when war with Persia threatens, Lysander must decide where his allegiance truly lies. This sweeping, dramatic adventure story is an exciting follow-up to The Fire of Ares, and its action and intrigue will not disappoint.

About this title

About the Author

Michael Ford studied English and Classics at Oxford University, before a stint teaching English in Greece. He worked in children's nonfiction publishing for several years then became an editor of adult fiction in West London. Spartan is his first children's novel.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5–8—Despite his victory at the annual Festival Games, Lysander struggles as the responsibilities of his Spartan heritage come into conflict with his old life as a Helot villager. Forced to prove his loyalty to Sparta by inflicting a deadly beating on his best friend, he is determined to keep his strong connection to his mother's people a secret. As he fights with the challenges of being a child of parents with different backgrounds, he isn't quite sure of how to prove his worthiness to his father's family while holding on to his old friends from his mother's village. In this sequel to The Fire of Ares (Walker, 2008), Ford continues the story of a son's brave attempt to embrace his father's warrior culture. From the brutal beatings to the life-threatening training at the hands of the cruel leaders of their Spartan academy, Lysander must use a combination of cunning and wit to overcome the many enemies who surround him. When he joins the battle with his father's people in a war against a mighty Persian army, readers are taken on an exciting journey through this young man's coming-of-age. Packed with action and adventure from start to finish, this story is designed to appeal to a wide range of middle-graders, who will surely look forward to another installment of this exciting tale set in ancient Greece.—Caryl Soriano, New York Public Library
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About this edition

• Publisher: Walker Childrens
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0802797946
• ISBN 13: 9780802797940
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 272