The Winged Girl of Knossos

by Erick Berry, Betsy Bird (Foreword)

Newbery Medal Honor Title (1934)

Inas leaps at adventure. She dives to the bottom of the Aegean Sea to harvest sponges and somersaults over charging bulls in front of thousands of people. Best of all, she soars from cliffs wearing the glider-wings her father builds in secret, safe from the prying eyes of their neighbors, who think flying is sorcery.

When Princess Ariadne seeks Inas's help to hatch a plan with Theseus, a young Greek who's held prisoner in the palace's Labyrinth, Inas doesn't realize how much adventure she is taking on. In fact, Inas suddenly finds that she may be about to lose everything she holds dear on the island of Crete.

A fun, fast-paced retelling of the Greek myths of Icarus and Theseus, this book was ahead of its time and is sure to find lots of fans among today's readers.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Greece, Adventure, Fiction, Mythology, Classics

220 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1933

About the author

A pseudonym of Allena Best.

Reviews

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the one hand, it is awesome to see a novel from the 1930s featuring a brave, active, adventurous girl heroine. Inas dives for sponges, takes part in the bull-tossing ceremony, and test-flies her father Daedalous' artificial wings. She is smart, sometimes, about practical matters like seeing when her father is heading into a clash with the local priest and needs to move his experiment to a more hidden location.

On the other hand, I wasn't all that fond of Inas herself. Her adventurous ways are possible because she's in a position of privilege, rich and a friend of the princess. She's pretty spoiled, and outside the small circle of loved ones doesn't display much thought for others. She sees nothing wrong with slavery, even though her own mother was a slave, and has only impatience for the misery of the young Greeks who have been torn from their homes forever.

Still, she's not silly like Ariadne. That's not Berry's fault, the Theseus story doesn't really work unless Ariadne is a sap and Theseus is jerk. (Seriously, why are so many Greek heroes a-holes? There must be a paper on this somewhere...) If you aren't familiar with the myth I think the book still works fine, albeit differently.

I probably would have liked this more when I was 9 or 10.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll tell you truly, I can't actually review this because I wrote the Appreciation in the back of this magnificent 2017 reprint. What I can say is that for 15 years I've been waiting for this Newbery Honor winner to come back into print. Now it has and I couldn't be more pleased. Hooray!

[Eija · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely adventure story. Before Katniss, there was Inas, a young Cretan woman, the privileged daughter of a famous engineer. Inas dives wish the fishing boats for sponges, is a champion bull-vaulter, she flies and/or glides on large wings that she and her father have designed and built. Ina's is simultaneously rescued by and rescues her love... more like they work together for their own survival. This story is imaginative and wonderful.

Badass book, published in 1933.

By Erick Berry, pseudonym for Allena Champlin Best.

[Renee Trepagnier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot stress how amazing it is that this children’s book, featuring a strong female Minoan heroine (Inas), written in 1933 after Arthur Evans’ final publication of the Palace at Knossos, is SO clever and beautiful. One feels connected to Crete and the possibilities of Minoan life even before Aegean archaeology gained extreme popularity post excavations. A Newbery Honor winner, all my friends must make their children read this book because if I had it as a little girl I would be looking up to Inas instead of male characters.

[Vicki Tillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun main character in a simple story that gives young people a glimpse of life in ancient Knossos.

[J. Andrew Brantley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The myths of Theseus and Icarus are synonymous with Greek Antiquity: The tyrannical King Minos, to prevent the knowledge of his palace's Labyrinth from spreading to the public, has legendary craftsman Daedelus and his son Icarus sequestered in a palace tower. Daedalus creates a means of escape, wings made of bird feathers and wax. Daedalus warned Icarus not to fly too high because the heat from the sun would melt the wax, nor too low. After all, the sea foam would soak the feathers. Unfortunately, Icarus did not heed his father's warnings and flew too high, quickly falling into the sea and drowning.

Crete is a powerful city-state and demands tribute from their distant neighbor Athens: seven young men and seven young women to be given to the Minotaur annually as a sacrifice. Theseus, son of Athenian king Aegeus is one of the young men sent to Crete. When he arrives, Minos' daughter, Ariadne, falls in love with him and gives him a ball of yarn that he can tie near the entrance of the Labyrinth so he can find his way back out. She also gives him a sword, which he uses to kill the Minotaur. He flees with Ariadne but abandons her on the island of Naxos en route to Athens. In a rush to get home to see his father, Theseus forgets to change the color of his sails; this was supposed to signal Theseus's safe return. Aegeus commits suicide by jumping over a cliff into the sea, despairing over his son's "death". Theseus is made King of Athens.

History is usually written by the victors; mythology and its cultural importance for a society is no exception either. We are solely exposed to Hellenized versions of the story. Allena Champlain (under the pen name of Erick Berry) sought to change that with The Winged Girl of Knossos. Published a full 25 years before Mary Renault's The King Must Die, Winged Girl takes a historical perspective on what could have inspired the myths. Our protagonist is Inas (pronounced ee-nahs) in place of Icarus; a spirited young woman and daughter of the inventor Daidalos. She is very much a "modern" woman of the times; Inas dives underwater for sponges, dances, and leaps over bulls, flirts with a young sailor named Kadmos, and is a trusted friend to Princess Ariadne.

She seems to have an enviable life, but her father Daidalos has become jaded and uninterested in life at the royal court and has chosen to focus more on his inventions; he must be cautious as some of his inventions could be misconstrued as black magic. Inas's world turns upside down when the Minoan traders arrive with a ship filled with the Athenian youths. Among them is Theseus, the self-appointed leader who seeks to free himself and others from bondage. Ariadne becomes infatuated with him, and since Inas speaks their Greek dialect fluently (as it was her mother's language) she is asked to help Theseus in dangerous ways, which will lead the entire kingdom into chaos and destruction.

Inas is a fascinating character. She is an adventurous and strong female lead. While she does enjoy wearing fancy clothes and jewelry she is not obsessed with an excess of preening and posturing. Inas is just as comfortable with sailors and bull dancers as she is with princesses and handmaidens. Much like her father Inas is rather pragmatic; when Ariadne gushes over how handsome she finds Theseus, Inas just thinks the princess just needs to meet more men who are not at the royal court. Even within her own love life, she does have a great fondness for Kadmos but does not allow his assumptions and preconceptions about what is proper for women to do to deter her aspirations and goals. Unlike Renault, who has been criticized for her misogyny, most of Champlain's female characters are three-dimensional and interesting. But that is not to say that Inas is not without her faults. Understanding that this is a children's novel, at times Inas come off as a Mary Sue. She very much fits the "pretty tomboy with gumption" archetype. With seemingly very little effort Inas can fly the glider with ease, is an expert sponge diver, a champion bull leaper, fight off angry mobs AND has clothes that rival Princess Ariadne (however if she starts turning water into wine; healing lepers and the blind; AND raising the dead I'll be super impressed).

Also, the moments she was with Kadmos, I thought to myself "Just kiss already, we all knew you had the hots for one another!" But since this is a children's novel, those sentiments and their raging hormones could not be expressed. So I suppose holding hands will have to suffice (but we all know what is really going on behind closed doors).

I also loved the solutions to more fantastical elements of the myths Champlain has. Instead of having Daidalos construct elaborate wings, he and Inas make bird-shaped hang gliders. Inas scoffs off at the idea of the "Minotaur" that the Greek youths were told. As that would be physically impossible. "Facing the Minotaur" could just be a euphemism for going into slavery...And speaking of which, one of the most jarring scenes in the novel is the Greek slave auction and the author's overall treatment of slaves. This novel would have been a great tool to showcase how enslavement was treated in antiquity and how it differs from chattel slavery that began in the 16th century C.E.

My biggest complaint with the novel is the lack of Inas being in the actual main mythological plot. I wanted her to be more involved with the palace intrigue; so much was happening around Inas and not enough was happening with her actually involved. There was also the problem with Theseus and Ariadne. I wanted a better understanding of their characters. Was Theseus too haughty and stubborn, Ariadne too lovelorn and foolhardy? Overall Champlain's writing is crisp and has stood the test of time. I recommend this novel to anyone interested in mythology or Bronze Age Mediterranean culture.

[Rick Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

This feminist reimagining of the myths of Theseus and Icarus won the Newbery Award in 1934, and in many ways fits in perfectly with more recent mythology-themed stories.

Inas is the adventurous and fiercely competitive daughter of Daidalos, genius inventor serving Cretan King Minos. Caught up in Princess Ariadne's love affair with the Greek captive Theseus, and dealing with powerful court figures plotting against her father, Inas faces physical and social dangers with wit and courage.

Inas has a daredevil approach to life that is a lot of fun, as well as a healthy dose of snark, especially as she waxes cynical over the princess's love for Theseus, who Inas regards as something of a muscleheaded jock.

The book crams a lot of plot into its pages, and covers many of the elements of the Theseus and Icarus myths, while attempting to present a historical (if perhaps a bit idealized) version of Crete. The story does contain some racist language typical of 1930s writing, although those items are relatively few and not of major plot significance.

In spite of Inas having a male love interest, she remains front and center in all of the action elements of the story. There is a nice mix of action and court intrigue, and the worldbuilding, while not always historically on the mark, is wonderfully flavorful.

This is a fun story that is worth being rediscovered by today's fans of female-centered middle grade adventures.

[Lory Hess · Rating 4 out of 5]

See my full review at The Emerald City Book Review. Ever since Betsy Bird put this long-lost Newbery honor book from 1934 at the top of her list of underrated middle grade books I've been dying to read it. And lo and behold, sometimes dreams do come true! Three years later, it's back in print thanks to the fantastic folks at Paul Dry Books, with an afterword by Betsy herself.

Set in ancient Crete, The Winged Girl of Knossos starts out with a thrilling scene in which our heroine, Inas, goes deep sea diving for sponges -- just for the fun of it, not because she needs the work -- and the action doesn't let up from there. She also takes a dramatic turn in the bull ring, helps out her friend Princess Ariadne who has inexplicably fallen for one of the boorish Greek captives, and comes to the rescue of her father Daedalus who is causing a stir with his outlandish inventions (including hang-glider-style wings that permit humans to soar with the birds). Danger abounds, but so do moments of beauty, artistry, and lyricism.

Overall, this is a rediscovery that no fan of children's historical fiction, adventure stories for young readers, or Newbery-award books should miss.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set on the island of Crete during the rule of King Minos, The Winged Girl of Knossos (of which Paul Dry books sent me a review copy quite some time ago) retells the popular myths of Theseus and of Icarus and Daedalus. Inas is the fearless bull-jumping daughter of Daidalos, an inventor of sorts who has been working on a pair of wings that allow Inas to fly. These wings must be kept secret lest the government accuse Daidalos of using magic and condemn him to death. Inas is also a close friend of the princess Ariadne, and when Ariadne desires to rescue a Greek prisoner called Theseus, she entrusts Inas with the task of leading him away from the labyrinthine halls of his prison by way of a long black thread. With danger encroaching from a variety of angles, Inas must do her best to save the life of herself and those she loves.
In many ways this book is to Ancient Crete what J.G. Fyson's books are to Ancient Mesopotamia. This story, which provides a plausible explanation behind centuries-old popular myths, immerses the reader in its setting so completely that it becomes easy to imagine the customs and daily living of these ancient people, and to believe that these legends actually have their basis in reality.

Inas, especially, is an engaging heroine, but without becoming what I sometimes call an "anachronistically woke female." (I've seen some reviews labeling this book feminist. That's a buzzword that typically turns me off from wanting to read a book, and I would not apply it here). She is definitely not interested in domestic arts like the nearby citizens of Siceli, but neither is she incredulously wise beyond her station in life or the era in which she lives. She feels real, and therefore the reader is entirely invested in her fate throughout the story. The tone of the story, too, is surprisingly contemporary-feeling despite this book being 87 years old! It truly reads like a much newer middle grade historical fiction novel.

I plan to assign this book to my kids during their fifth grade years, as they study the ancients for the second time around, during the logic stage of the classical trivium. I think it would also make an excellent read-aloud, possibly even for a first grader with a particular love for ancient history and the appropriate background knowledge. At any age, however, prior knowledge of the myths is needed to fully appreciate this fascinating tale.

This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.

[Thomas Bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that it was a fun book. Not too accurate, but they use some good famous names and stories which developed into legends, like Diadalos and his labyrinth, Ariadne's string to help find a way out of the labyrinth, King Minos, etc. Not quite sure if Crete is where the legends started either, but I guess it is possible, except King Minos was the king of Crete. That is known.

Oh, and the Basque people are not runaway Cretans like the afterword in the book suggests. That theory never gained credibility, though 80 years ago it seems a lot of people were making wild suggestions as to the origin of Basque.

Anyway, the book is fun and exciting, but definitely not great - in my opinion. Still enjoyed reading it though.

[Bert van der Vaart · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is much to like in The Winged Girl of Knossos, written by a remarkable woman with the pen name of Erick Berry. The novel, targeting young adults, and perhaps most especially young adult females, is set in ancient Crete--when Crete was still the regional heavyweight and even Greece sent annual tribute of the 7 select young men and 7 select young women as slaves for the dominant Aegean power. Theseus and the Minotaur came from that era, although Berry weaves a very much alternative, and not very believable, tale of how Theseus managed to escape.

While Berry freely admits that there are very few facts known as to how Crete fell, she also makes some interesting points:

1) a kingdom who rests solely on one line of defense (here, its navy), is in serious difficulty once that line of defense falls;
2) a kingdom whose people are not well educated/critical thinkers can be led astray very easily, and unless manipulated in favor of the government's views, can be manipulated in favor of a jealous and rich man.

While these truths are second place to the adventures of Inas--the spunky young daughter of a brilliant but idiosyncratic inventor/widower--they are Berry's major themes as announced in her prologue. But while the reader can exult in Inas' against the odds successes--whether sponge diving, jumping over the bulls, and being the Princess's best friend--the train of events and supposed (f)acts and consequences throughout the book are to me at any rate too improbable to represent the kind of rational thinking the absence of which in Crete's historical downfall she at the same time condemns.

We see an implacable and dastardly but great gold-working artist's jealous plot against the father/inventor--why does the father never take the time too explain what he is doing with his experimental gliding? If the king values the inventor so much why does he send his entire fleet to Sicily once he hears of the inventor's escape from the clutches of the gold-working artist's manipulated mob? and if the Cretan navy is so awesome, how does it get so easily destroyed when it gets to Sicily?

The above by no means the only skips in the story, like jumps in the music played by a badly damaged vinyl record.

The Jackson Percy series come off much better in contrast, once of course you accept the fact that the Greek and Norse gods still exist and have various children with earthly spouses.

Still the fact that this more than 90 year old Newberry Award winner is still relevant and readable is remarkable.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars or better. Re-interpretation of the myth of Daedalus (Daidalus herein) and his work for King Minos as well as his flights with his son Icarus (gender changed to a daughter, Inas). IMHO this book has everything that its co-Newbery Honor Book "The Forgotten Daughter" doesn't. Inas is the impetuous daughter of the Cretan inventor Daidalus. She sponge dives for fun, travels by mule alone across the hills of Crete, flies with her father's gliders, AND is a bull leaper/dancer. This is Crete during the height of the Minoan period and the greatest of the palaces was at Knossos. Sir Arthur Evans beginning in 1900 excavated that palace. and Erick Berry made very good use of that information. Her story and descriptions include details of dress, trade (Egypt and elsewhere aroung the Mediterranean, customs, and water management that Evans discovered. I found the story to be very historically accurate. Inas acts very like projections of a well-to-do young Cretan woman would have her behave. The Minoan era was a female-centric era. All of this is interpreted from the admittedly fragmentary frescoes. I did find the omissions regarding female dress amusing, but it is a book for children from 1933; women were typically depicted bare-breasted in the frescoes, but Berry just neglects to describe what Inas is wearing in addition to a kilt, i.e. nothing. Legendarily Knossos was ruled by King Minos who had Daidalus construct a Labyrinth for the Minotaur, a mythic man-beast to whom sacrifices of 7 young men and 7 young women were made - the famous Athenian Theseus was the one who defeated it. The myth has a basis in reality in the depiction of bull-leaping in the frescoes on the palace walls, and both genders participated. In the novel, Inas is the one who lays the thread (at Princess Ariadne's request) that allows Theseus to escape. And Icarus's fatal plunge does not happen to Inas. All in all this was a fun read. I read it for my 2018 Reading Challenge and my Newbery Challenge (Honor Book 1934).

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this because I was looking for a new diverse book for my 4th graders who study ancient Greece, and I studied Minoan archaeology in my undergrad and grad days (I have an MA in pre-historic archaeology). Within the first chapter I knew it wouldn't work because of both the impressive vocabulary required ('plaudits' is rarely even seen in middle school vocab books these days), and the fact that the main character is marked as extraordinary because she is blonde. While this was considered fine in 1934, I cannot push the glorification of appearance onto a group of young students in New York City.

Additionally, as another reviewer said, Inas' adventures and activity all stem from her own privilege. The scene in which she jokingly allows herself to be 'sold' during the slave auction, knowing she would be saved by her betrothed's rich father, is a mocking horror. As an archaeologist I can certainly go into the nuances of why Greek and proto-Greek slavery was different from the chattle slavery of pre Civil War America. It would not be wise to try and justify that scene to a diverse group of 9 and 10 year-olds.

With all of that in mind, if you have a child who is fascinated by Ancient Mediterranean pre-history and you are able to discuss this book with them it can be a great read. I would not suggest it for classroom use as its world view, even with its 'strong' female protagonist, does not in fact stand the test of time.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inas is an adventurous young girl from the Island of Crete who dives for sea sponges and competes as a bull leaper. Her father is a tinkerer and scientist, Daidalos, who is experimenting with wings for flying; unfortunately the townspeople view him suspiciously as someone who is dabbling with things that are better left alone. Jealous forces combine against Daidalos and Inas that may bring about disaster.

This is a historical novel about the fall of Crete that incorporates some mythology (it is a reimagining of Daidalus and Icarus). It's a bit slow moving in some places and weirdly episodic - it sometimes seems that the plot gets sidetracked a bit. I'm not the biggest fan of historical fiction. However, for fans of books like Mara of the Nile and The Golden Goblet and perhaps books by Rosemary Sutcliffe, I think this could be enjoyable.

[Francesca Forrest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming book, absolutely excellent heroine (intelligent, curious, and brave), great adventures tied to the story of Adriadne and Theseus, plus the fall of Knossos, and full of love for ancient Minoan culture. Really enjoyed it a lot. This is a 2017 reissue of a book from 1933, but by and large its liveliness is timeless. The storytelling voice is that of a different era, but so fun, I can't imagine kids minding.

This, from the "Before the story begins": "Then in our own time came the archaeologists, those magicians who build authentic history out of lowly potsherds."

Followed by, "But enough is now known so that ...one may weave together a story of those days that is perhaps not too far from what really happened."

Tangentially, the dedication is "For Anne, because she, like me, believes in almost everything" --love it.

[Leslie Kitchin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was delighted to find this book. One of my favorite genres is retelling of Greek myths. My favorite author is Mary Renault and my favorite books of hers are The King Must Die and The Bull from the Sea - the retelling of the Theseus myth. This book focuses on Daidalos and his daughter Inas (not his son Icarus) and just touches on Ariadne and Theseus. Winged Girl was published in 1933 and won the Newbery. However, it does not read like an 85 year old book. It sounds remarkably fresh. I definitely prefer Renault's interpretation of the myth and also her vision of Crete at the time, but this was a very enjoyable read and re-inspired me to visit Crete someday.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly engaging. The author takes the myths of Daedalus, Icarus, Theseus, and the Labyrinth of Minos, and does a gender swap for Icarus (now Inas), and creates a piognant vision of a Bronze age civilization. Sure, Inas is the privileged daughter of an affluent engineer/inventor, but she is independent and self-reliant in trying to solve the challenges she faces. It is hard to believe this was written in the 1930s! I recommend this for parents with young daughters looking for strong young female role models in fiction.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was published in 1933 and received a Newbery Honor in 1934, but its story and voice would fit in well with more current offerings. Here the story of Icarus is retold with Inas as Daidalus's daughter taking his place. Instead of flying too close to the sun, Inas dives for sponges, somersaults on the back of a bull, and plays a strong role in the escape and elopement of Ariadne and Theseus before gliding herself to safety.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Content warnings: slavery, racism, rampaging mobs, death, violence, & a kitten dies.

Inas is pretty spoiled and selfish but also brave and clever. If you like Greece, you're bound to like this Minoan tale. For its time, it is impressive and also it is a fun adventure story with a strong (though not particularly socially justice motivated) heroine.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent story that ties in with Greek myths and Cretan history. This story has subtleties that will be appreciated by more mature readers. The ending is not predictable but is satisfying. So many of the characters have depth and definition and we also get a sense of the larger social groups and their beliefs.

[Amber Scaife · Rating 3 out of 5]

A neat re-telling (sort of) of the Theseus and Ariadne myth, through the eyes of Daidalos' daughter. The writing isn't earth-shattering or anything, but it's a fun story nonetheless.

[Lynette Caulkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Published in 1933, this Newbery Honor book offers a marvelous heroine full of spunk alongside an engaging historical fiction of ancient Crete.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally a book that I can recommend since it’s been reissued AND it tells the story of Icarus with a heroic female protagonist

[Desiree']

1934 Newbery honor book

[Cheryl]

I would like to try to catch up on the more appealing oldest Newbery books.

[Chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing is perfectly serviceable, though without any distinguishing characteristics. It's like those MFA bores all are.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting to see how radically different the Newbery Award winning book from 1934 is presented, compared to contemporary award-winning books. (Though there's always a special place in my heart for this mythology-type-stuff.)

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this one. This is always the toughest genre for me to get into and understand.

[Kristy]

DNF, the setting was interesting but I found the story boring.

[Niyah Hawkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good book, captivating the farther you get in. Took me a while to really get into it, but when I did, I couldn't put it down.