Aspasia's Choice

Texas Institute of Letters 2026 Jean Flynn Honor Award for Best Young Adult Book

In 5th century B.C. Greece, Aspasia is no ordinary girl. Raised by a worldly father, she is given the rare gift of an education. But when Aspasias father dies, shes bound by his final request – to marry the man chosen for her and never live in sin with another.

Her journey takes her from Miletus to Athens, a city alive with ideas, power, and strict expectations for women. There, under the rule of her traditional brother-in-law, Aspasias thirst for knowledge is stifled – until an unexpected friendship with a boy named Socrates opens the door to a forbidden schoolroom and a fateful meeting with General Pericles.

Captivated by the young girl, Pericles sees in her something rare. But Athenian law forbids their union, and as pressure mounts to accept an arranged marriage, Aspasia must choose between honoring her fathers dying wish or following her heart. That choice will defy custom, challenge the laws of Athens, and change her future forever.

A romantic adventure steeped in history, ASPASIAS CHOICE tells the unforgettable story of a girl determined to live life on her own terms.