The Epic of Glenda Mesh

Fryer crafts a fresh and adventure-filled take on The Epic of Gilgamesh in this contemporary tale, in which the acerbic 17-year-old so-called queen of Babylon must learn to become a hero. As the star of her school’s track and field team and the daughter of Babylon’s wealthiest residents, Glenda Mesh has the whole city wrapped around her finger. That is, until newcomer Enkidu arrives at the local foster home following her parents’ deaths. Enkidu joins the track team, and her skills immediately pose a threat to Glenda. But after a physical altercation at a party, the two girls come to a begrudging truce that thaws their heated rivalry into fierce friendship. Hoping to rehabilitate her queenly image, Glenda enlists Enkidu’s help in undergoing a “hero’s quest” in which Glenda determines to take down the city’s most heinous criminals. Meanwhile, Enkidu inadvertently becomes embroiled in a drug peddling scheme that threatens both hers and Glenda’s futures, as well as the whole of Babylon. Though some story elements occasionally feel more in service of emphasizing the inspiration material than of facilitating the protagonists’ arcs, Fryer presents compellingly dynamic characters within a layered narrative that explores themes of friendship, mystery, and revenge. Ages 12–up. (Self-published)