Athens, c. 495 BCE. For the first time in history, power belongs not to kings—but to the people. The Boy Who Stood in the Assembly is Book I of The Republic’s Children , Series 11 in The Voices of Time —a landmark YA historical fiction collection telling the stories of young people who stood at the turning points of world history. As a boy, Pericles watches his father raise a hand in the Athenian Assembly and realizes that in this new kind of city, strength is not seized—it is spoken. As democracy takes root and the Persian threat looms, Pericles must learn when to speak, when to listen, and how to lose without bitterness. His journey reveals the quiet disciplines that make freedom possible—and the dangers that arise when persuasion outruns responsibility. Written in immersive first-person voice and grounded in classical sources, this novel blends vivid storytelling with historical depth. Each book in The Voices of Time includes homeschool-friendly and classroom-ready study materials , such as an Author’s Note, Historical Timeline, Glossary, Sources & Methods, and a Discussion Guide, making it ideal for families, educators, and thoughtful young readers. Before empires ruled the world, the people learned to rule themselves.