About the Book

The Prodigy President

Published: April 2023 | Pages: 432

A gripping political thriller that follows the extraordinary journey of a woman who rises from mysterious beginnings to become the President of the United States, uncovering shocking truths about her origins along the way.

Political Thriller
Mystery
Drama
Contemporary

4.8/5 (342 reviews)

Synopsis

Abandoned at birth and raised by a compassionate stranger, Sarah Winters grows up displaying extraordinary abilities that set her apart from her peers. Excelling in every field she touches, she becomes a celebrated ballet dancer before a twist of fate leads her into the world of politics.

When Sarah joins the campaign team of a presidential candidate, she has no idea that her past is about to collide with her present. As mysterious events begin to unfold around her, Sarah embarks on a journey to uncover the truth about her origins.

What she discovers is beyond anything she could have imagined: she was born as part of a classified government project, and one of her colleagues on the campaign team was directly involved in her abandonment. As Sarah digs deeper, she uncovers a web of illegal activities and moral compromises that threaten not just her identity but the very fabric of American democracy.

In a stunning climax that combines personal revelation with political upheaval, Sarah not only exposes the truth but rises to become what she was perhaps always destined to be: the President of the United States.

“The Prodigy President” is a thrilling exploration of identity, power, and the extraordinary potential that lies within each of us, even when our beginnings are shrouded in mystery.

Excerpts from the Book

The Discovery of Strawberry

 “It was a tiny bundle of cloth, lying in a hollow in the damp earth beneath a canopy of dry straw, trembling.

Elena set the device beside her and removed her gloves. The touch of the fabric was rough and wet beneath her fingers. She moved it slightly and could hardly believe her eyes – a round little baby looked up at her in silence, with big, clear eyes.”

Basketball

“Strawberry gently reached out her small hand and pushed the ball back with perfect precision to the player who had missed the shot.

The ball rolled softly across the wooden floor and, as it neared its target, slowed down – until, miraculously, as it completed its path, it simply stopped on its own at the feet of the stunned player”

Ballet

“Strawberry was only six when she was accepted into Juilliard’s youth program, and just a year later, she was invited to perform in a new production of Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, playing the role of the little fairy. She absorbed the movement as if it had been implanted within her; painfully precise, a clean thigh line, a straight ankle, a focus that disconnected her from everything else. Over the years, she performed in concerts with the New York City Ballet and even made her debut in a leading role – as Clara in Graham-Phillips’ The Nutcracker, an elegant performance that earned rave reviews in the press. Dance Spirit magazine described her as “a promise already fulfilled” and as someone who “moves on her toes as if they were part of her respiratory system.”

Strawberry Advises the Governor of New York During the Train Crisis

“Strawberry was only six when she was accepted into Juilliard’s youth program, and just a year later, she was invited to perform in a new production of Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, playing the role of the little fairy. She absorbed the movement as if it had been implanted within her; painfully precise, a clean thigh line, a straight ankle, a focus that disconnected her from everything else. Over the years, she performed in concerts with the New York City Ballet and even made her debut in a leading role as Clara in Graham-Phillips’ The Nutcracker an elegant performance that earned rave reviews in the press. Dance Spirit magazine described her as “a promise already fulfilled” and as someone who “moves on her toes as if they were part of her respiratory”

Strawberry and the U.S. Presidential Campaign

“Strawberry rewound the video for exactly five seconds, and the second time, she froze the frame. It was so faint it was almost imperceptible, but as she leaned toward the interface and narrowed her eyes to see more clearly, for a moment it seemed she was witnessing something that wasn’t really there at all—less tangible than a beam of light through a narrow crack, as pale as the shadow of a shadow, and yet deeply embedded in her and painfully familiar. The solution had already taken shape in her mind”

Critical Acclaim

"A masterful political thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end. Dagan has outdone himself with this intricate tale of identity and power."
— The New York Times
"Breathtaking in its scope and ambition. 'The Prodigy President' seamlessly blends personal drama with high-stakes politics in a way that feels both intimate and epic."
— The Washington Post
"A stunning achievement that transcends the political thriller genre. Dagan's protagonist is one of the most compelling characters in contemporary fiction."
— Literary Review

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