Booktalk:
The first time Melanie Ross meets April Hall, she’s not sure they’ll have anything in common. But they soon discover that they both love anything to do with Ancient Egypt. When they stumble upon a deserted storage yard behind a curio and antique shop, they find the perfect place for The Egypt Game.
Suddenly wilted wildflowers become lotus blossoms, a lean-to shed becomes The Temple, and an old birdbath becomes an altar. The girls turn into high priestesses and Melanie’s little brother Marshall becomes the boy pharaoh. As the game gets going, it also begins growing and before long there are six Egyptians playing instead of two.
But when a girl is murdered in the neighborhood, the game, with its sacrificial fires, evil gods, and death ceremonies, suddenly becomes all too real. Who's behind the murder? Could it happen again? Is the Egypt Game in danger?
My thoughts:
This is one of my very favorite books, a story I read over and over again as a kid. And I love that I get to share that love with kids today through my job! It's a little dated, having been published in 1967, but it wasn't too bad (it should be noted, though, that there is a little weird phrasing about race at the beginning of the book. April is warned that the girl she's going to have lunch with is a Negro). Central to the plot is that these kids are allowed to play by themselves around their neighborhood, which I'm not sure kids today can always do. Rereading it made me hope that my library kids have somewhere outside to get together and play games like this. When I booktalked it, I told the kids it was a book I loved when I was their age, which means it's been around for a loooong time. ;)
This is a story about friendship and about the power of imagination. I love how creative the kids are in making props and costumes and developing stories for their Egypt Game. I love that they use their local library extensively to learn all kinds of things about Ancient Egypt. It's hard to be critical of a book that feels like an old friend to me... so I won't. ;)
Readalikes:
For kids who, like me, identify with April and Melanie's creative spirits and want to read about more kids who create amazing worlds with their imagination, I'd suggest Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson and Doll Bones by Holly Black. Both books will make kids feel the feels.
For kids who are fascinated with Ancient Egypt and would like to read more about it, try The Treasury of Egyptian Mythology by Donna Jo Napoli.
This is a story about friendship and about the power of imagination. I love how creative the kids are in making props and costumes and developing stories for their Egypt Game. I love that they use their local library extensively to learn all kinds of things about Ancient Egypt. It's hard to be critical of a book that feels like an old friend to me... so I won't. ;)
Readalikes:
For kids who, like me, identify with April and Melanie's creative spirits and want to read about more kids who create amazing worlds with their imagination, I'd suggest Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson and Doll Bones by Holly Black. Both books will make kids feel the feels.
For kids who are fascinated with Ancient Egypt and would like to read more about it, try The Treasury of Egyptian Mythology by Donna Jo Napoli.