Thursday, January 1, 2009

Book Review: Mara, Daughter of the Nile

Author: Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Review by Lauren Tatum, 12 years old
during summer break

Mara: Daughter of the Nile is about, well Mara, a slave girl who longs for freedom. But to get it she discovers herself working as a spy for two archenemies -- each helping different contenders to gain the throne of Egypt.

Set in Ancient Egypt in the days when Queen Hapsheput rules, this unusual fiction book gives you a hint of what espionage might be like in the Ancient Egyptian times.

The story begins with Mara as a slave girl who was bought by an elderly man. She was then given the job as a interpreter for a Canaan princess, the future bride for Prince Thutmose III. But on the way she meets Sheftu, a lord who is trying to restore Thutmose to the throne. She then unwillingly also has to take the job as a messenger, for Sheftu and the prince. While working for both masters she finds herself falling in love with Lord Sheftu. But her duplicity is soon discovered. She then defies the Queen and her formal master and ends up almost giving her life trying to protect Sheftu and his followers' Identities.

I enjoyed Eloise McGraw's novel. It very much reminded me of a James Bond movie, besides that Mara is a girl living in Ancient Egyptian times with out any cool gadgets. The author was very good at decribing things and the dialogue was great. I recommend Mara: Daughter of the Nile for grades 7th and up because it might be confusing for younger children to understand.

"Dangerous espionage, an unsual love story, and ricly drawn background make this a book to capture quick and lasting interest" -- Kirkys Review

Other Books Eloise McGraw Wrote
Crown Fire
*The Golden Goblet
Greensleeves
The Hideaway
Joel and the Great Merlini
Master Cornhill
*Moccasin Trail
The Money Room
Pharaoh
A Really Weird Summer
Sawdust in His Shoes
The Seventeenth Swap
The Striped Ships
The Tangled Webb
The Trouble with Jacob

* Favorites

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