The Egypt Game [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Zilpha Keatley Snyder (Author)

Book Description

Release date: December 1, 1985 | Age Range: 10 and up | Lexile Measure: 1010L (What's this?)

When Melanie Ross and April Hall begin to play the Egypt Game, everyone thinks it’s just a game until strange things begin happening to the players. Has the Egypt Game gone too far?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Two girls get involved in an elaborate "Egypt game," a fantasy game that soon leads to strange, unexplainable happenings. PW called the characters in Snyder's Newbery Honor winner "true originals."
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Tailor-made for children who love the thought of rambling mansions, garden mazes, and hidden treasure."

-- Booklist

"An increasingly captivating story, which builds to a risky and daring climax."

-- Kirkus Reviews --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Yearling; Jan-86 edition (December 1, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440422256
• ISBN-13: 978-0440422259
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.6 x 6.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (234 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #732,664 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 49 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Catalyst for the Imagination June 2, 2001

By "kaia_espina"

Format:Paperback

I wouldn't be surprised if readers finish this book and don't turn back to the TV, but instead put together make-believe worlds of their own--not necessarily Egyptian ones.

This book may not have transported me back to the real Ancient Egypt, but it did take me into the kind of world only a child's imagination can create. It contains makeshift altars and special names, made-up rituals and homemade costumes, "modified" hieroglyphics and even a new way to walk. Anyone who has ever invented his or her own special world, out of fascination or out of boredom, will understand the appeal of "The Egypt Game".

While reading, I often thought that Zilpha Keatley Snyder had more fun writing about the made-up rituals than the characters had performing them. Not only are they fun, they are more or less well-researched, which is only right, as two of her characters are enthusiastic readers who pay attention to details. Throughout the story, Snyder's sense of humor shines through, whether she is making one character sprinkle ashes into his hair or making two other characters refrain from doing so, "because to a girl even the death of a pharaoh isn't worth a dirty head."

Except for April Hall and Melanie Ross--and the Professor, of course--the characters are not very complex. They become part of Egypt not because they have something vital to add to the plot, but because they make the game more fun. Only a few of them go through a change that is apparent at the end of the story. However, their personalities are varied enough to contribute to the small conflicts in each chapter (this is a semi-episodic novel), and to let readers have different favorite characters.

The book has its darker parts, however.... Part of the story involves the murder of some small children, and the murderer remains at large for most of the novel. (Even I found this extreme. The story could have been just as fun and mysterious without it.) Also, the idol worship and divination aspects of some of the games may be disturbing because they are very realistic and taken very seriously by the children. As for the Professor, his role in the story is so ambiguous at the beginning that only experienced readers will be able to tell, by the third chapter, whether the Professor is spooky or friendly, a bad guy or one of the good guys.

In spite of the drawbacks, I found "The Egypt Game" truly enjoyable and fun to read. I only wish that children had more books that stress the wonder of discovery, imagination, and good, old-fashioned play. Read more ›

34 of 40 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A little imagination goes a long way February 19, 2006

By Amanda Richards HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

This book reminds us that back in 1967, children played games that expanded their imaginations and sent them voluntarily to the library to seek information. Computers and the internet now make the information search so much easier, but sadly, many children don't take their eyes away from the television screen, X-Box game or Game Boy long enough to realize what they are missing.

This story tells of a group of six children from different cultures and backgrounds who are drawn together by a common interest in Egyptian mythology. They stumble upon an unused lot of land adjoining the local antique dealer/junk shop where they create their own replica of ancient Egypt, complete with statuary and hieroglyphics and perform the most necessary rites and rituals with due pomp and ceremony.

To make things even more interesting, there are elements of danger and mystery, and the author even manages to include different types of family situations and how the children react to their various circumstances.

A simple book that introduces children to the vast and often untapped worlds of their imagination.

Amanda Richards, February 19, 2006

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars As wonderful as I remember May 23, 2000

By D. Weeks

Format:Paperback

I read this book when I was in the fourth grade. (My best friend and I were reading through the shelf of award winners.) She read it next. As soon as she finished the book, we set up our own game, a cross between the Egypt Game and what we'd understood from her older sister's class production of Macbeth. We had hours of fun playing that way, and I loved having a book that showed characters who played imaginatively. (And there aren't that many role models who don't spend all their time on their computers or on the organized sports field these days. See the preceding review from the person who said that she didn't like the way the characters used too much "ammagination." <sigh> I ordered this book recently to read aloud to my third graders, and they loved it! Now there are several Games going on in our neighborhood. The book was as good as I remembered it.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A book that touchs your heart and keep you on the edge. November 4, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

We, the 7th graders at Saluda School, have just finished reading this exciting, blood-pumping novel. This book was so exiting, we could hardly put it down. In fact, we didn't even want to go to our next class. Please take our word for it, and read this book. You won't regret it.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beware of the Egyptians! December 10, 1999

By jessica m.

Format:Paperback

This book was really good!The characters were sooo life like. April is sent to live with her grandmother while her famous mother tours the world.Her and Melanie discover a "new world" behind the creepy professers old antique store.They summon the powers of the ancient egyptians then weird things start to happen.I highly recommend this book.

17 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Egyptians, Hieroglyphics, Ancient Egypt. November 6, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

They call themselves the Egypt gang. They have their own meeting place. They worship gods. They have their own hierolyphics, etc. Marshall, Toby, Ken, Melanie, Elizabeth, and April are all part of it. They have so much fun until something happens. Read and find out. Good for people who like ancient history. Great book for everyone!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Food for the Imagination March 3, 2004

By Gypsi Phillips Bates VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

April and Melanie became fast friends the first time they met--they both had irrepressible imaginations and the desire to put those imaginations to use. Quite by accident, they found a way into an overgrown, fenced in storage yard behind it that obviously wasn't being used by it's owner, the local curio shop. April and Melanie knew instantly that it would be the perfect place to play pretend and set about making it inhabitable. Doing so, they discover a somewhat beat-up, but still beautiful, bust of Nefertiti. Add that to their imagination and the Egypt Game was born.

With Melanie's baby brother as the Boy Pharaoh and themselves as priestess to both Isis and Set (they took turns being the bad priestess), they created elaborate ceremonies and scenarios. Much reading was done at the local library and as their Egyptian knowledge grew, their interest in the game stayed fast. Eventually there are six in the Egypt Game, using their imaginations and their research skills.

Things take an odd turn as the "unexplained" makes an appearance. The six "Egyptians" start to wonder if the game has gone too far, crossed a line that they didn't know could be crossed. I won't spoil it be explaining, but will say that all turns out as it should.

I found this a good book for children on several levels. One was the relationship of April to her mother and to her grandmother. April idolized her mom, who was trying to make it big in Hollywood. April was sent to her grandmother's to stay for a while, just until her mom sorted things out in Hollywood. Seeing April mature and soften under the love of her steadfast grandmother is a good image for anyone.

The other thing I particularly liked about the Egypt Game was the obvious--the encouragement of both imagination and research. So many kids today don't play pretend.... There are too many other distractions with TV, Internet and game systems. This book showed the magic of using the imagination, and the importance of doing a bit of research to know the subject. I liked that aspect immensely. Read more ›