1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Mystery and Adventure in Egypt, April 27, 2011
The Secret of the Sacred Scarab - Fiona Ingram
This is an adventure story about two cousins, Adam and Justin who live in South Africa. They are typical young teen age boys who are excited when their aunt, an investigative journalist and their grandmother take them along on a trip to Egypt.
Adam is convinced that he is going to have the adventure of a lifetime and is not disappointed. Adam is given 3 small scarabs by a strange peddler. When the authorities come by, the peddler quickly hands the items to Adam and disappears without being paid. Adam later finds out an expensive scarab in his pocket. A famous archeologist is missing and the boys feel that the scarab is involved in the mystery.
This book is filled with nuggets of information about Egypt. Some items are common knowledge things but she fills the novel with a lot of details about Egypt. This would be a fun classroom read 4th - 6th grade, if you were studying Egypt. The students would have fun "checking" the facts that Fiona Ingram has woven into the story.
The book reminded me a lot of the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew series of my childhood because the kids are the brains in the investigation and outwit the adult "bad guys". Students who like either mystery or adventure stories, would like this book. Students who are interested in Egypt would like this as well. While the main characters are boys, girls would also like this book. It will keep an adult's interest and it perfect for a family reading activity.
The only thing that I would change would be the cover if it is marketed in the United States as the cover illustration pictures boys who look a lot younger than the almost 13 and 14 year old characters. The cover looks dated and students "judging a book by its cover" might not pick it up.
This is the first book of a series and I am going to read the other books in the series this summer.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Exciting Adventure, March 18, 2010
Adam and his cousin, Justin, were hoping for adventure when they left for a vacation in Egypt with their aunt and grandmother, but the two get more than they bargained for when they become mixed-up in a dangerous mystery involving a lost tomb, a missing archaeologist, and a smuggling ring led by a high-level official in the Egyptian government. Ingram's fast-paced plot is sure to hold the attention of even reluctant readers, and children will appreciate the boys' ability to outwit many of the adult characters in the story. First in a planned series, this is a must-read for young Egyptologists who will appreciate the vivid descriptions of the setting and the realistic reactions of the boys as they see the treasures of ancient Egypt for the first time. Readers will love following Adam and Justin on their journey and discovering hidden chapters on Ingram's interactive website.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Spellbound!, March 15, 2010
The Secret of the Sacred Scarab is an enjoyable book to read for both adults and children. The 13 years old Adam and his cousin, Justin are excited about accompanying their award-winning journalist Aunt Isabel and their Granny to Egypt. If you enjoyed reading Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code and Enid Blyton's The Famous Five, I am sure you will look forward to reading this book. It will keep you spellbound to the end. The mysteries of the Sacred Scarab and the Scarab King unfold gradually. The story is even livelier because of its references to ancient history, legends and archaeology. It is not only educative for an inquiring mind, but also where the history comes alive!
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