The Wadjet Eye [Hardcover]

Jill Rubalcaba (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

A historical novel set in 45 B.C. Damon's medical training under the Pharaoh's own physician didn't prepare him for his mother's last illness--or for the adventure that follows. Damon must travel from Alexandria all the way to Spain, where his father is fighting in Caesar's army, to deliver the news of his mother's death to the father he hardly knows. Soon the quiet, studious Damon and his best friend, the soldierly Artemas, are caught up in danger and intrigue--from shipwreck and shark attack to the political maneuverings of Cleopatra, Cicero, and Caesar. Fast-paced and suspenseful, this compelling historical novel combines page-turning excitement with a well-researched portrait of the ancient world. GLOSSARY.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-A story set in Alexandria, Egypt, in 45 B.C. Damon's mother has just died, and because the priests believe she had the plague, they refuse to touch her. It is then up to Damon, who studied at the medical school, to embalm her. After his friend Artemas convinces him that he must deliver the news of his mother's death to his Roman-soldier father, who is off fighting with Caesar, the two young men set off for the battlefields of Spain. They set sail on a merchant ship that sinks in a vortex, jump ship just in time, suffer extreme hardships, and are rescued by Cleopatra. She persuades them to spy for her in return for safe passage to Spain, and Damon is eventually reunited with his long-lost father. There are many references to Egyptian gods, architecture, and daily life that leave readers needing some background to understand the context. While the story is slow to get going, the action picks up quickly after the teens are attacked by sharks. There are several gruesome scenes that may appeal to certain readers, including a detailed depiction of the embalming process, a gory day at the Circus Maximus, and the medical tent on the battlefield. While the plot coincidences are entirely too perfect, the story does work as an action adventure for reluctant readers, and there is enough historical minutiae to encourage further reading.
Angela J. Reynolds, Washington County Cooperative Library Services, Aloha, OR
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Set in the Roman Empire in 45 B.C., this action-filled story is not for the faint of heart. The book begins with Damon, a young medical student, weeping over the death of his Egyptian mother. Damon wants to honor his mother's wishes, so when the embalmers refuse to prepare her body for burial, he mummifies her himself. Then, together with his friend Artemas, Damon sets off to find his father, a soldier in Caesar's army. Along the way, their ship sinks, and the duo is almost eaten by sharks. They are rescued by Cleopatra, who sends them off to spy on Cicero, Caesar's enemy. In a dramatic denouement, Damon meets his father (and Caesar) at a battlefield hospital, where he tries to sort out his feelings for the man he has not seen in six years. The book's fast pace (and, frankly, some of its gore) will appeal to readers who relish exciting stories. Rubalcaba also does a good job with the characterizations, especially her depiction of the relationship between the friends. Try this with boys who don't think they like historical fiction. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Clarion Books (April 17, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395689422
• ISBN-13: 978-0395689424
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,133,837 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Full of Adventure and Excitement, May 27, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Wadjet Eye (Hardcover)

Damon, a young medical student in Alexandria, and his friend Artemas set out on a journey to find Damon's father. Damon's mother has just died and the two boys wish to tell Litigus of his wife's death in person. Their journey is full of peril and excitement -- from shipwreck to shark attack, from meeting Cleopatra and being sent on a mission by her to meeting Caesar. The adventure never ends for these two boys. The setting is Ancient Egypt during the time of Cleopatra, but don't let that discourage you. This book is highly entertaining. Each chapter leaves you at a suspenseful moment and you can't wait to continue. Perfect for a read aloud. There is a glossary and an author's note in the back. The glossary will be especially useful. Highly recommended.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Action and ancient history, December 23, 2002

By 

J. Sharp "LiberryLady" (Hephzibah, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Wadjet Eye (Hardcover)

This odyssy-like adventure takes the reader from the embalming tables of ancient Egypt in Greco-Roman Alexandria, in a treacherous voyage across the mediterranean, to many of the major sites and into the path of many of the major players of the era. Damon, the young medical student from Alexandria, and his best friend seek to take a message to Damon's Roman soldier father and in the process they meet Cleopatra, Cicero,and Caesar Augustus. They attend a gladiator fight at the Colloseum, they witness a peasant uprising, and they view Caesar's war in the border area of far off Spain. Moving from one action packed calamity to another, the excitement never slows. This well-researched historical novel is fun to read as well.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down!, April 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Wadjet Eye (Hardcover)

This story kept me hooked from first sentence to last! I don't want to give away juicy details, but the author reveals the culture of the time in vivid and exciting scenes. It all becomes so real and you find yourself caught up in Damon's adventure. Wow! Boys and girls alike will eat this one up.