Summary:
Sadie and Carter Kane are siblings who have been separated since the death of their mother several years earlier. Sadie lives with their grandparents in England, and Carter travels all over the world with their Egyptologist father. Their lives change drastically however, when Carter and his father visit Sadie. They take a trip to the British Museum where Dr. Kane releases the five major Egyptian gods, including the evil and devious god Set. Set imprisons Dr. Kane who is the host of the god Osiris, while Carter and Sadie barely escape. They soon learn that not only is Egypt all around them (Sadie's cat Muffin is actually the goddess Bast), but that the blood of the pharaohs actually runs through their veins. Can they save their father and the world from Set? Read this wonderful and fascinating book to find out!
My Evaluation:
Rick Riordan is an amazing author. Just as he has made Greek mythology come to life with the Percy Jackson series, he has made Egyptian mythology come to life with the Kane Chronicles. I love studying mythology, and the way that Riordan has weaved the ancient mythology into our modern world is so very clever. He illustrates how much Egyptian culture has ingratiated itself into our world. From the Washington Monument to Cleopatra's Needle in London, Paris, and New York City - he incorporates these Egyptian tributes into his stories. They are fast-paced and engaging, and in spite all of the supernatural experiences that the Kane siblings experience, they are still relatable to readers. They still have crushes and fights and family loyalty just like any teenage kid.
Reviews:
Wadham, Tim. (2010). The Red Pyramid. School Library Journal. Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6727812.html
Riordan takes the elements that made the "Percy Jackson" (Hyperion) books so popular and ratchets them up a notch. Carter, 14, and Sadie, 12, have grown up apart. He has traveled all over the world with his Egyptologist father, Dr. Julius Kane, while Sadie has lived in London with her grandparents. Their mother passed away under mysterious circumstances, so when their father arrives in London and wants to take them both on a private tour of the British Museum, all is not necessarily what it seems. The evening ends with the apparent destruction of the Rosetta Stone, the disappearance of Dr. Kane, and the kidnapping of Carter and Sadie. More insidiously, it leads to the release of five Egyptian gods, including Set, who is their mortal enemy. Carter and Sadie discover the secrets of their family heritage and their ability to work magic as they realize that their task will be to save humanity from Set, who is building a destructive red pyramid inside Camelback Mountain in Phoenix. The text is presented as the transcript of an audio recording done by both children. Riordan creates two distinct and realistic voices for the siblings. He has a winning formula, but this book goes beyond the formulaic to present a truly original take on Egyptian mythology. His trademark humor is here in abundance, and there are numerous passages that will cause readers to double over with laughter. The humor never takes away from the story or from the overall tone. A must-have book, and in multiple copies.
Barack, L. (2010). Rick Riordan on his latest mega seller "The Red Pyramid". School Library Journal Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/articlescertification/885597-342/rick_riordan_on_his_latest.html.csp
Rick Riordan loves flavoring his mythological-based tales of Ancient Greece and Egypt with a heavy dose of educational spice, sending his young readers racing for forgotten tomes in their libraries. We catch up with the adored author and former English teacher on the launch of his new series, the Kane Chronicles, and its first tale, The Red Pyramid(Hyperion, 2010) as he muses on librarians, readers, and why he believes the legends, gods, and mysteries that surround the world of Ancient Egypt will enthrall his fans.
Why did you pick ancient Egypt as your next world?
As I was touring around with the Percy Jackson books (Hyperion, 2005), one of the questions I got asked the most often by young readers was, 'Will you ever do another mythology series.' I realized when I was a classroom teacher the only subject that ever came close to the Greek and Romans was Ancient Egypt, which really hasn't been tapped in children's literature, or not as well. And I found that a great challenge as much as a high interest.
Do you think kids will use your books as launching pad for further research on these ancient cultures?
That certainly has been the case. I'm always really happy to hear from readers and from librarians that the research sections on these areas are getting a big workout; sections that used to be gathering dust and now librarians can't keep them on the shelf, and that's fantastic. I've heard from classroom teachers that they've used Percy Jackson as a launching point for the Illiad and theOdyssey, and I am starting to hear the same thing about The Red Pyramid, of students descending on their libraries, and that's fantastic. It's really neat when kids feel like they're experts and they want to learn more.
My Suggestions for Use in a Library Setting:
Just as Riordan suggested in the interview, I believe this book would serve as a wonderful gateway into Egyptian history and mythology. I would read this book as part of a series about Ancient Egyptian culture. I would read excerpts of the book every time, and we would discuss whatever the book talked about. For example, the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian hieroglyphics, any gods that were mentioned, etc.
No comments:
Post a Comment