THE PEACH THIEF by Linda Joan Smith

 

The Peach Thief by Linda Joan Smith

Historical Fiction, Homelessness, Gardeners

374 pages; 2025

Description

"The night that workhouse orphan Scilla Brown dares to climb the Earl of Havermore's garden wall, she wants only to steal a peach--the best thing she's ever tasted in her hard, hungry life. But when she's caught by the earl's head gardener and mistaken for a boy, she grabs on to something more: a temporary job scrubbing flowerpots. If she can just keep up her deception, she'll have a soft bed and food beyond her wildest dreams . . . maybe even peaches. She soon falls in with Phin, a garden apprentice who sneaks her into the steamy, fruit-filled greenhouses, calls her "Brownie," and makes her skin prickle. At the same time, the gruff head gardener himself is teaching lowly Scilla to make things grow, and she's cultivating hope with every seed she plants. But as the seasons unfurl, her loyalties become divided, and her secret grows harder to keep. How far will she go to have a home at last?"

My Notes

This shimmering middle-grade debut set in 1850s Lancashire, England, explores longing, belonging, and the courage it takes to find your place--and bloom. --Provided by publisher.

My first impression was that some students might find the text challenging due to the main character’s Cockney accent. The book is best suited for more advanced readers, though it could also make a wonderful read-aloud. The plot moves quickly, driven by the constant tension over Scilla’s secret being discovered. The setting offers a vivid and immersive picture of 19th-century life, with rich details about gardens and gardening practices of the time. Many of the themes explore timeless aspects of human nature, adding depth and resonance to the story.

ACROSS SO MANY SEAS by Ruth Behar

Across Many Seas by Ruth Behar

Historical Fiction, Discrimination, Immigration, Refugees, Sephardic Jews

2024; 258 pages

Description Kirkus Reviews starred (December 1, 2023)

Four 12-year-old Sephardic Jewish girls in different time periods leave their homelands but carry their religion, culture, language, music, and heritage with them. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella’s expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492 sends Benvenida fleeing from Toledo with her family, though she promises to remember where she came from. In 1923, Reina celebrates Turkish independence with her longtime friend and neighbor, a Muslim boy, causing her strict father to disown her and send her to live with an aunt in Cuba as punishment. Reina brings her mother’s oud with her and passes it on to Alegra, her daughter, who serves as a brigadista in Castro’s literacy campaign before fleeing to the U.S. in 1961. In Miami in 2003, Paloma, Alegra’s daughter, who has an Afro-Cuban dad, is excited to travel to Spain with her family to explore their roots. They find a miraculous connection in Toledo. Woven through all four girls’ stories is the same Ladino song (included with an English translation); as Paloma says, “I’m connected to those who came before me through the power of the words we speak, the words we write, the words we sing, the words in which we tell our dreams.” Behar’s diligent research and her personal connection to this history, as described in a moving author’s note, shine through this story of generations of girls who use music and language to survive, tell their stories, and connect with past and future. Powerful and resonant. (sources) (Historical fiction. 10-15)

My Comments
An informative, accessible book. The plot offers a window into a wide span of history that encompasses the world. I learned so much from this book and was moved by the courage of its characters. Highly recommend for grades 6-8.

THE GHOST IN THE TOKAIDO INN by Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler

Historical Fiction, Mystery, Japan, Samurais, Kabuki Fiction, Revenge

214 pages

Description

"While attempting to solve the mystery of a stolen jewel, Seikei, a merchant's son who longs to be a samurai, joins a group of kabuki actors in eighteenth-century Japan." (Follett)

Booklist (Vol. 95, No. 19/20 (June 1, 1999))

“Gr. 6-12. In eighteenth-century Japan, 14-year-old Seikei is a merchant's son with secret dreams of becoming a samurai. Although his status in society restricts him from doing anything more than following in his father's footsteps, Seikei has both the resolve and temperament of a wise, brave warrior. On a stopover at the Tokaido Inn, Seikei witnesses a legendary ghost stealing a jewel belonging to a samurai. His bravery in saving a falsely accused guest earns Seikei the respect of Judge Ooka, who hires Seikei to help him investigate the crime and solve the mystery. With a sharply authentic voice and an adeptly plotted story that progresses from the haunting ghost legend to the dark, volatile world of a traveling kabuki show, this mystery builds with stirring intrigue and plays out to a most satisfying conclusion. Rich with atmosphere and details that teach much of the Japanese culture, this is a fine selection for any YA collection.”

My Comments

What a great page-turner. This is a fabulous thriller mystery selection. It is a good selection for Asian historical fiction as well, giving a vivid depiction of samurais and actors in Japan. A good selection for reluctant readers.

ENOLA HOLMES AND THE CASE OF THE MISSING MARQUESS by Nancy Springer

 

Enola Holmes and the Case of the Missing Marquess

Mystery, Historical Fiction, Adventure, Humor

216 pages

Description

Enola Holmes, much younger sister of detective Sherlock Holmes, must travel to London in disguise to unravel the disappearance of her missing mother.

School Library Journal (February 1, 2006)

Gr 4-8-In what is hopefully the start of an exciting new series, Missing Marquess features the intriguing, much younger sister of Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes. Enola was a late-life baby, causing something of a scandal in society. Her rather vague mother is a 64-year-old widow who disappears on Enola's 14th birthday. It takes the girl a short time to realize that her mother left her some ciphers that indicate why she went away and how she is faring. The teen reluctantly enlists the services of her adult brothers, who quickly determine that Lady Holmes has been padding the household accounts for years. When they decide that their sister belongs at a boarding school, Enola escapes and heads for London dressed as a widow. There she is able to solve a mystery involving the disappearance of young Viscount Tewksbury. She decides to stay in the city, adopting a number of disguises, and become a "Perditorian," or finder of lost things or people. Springer focuses a great deal on the restrictions placed on Victorian females by showing how unusual Enola's bravery and common sense are, even as she often struggles with conventional reactions. She wants her brothers' affection, or indeed anyone's, but knows that a socially accepted life will strictly limit her freedom and learning. Enola's loneliness, intelligence, sense of humor, and sheer pluck make her an extremely appealing heroine who hopefully will one day find the affection for which she so desperately longs.-B. Allison Gray, John Jermain Library, Sag Harbor, NY Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

My Comments

Entertaining! Great female role model who is strong, smart and funny! The beginning chapter is a little dark, but then all is explained!

WHEN WINTER ROBESON CAME by Brenda Woods

 When Winter Robeson Came by Brenda Woods

Historical Fiction, African Americans, Race Relations, Watts Riots 1965 Los Angeles, Novels in Verse

160 pages

Description

In August 1965, twelve-year-old Eden's older cousin from Mississippi comes to visit her in Los Angeles, and while the Watts Riots erupt around them, they continue their investigation of the disappearance of Winter's father ten years ago.

My Comments

Engaging, educational. I wish that Eden's character was older and that the cover didn't look so young because this book would be good for grades 7 and 8. Also, the cover is very young looking. Otherwise, this would be a great book for 8th grade since her older cousin is 14 and the time period fits into their curriculum.

Book Quotes

"I want to write music. I pause. I think.

You written any yet?

Some. They're not very good.

Why you gonna talk yourself down? There'll be plenty of folks to do that for you.

You haveta believe in yourself, cousin. That's my rule number one.

I ask, What's your rule number two?

Believe in yourself some more.

-page 85 (When Winter Robeson Came)

SIGN OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUM by Katherine Paterson

 

Sign of the Chrysanthemum by Katherine Paterson

Historical Fiction, Adventure, Japan History,  Fathers and Sons, Coming of Age, Conduct of Life,

132 pages

Description
A teenager comes to know himself through contacts with social ills and political unrest while searching for his father in Japan's capital during the Heian period. (794-1185)

My Comments

Great story that moves along. I wish that there was a glossary to define many of the words. The beginning could be a bit confusing so it would be helpful to give some background and help with the topic specific vocabulary, but the story picks up quickly. There are a lot of worthwhile discussion possibilities despite the short length. Excellent.

DAUGHTER OF VENICE by Donna Jo Napoli

 

Daughter of Venice by Donna Jo Napoli

Historical Fiction, Italian Renaissance, Romance, Sex Roles, Venice

270 pages

Description

Kirkus Reviews (October 15, 2001)

Compelling historical fiction explores the Byzantine rules governing the social order of 16th-century Venice. Fourteen-year-old Donata, a younger daughter of one of Venice's wealthiest noble families, has been raised to expect little; according to the complex conventions of her society, only the oldest daughter of the family can expect to marry and leave the household. And to leave the household is what Donata desperately wants. Intelligent and curious, she chafes at the rules that dictate that she remain uneducated and never have the freedom to explore her city. In the tradition of spunky heroines before her, she devises a scheme that will allow her to sneak out of the house disguised as a poor boy and wander Venice, where she meets, befriends, and inevitably falls in love with Noe, a Jewish copyist. At the same time, she successfully petitions her father to sit in on her brothers' tutoring sessions and thus begins a formal education. Napoli resists the easy anachronism; spunky though Donata is, she remains committed to her family and her society, seeking a solution to her unhappiness that, although somewhat unconventional, nevertheless remains essentially true to her culture and its restrictions. The first-person, present-tense narration allows the reader to encounter Venice along with Donata, from the stately palazzos to the streets populated by beggars and to the Ghetto beyond. Fascinating tidbits of information about Venice's society, politics, history, and economy find their way painlessly into the narrative. While readers will be rightly skeptical at Donata's speedy mastery of not only written Venetian but Latin as well, they will nevertheless find themselves absorbed in her story and the snapshot of her city that it provides. (Fiction. 10-15)

School Library Journal (March 1, 2002)

Gr 7-10-As the daughter of a Venetian nobleman in 1592, 14-year-old Donata lives a sheltered and prescribed life. According to custom, her oldest sister will marry, either she or her identical twin Laura will stay home as the maiden aunt to care for her brother's children, and the other will go to a convent with their younger sisters. The girls spend their days doing chores, winding yarn onto giant bobbins for the family's wool trade, studying music, or going to parties where their oldest sister is examined as a marriage prospect. All that changes the day Donata dons boy's clothing and goes exploring outside the walls of the family's palazzo. Evading a bully, she ends up in the Jewish ghetto where she befriends a young man, Noè, who makes her question the privileges of her class, and at the same time she gains permission from her father to start studying with her brothers' tutor. When her parents announce a surprise betrothal that will curtail her studies and leave Laura convent-bound, Donata takes an action that drastically affects the whole family. While a current trend in historical fiction presents a girl with modern sensibilities chafing under the strict rules of her time, nothing about Donata seems forced. Even when acting rebelliously, her actions and thoughts feel authentic to the time and world that Napoli portrays. Even Donata's love for Noè is tempered by the knowledge that she could never convert to Judaism. Napoli's many fans will not be disappointed by this engrossing and exotic novel.-Lisa Prolman, Greenfield Public Library, MA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

My Comments

Napoli weaves the history and geopolitical elements into a compelling story with a wonderfully rebellious protagonist.

THE BOY AT THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN by John Boyne

 

The boy at the Top of the Mountain by John Boyne

Historical Fiction, World War II - 262 pages

Description

Kirkus Reviews (April 15, 2016)

A young boy grows up in Adolf Hitler's mountain home in Austria.Seven-year-old Pierrot Fischer and his frail French mother live in Paris. His German father, a bitter ex-soldier, returned to Germany and died there. Pierrot's best friend is Anshel Bronstein, a deaf Jewish boy. After his mother dies, he lives in an orphanage, until his aunt Beatrix sends for him to join her at the Berghof mountain retreat in Austria, where she is housekeeper for Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun. It is here that he becomes ever more enthralled with Hitler and grows up, proudly wearing the uniform of the Hitler Youth, treating others with great disdain, basking in his self-importance, and then committing a terrible act of betrayal against his aunt. He witnesses vicious acts against Jews, and he hears firsthand of plans for extermination camps. Yet at war's end he maintains that he was only a child and didn't really understand. An epilogue has him returning to Paris, where he finds Anshel and begins a kind of catharsis. Boyne includes real Nazi leaders and historical details in his relentless depiction of Pierrot's inevitable corruption and self-delusion. As with The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2006), readers both need to know what Pierrot disingenuously doesn't and are expected to accept his extreme naivete, his total lack of awareness and comprehension in spite of what is right in front of him.Chilling, difficult, and definitely not for readers without a solid understanding of the Holocaust despite the relatively simple reading level. (Historical fiction. 12-14)

My Comments

Immensely sad, but compelling. This book would generate much discussion. As the review mentions, however, Pierrot's naivete is a bit difficult to believe. I would only give this book to my 8th graders who have some background on the holocaust.

THE SKYLARK'S WAR by Hilary McKay

 

The Skylark's War by Hilary McKay

Historical Fiction, World War I, Sex Roles Fiction

324 pages

Description

Booklist starred (August 2018 (Vol. 114, No. 22))

Grades 7-10. While most writers fill in their main character’s backstory in a few paragraphs, this unusual novel begins when Clarry is born, in 1902, and follows her for more than 20 years. 

She and her older brother, Peter, grow up in a somewhat affluent, rather grim London household, but each year their emotionally distant father sends them off to Cornwell to spend a gloriously happy summer of freedom with their grandparents and their cousin Rupert. Midway through the book, 

WWI begins and their lives (Rupert’s in the trenches in France, and his cousins’ and their friends’ 

in England) are increasingly shaped by forces beyond their control. The characters are sharply delineated by their varied personalities, inclinations, and experiences. Their actions, though occasionally unexpected, seem inevitable in retrospect. McKay brings the period settings to life with vivid details, particularly when the war brings horrors to France and hardships to the home front. Flashbacks to the boys’ pivotal boarding school days fill the gaps in their stories, but the focus always returns to Clarry, her steadfast relationships, and her gradually widening world. Though love, pain, and loss shape this emotionally resonant story of coming of age in turbulent times, the ending is quietly hopeful and wholly satisfying.

Comments
I was drawn into this story despite some misgivings about it being too old-fashioned, but the writing style fits the time period perfectly. The timeless themes of war's devastating effects are portrayed honestly. The historical aspect brings to life the time period. This book should appeal to a wide audience. Highly recommended.

HATTIE BIG SKY by Kirby Lawson

Historical Fiction, World War I, Frontier and Pioneer Life, Self Reliance

289 pages

Description

Booklist starred (September 1, 2006 (Vol 103, No.1)
In this engaging historical novel set in 1918, 16-year-old orphan Hattie Brooks leaves Iowa and travels to a Montana homestead inherited from her uncle. In the beautiful but harsh setting, she has less than a year to fence and cultivate the land in order to keep it. neighbors who welcome Hattie help heal the hurt she has suffered from years f feeling unwanted. Chapters open with short artic,es that Hattie writes for an Iowa newspaper or her lively letters to a friend and possible beau who is in the military in France. The authentic first-person narrative, full of hope and anxiety, effectively portrays Hattie's struggles as a young woman with liimited options, a homesteader facing terrible odds, and a loyal citizen confused about the war and the local anit-German bias that endangers her new friends. Larson, whose great-grandmother homesteaded alone in Montana, read dozens of homesteaders' journals and based scenes in the book on reral events. Writing in figurative language that draws on nature and domestic detail to infuse her story with the sounds, smells, and sights of the prairie, she creates a richly textured novel full of memorable characters.

Horn Book Guide (Spring 2007) Set in Montana during World War I, Larson's novel tells a

gripping story of frontier life through the eyes of an unlikely homesteader--a sixteen-year-old orphan girl. Pressures to be a "loyal" American complicate her situation after she befriends a German couple. Evocative yet straightforward language ably depicts Hattie's joys and struggles. Recipes and an author's note are included. Reading list.

Comments

Pair this with Prairie Lotus for a more realistic take on

“Little House in the Woods.” I did not expect to love this book as much as I did. Kids might be reluctant to borrow it, thinking it could be old fashioned, but it’s a great story, an adventure, an example of female independence, courage, and resilience

PRAIRIE LOTUS by Linda Sue Park

Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park

261 pages

Asian American, Historical Fiction, U.S. History, Social Awareness, Racism

 Description

Kirkus Reviews starred (January 15, 2020)

“A “half-Chinese and half-white” girl finds her place in a Little House–inspired fictional settler town. After the death of her Chinese mother, Hanna, an aspiring dressmaker, and her white father seek a fresh start in Dakota Territory. It’s 1880, and they endure challenges similar to those faced by the Ingallses and so many others: dreary travel through unfamiliar lands, the struggle to protect food stores from nature, and the risky uncertainty of establishing a livelihood in a new place. Fans of the Little House books will find many of the small satisfactions of Laura’s stories—the mouthwatering descriptions of victuals, the attention to smart building construction, the glorious details of pleats and poplins—here in abundance. Park brings new depth to these well-trodden tales, though, as she renders visible both the xenophobia of the town’s white residents, which ranges in expression from microaggressions to full-out assault, and Hanna’s fight to overcome it with empathy and dignity. Hanna’s encounters with women of the nearby Ihanktonwan community are a treat; they hint at the whole world beyond a white settler perspective, a world all children deserve to learn about. A deeply personal author’s note about the story’s inspiration may leave readers wishing for additional resources for further study and more clarity about her use of Lakota/Dakota. While the cover art unfortunately evokes none of the richness of the text and instead insinuates insidious stereotypes, readers who sink into the pages behind it will be rewarded. Remarkable.”

 

My Comments

This book is so well done, so age appropriate, and is a riveting read. It should be a class read or reading group discussion. So well done!

 

JUST LIKE THAT by Gary Schmidt

 

Just Like that by Gary Schmidt

Historical Fiction (United States, Vietnam War)

 Grief, Loss, Humor

387 pages

"The well-phrased writing is understated, endlessly 

engaging, and sometimes suspenseful or amusing."

 (Booklist)

Description

Booklist starred (September 1, 2020 (Vol. 117, No. 1))

Grades 6-8. It’s the summer of 1968. The accidental death of a dear friend

has blindsided Meryl Lee, and grief still overwhelms her at times. Unable to 

face her old school for eighth grade, she enrolls at St. Elene’s Preparatory 

Academy in Maine, where she initially feels isolated from her pretentious 

roommate and other classmates. From the start, she’s intrigued by the strong,

 enigmatic headmistress, Dr. MacKnockater, who seems to understand so much

and whose opening address unexpectedly mesmerizes and challenges Meryl Lee. 

Slowly, she begins to find her way and tentatively makes friends 

while navigating boarding-school life under the watchful eyes 

of her inscrutable teachers. 

Meanwhile, Matt has arrived in the area. A good-hearted, vulnerable boy on the run 

from his sometimes-violent past, he’s befriended by Dr. MacKnockater, who takes 

him in and gradually gains his trust. The Vietnam War isn’t just the story’s backdrop,

but an inescapable, unsettling element of the times, painfully affecting several characters. 

The well-phrased writing is understated, endlessly engaging, and sometimes suspenseful

 or amusing. While fans of Schmidt’s The Wednesday Wars (2007) and Lizzie Bright 

and the Buckminster Boy (2004) will find links to both stories here, this well-constructed 

novel, with its beautifully interwoven strands of narrative, stands on its own. An 

unforgettable story of loss, healing, and finding one’s way.

CODE TALKER by Joseph Bruchac

 

Realistic Fiction, Navajo Indians, World War II, Marine Corp.

231 pages.

Book Description

From Follett

After being taught in a boarding school run by whites that Navajo is a useless language, Ned Begay and other Navajo men are recruited by the Marines to become Code Talkers, sending messages during World War II in their native tongue.

From the Publisher

Throughout World War II, in the conflict fought against Japan, Navajo code talkers were a crucial part of the U.S. effort, sending messages back and forth in an unbreakable code that used their native language. They braved some of the heaviest fighting of the war, and with their code, they saved countless American lives. Yet their story remained classified for more than twenty years.

But now Joseph Bruchac brings their stories to life for young adults through the riveting fictional tale of Ned Begay, a sixteen-year-old Navajo boy who becomes a code talker. His grueling journey is eye-opening and inspiring. This deeply affecting novel honors all of those young men, like Ned, who dared to serve, and it honors the culture and language of the Navajo Indians.

My Comments

A good choice for kids who are looking for books about World War II. It reads almost as narrative nonfiction so it can reach those who prefer factual books. An interesting perspective on some of the major battles in the Pacific. Similar to Fallen Angels which is more of a high school book. Definitely offer this as a middle school historical fiction choice. Excellent.

ANCIENT EGYPT MIDDLE SCHOOL FICTION & BIOGRAPHIES

BIOGRAPHIES

Hoobler, Dorothy. Cleopatra
A biography of the Egyptian queen who gained and maintained powerover her kingdom through her alliance with Julius Caesar and later Marc Antony.

Morgan, Julian, 1958-. Cleopatra: ruling in the shadow of Rome
A biography of Cleopatra VII, famous for her relationships withJulius Caesar and Mark Antony, the last pharaoh of Egypt.

Sapet, Kerrily, 1972-. Cleopatra : ruler of Egypt
The seventh Cleopatra -- The shadow of Rome --

Schiff, Stacy. Cleopatra : a life.

Cooney, Kara. The woman who would be king : 
Hatshepsut's rise to power in Ancient Egypt 
A biography of Hatshepsut, the longest-reigning female pharaoh of ancient Egypt,and the story of her rise to power.

Lange, Brenda. Nefertiti
Egypt then and now -- Everyday life in Egypt -- The mysterious queen Nefertiti --

Edwards, Roberta. Who was King Tut?

Hawass, Zahi A. Tutankhamun : the mystery of the boy king

Graphic Novel Biography
Jeffrey, Gary. Cleopatra : the life of an Egyptian queen

TALES

Climo, Shirley. Illustrated by Ruth Heller. Egyptian Cinderella

his Egyptian spin on the classic Cinderella tale was initially recorded in the first century by a Roman historian and is retold here by folklorist Shirley Climo. 

Green, Roger Lancelyn. Tales of Ancient Egypt

Puffin Pixels is a new collection of classics featuring pixelated, 8-bit video game cover artwork. Whether you're an adult nostalgic for video and computer games of the past, a teen looking for something edgy for your bookshelf, or just someone who tends to divert from the mainstream-Puffin Pixels adds a sophisticated, fresh, flair to the canon to satisfy every reader. - Publisher

Hibbert, Clare. Illustrated by Janos Jantner. Terrible Tales of Ancient Egypt 

(Monstrous Myths series)

The myths of ancient Egypt are peppered with tales of creation, love, family, trickery, and revenge. Readers will love learning about the famous Egyptian gods and goddesses, including Ra, Osiris, Horus, Isis, and Set. - Publisher

Land of enchanters : Egyptian short stories from the earliest times to the present day
Contains over twenty stories from ancient, Greco-Roman, Christian, Muslim, and modern Egypt.

McCaughrean, Geraldine. Casting the Gods Adrift. A Tale of Ancient Egypt

When Akhenaten, Egypt's new pharaoh, decrees that only one god shall be worshipped from now on, life is thrown into chaos for Tutmose, the young son of a dealer in rare animals meant for the temples of the traditional gods. Tutmose's happiness at living at the pharaoh's court is darkened when his father, maddened by the pharaoh's rejection of the gods, plots a deadly revenge. Back matter suggests further reading. -Publisher

Williams, Marcia. Ancient Egypt, Tales of God and Pharaohs.

In this retelling of nine tales of ancient Egypt, Marcia Williams uses her signature comicstrip style to capture the rich mythology and early history of this great civilization. Rami, Ra's beloved cat, highlights Egypt's many cultural and technological advances along the way. An instantly engaging, accessible introduction to an ancient civilization, this collection of stories is sure to fascinate and inspire young Egyptologists.

FICTION


Aubin, Henry T. Rise of the Golden Cobra
During a picnic overlooking the Nile, 14-year-old scribe Nebi spots the riders first. Led by the treacherous Count Nimlot, the raiding party slaughters Nebi's master, the region's head of police. Although wounded, Nebi escapes, the only living witness that the pharaoh's northern territory is no longer secure. Nebi is quickly catapulted into events that will change history. Set in 728 B.C., Rise of the Golden Cobra surrounds the actual reign of Pharaoh Piankhy, the brilliant and compassionate leader whose astonishing campaign united Ancient Egypt... - Sora

Carmichael, Leslie. The amulet of Amon-Ra
Jennifer is given an old scarab amulet that transports her back to ancient Egypt,where she explores her new surroundings and tries to solve the mystery of how she got there and what she needs to do to get back home. -Publisher

Cooney, Caroline B. For all Time
The fourth installment in the time travel series finds Annie, a teenager in 1999,attempting to get back to 1899 Egypt where she hopes to join her boyfriend, Strat,but she instead ends up in ancient Egypt and in great danger. -Publisher

Carrol, Emma. Secrets of a Sun King
It's November, 1922. In a valley in Egypt the tomb of a long dead pharaoh is about to be discovered. The world watches and waits for news with bated breath. Thirteen-year-old Lilian Kaye, who lives in a flat above a shop in London, is eagerly following the story. One morning the news takes a sinister turn: a man- a famous Egyptologist- disappears. All that remains of him are his feet. Then Lil's grandfather is taken suddenly ill, and when a mysterious package turns up for him from the Egyptologist, Lil starts to believe there is truth to the rumours of a pharaoh's curse. - Publisher

Curry, Jane Louise. The Egyptian Box 
Tee is happy to find that the ancient Egyptian box she inherits holds a spirit who will serve her, until she notices changes in her servant's appearance and behavior. (out of print)

Duey, Kathleen. Mummy
When the portal transports them to the Valley of the Kings in ancient Egypt,the Time Soldiers encounter thieves and an angry pharaoh as they try to make their way to safety, and along the way they learn that the amulet may give them some control over their journeys. (out of print?)

Ellerby, Leona. King Tut's Game Board.
With a mysterious friend he meets while vacationing in Egypt, 16-year-old Justin makes astonishing discoveries about two ancient civilizations. (out of print)

Friesner, Esther M. Sphinx's Princess
Although she is a dutiful daughter, Nefertiti's dancing abilities, remarkable beauty,and intelligence garner attention near and far, so much so that her family is summonedto the Egyptian royal court, where Nefertiti becomes a pawn in the power play ofher scheming aunt, Queen Tiye.

Friesner, Esther M. Sphinx's Queen
Nefertiti escapes the palace and the consequences of a false charge with two of her friends,
but while she takes refuge in the hills along the west bank of the Nile, Nefertiti's desires to prove her innocence in front of the Pharaoh are shadowed by questions about long-held, sacred beliefs.


Hofmeyr, Dianne. Eye of the Moon
Isikara embarks on a dangerous adventure when, while helping her father with the mummification of the Egyptian queen and her eldest son, Tuthmosis, she discovers the prince is still alive and decides she must rescue him and help find allies who can assist him in regaining his throne.

Hofmeyr, Dianne. Eye of the SunWhile Ta-Mui, maidservant to Nefertiti's rival, Kiya, is imprisoned for her effort to rescue T
uthmosis and Isikara and her relationship with a handsome villager, Tuthmosis and Isikara spread rumors of the prince's intentions as they make their way back to Egypt, which terrifies both Nefertiti and the High Priest.

Hulme-Cross, Benjamin. The Egyptian Warrior
Travel back in time with brothers Arthur and Finn as they help a Pharaoh's daughtersurvive a siege and stop an assassination plot.

Gregory, Kristiana. Cleopatra VII: Daughter of the Nile, Egypt, 57 B.C. 
(The Royal Diaries) 
Captivating story of young Cleopatra's tumultuous life. Daughter of King Ptolemy Autletes, Pharaoh of Egypt, Cleopatra lives a life filled with opulence and mystery. -Publisher

Jarmon, Julia. The Time Traveling Cat and the Egyptian Goddess
Topher, mourning the loss of his mother, an Egyptologist, takes in a stray cat--with the approval of his dad--that leads him on a time traveling adventure to ancient Egypt.

Kerr, P.B. The Akhenaten Adventure
When 12-year-old twins John and Philippa get their wisdom teeth, they suddenly have the power to grant wishes and make things disappear. They are genies! Quickly, they learn to control their powers just before they embark on a dangerous quest that will take them into the tomb of an ancient pharaoh. Along the way, the must confront Iblis, the most evil genie in the universe! This fast-paced and funny fantasy is the first children's novel from critically acclaimed thriller writer P.B. Kerr. -Sora

LaFevers, R.L. Theodosia
Nate is sent to live with a family cousin, the world's last beastologist, after his parents are declared lost at sea, but danger mounts when he is brought on an expedition to the Arabian desert, gets lost, and must protect a newly hatched phoenix egg and rescue his guardian.

Lester, Julius. Pharaoh's Daughter : A Novel of Ancient EgyptA fictionalized account of the Biblical tale in which a Hebrew infant, rescued by thedaughter of the Pharaoh, passes through a turbulent adolescence to eventuallybecome a prophet of his people while his sister finds her true self as a priestessto the Egyptian gods.

Maurer, Gretchen. Call me Isis : Egyptian Goddess of Magic
Isis, Egyptian Goddess of Magic, thinks herself destined for a charmed life as theGoddess-Queen of Egypt. But in one fell swoop she loses her love, her home,even her magical powers. How will she reclaim Egypt's throne for Horus, against the will of the evil usurper, Seth? Will she be able to save Egypt from ruin? And where can you find her now?"
--Back cover.

McGraw, Eloise Jarvis. The Golden GobletA young Egyptian boy struggles to reveal a hideous crime and reshape his own destiny.

McGraw, Eloise Jarvis. Mara, Daughter of the Nile
The adventures of an ingenious Egyptian slave girl who undertakes a dangerousassignment as a spy in the royal palace of Thebes, in the days when Queen Hatshepsut ruled.

Napoli, Donna Jo. Lights on the Nile
Kepi, a young girl who was content staying at home helping her father who was wounded while building a pyramid for the pharaoh Khufu, is kidnapped along with her baboon, Babu,and taken to the capital city, where she is separated from Babu, sets out to find him andappeal to the pharaoh, and discovers she has powers she never knew about.

Paver, Michelle. Gods and Warriors (Book 1)
In the turbulent world of the Mediterranean Bronze Age, Hylas, a lowly twelve-year-old goatherd, thief, and outsider, journeys from the Greek mountains to Crete and Egypt, making allies with animals, battling tyranny, and withstanding the elemental powers of the gods of land and sea. - Publisher

Paver, Michelle. The Burning Shadow (Gods and Warriors, Book 2)
In his search for his sister Issi, Hylas is kidnapped and sold into slavery and must escape the Crows with the help of his friend Pirra and a lion cub"--Publisher

Riordan, Rick. The Kane Chronicles (also in graphic novel format)
The Red Pyramid - Book 1
The Throne of Fire - Book 2
The Serpent’s Shadow - Book 3
(Series description) When a magical accident unleashes the Egyptian gods on the modern world, siblings Carter and Sadie Kane discover that they are the only ones who can put things right. As descendants of the greatest Egyptian magicians, they must find a way to defeat the evil god Set before he can destroy them. - Follett

Rubalcaba, Jill. A Place in the Sun
In ancient Egypt, the gifted young son of a sculptor is taken into slavery when he attempts to save his father's life, and is himself almost killed before his exceptional talent leads Pharoah to name him Royal Sculptor.


Rubalcaba. Jill. The Wadjet Eye
After his mother dies, Damon, a young medical student living in Alexandria, Egypt, in 45 B.C., makes a perilous journey to Spain to locate his father who is serving in the Roman army led by Julius Caesar.

Scieszka, Jon. Tut, tut.Sam, Joe, and Fred finish their school project on ancient Egypt without using their
magical time travel book, but when Joe's sister Anna plays with it and travels to
the land of pyramids, they must follow her back in time to bring her back to 1996.

Shecter, Vicky. Cleopatra's Moon
Selene, having grown up in a palace with her parents, Cleopatra and Mark Antony,is forced by war to build a new life in the household of Roman emperor Octavianus,where she finds herself torn between two young men and two possible destinies.

Sevigny, Alisha. The Lost Scroll of the Physician
After a brutal fire takes their parents’ lives, Sesha and Ky, children of the pharaoh’s royal physician, are left charming snakes and stealing food to survive. Unsure of who to trust, the pair are found and brought back to the palace, where the pharaoh tasks Sesha with finding a rare medical document her father was transcribing. But are the royals hiding something?

Snyder, Zilpha Keatley. The Egypt Game
Melanie and April turn a deserted lot into an imaginary Egypt where they spend many hoursenacting rituals and consulting oracles, but there are real dangers and problemslurking outside their make-believe world that almost bring their game to a disastrous end.

Turetsky, Bianca.The time-Traveling Fashionist and Cleopatra, Queen of the Nile
After trying on a Grecian dress, a twelve-year-old girl who likes vintage fashion travels back to ancient Egypt, where she experiences life as a handmaiden to Queen Cleopatra and learns valuable lessons about confidence and leadership.

Travis, Lucille. Tirzah
Tirzah’s people, the Israelites, have been in slavery to the Egyptians for many years. She observes the suffering of her people and the injustices that are done to them by the Egyptian police. One night, when the plague of death strikes down Pharaoh’s own son, he allows the Israelites to flee on foot, only to pursue them with horses and chariots. Tirzah befriends a young Egyptian girl who has fled with them, even though others treat her badly. In spite of hardship and disappointment, Tirzah and her family keep trusting Yahweh to carry them through.