Author Fiona Ingram understands that young readers have no patience for long, drawn-out prologues. At the first sentence—a one-word exclamation—of The Secret of the Sacred Scarab, she jettisons readers off on an adventure to a far-away land with two young cousins. The Secret of the Sacred Scarab is entertainment for readers up to around age fourteen and for those who wish they were fourteen again. It is at once adventure and history, art and architecture, humor and redemption, travel writing and social studies, and great fun. Fiona Ingram presents this as her first of seven in a series titled Chronicles of the Stone.
The Secret of the Sacred Scarab offers a veritable treasure trove of fantasy and intrigue for young readers. When young cousins, Adam and Justin, take off on a tour through Egypt with their aunt and grandmother, they have their hearts set on adventure. As their journey begins, the boys encounter a mysterious man who disappears into the crowd before they have a chance to pay him for the scarabs he tries to sell to them. As the story unfolds, they uncover hidden secrets, buried treasure and more. Replete with kidnapping, robberies, hidden doors, quick sand, and so much more, kids will surely be captivated by this gripping tale which is as compelling as it is educational.
The Secret of the Sacred Scarab is a well-written novel with a good story structure and very good character development, which is often lacking in young adult adventure tales. The characters work together effectively toward the author’s ultimate desired conclusion.
Ingram has superior descriptive skills that transport readers to sand swept Egypt, which keeps the novel moving despite the book’s length. The story contains lots of historical information as an added bonus for young readers. Laila, the tour guide, is a great source of factual data regarding Egyptian culture, landmarks, pharaohs and even hieroglyphics. The Secret of the Sacred Scarab could be an ideal book for middle school teachers and their students.
I love a good mystery, and this is a good mystery. The story is loaded with lots of factual detail about prehistoric Egypt … and topical issues like protecting national treasure. There is plenty of action and some history in this mystery adventure for preteens. Girls will be just as interested in the story as boys. This is a very enjoyable story and would make a great selection for a history buff or mystery lover.
All I can say is, "Wow!" This is one of the most thrilling children's books that I have read in a long time. Author Fiona Ingram ... has combined an exciting story that is filled with adventure and suspenseful mystery to keep the reader turning the pages with a lot of interesting factual information about the history and geography of Egypt. I especially like the way that Adam and Justin are portrayed as bright and wanting to learn. Fiona Ingram has combined an exciting story that is filled with adventure and suspenseful mystery to keep the reader turning the pages with a lot of interesting factual information about the history and geography of Egypt.
Ingram has crafted a fascinating story of adventure. Ancient Egypt is a topic that captivates most young adults, and Ingram incorporates information about Egypt’s modern culture, as well as ancient legend. The story’s many twists and turns may be too complex for younger readers, but teens and tweens who can keep straight the many characters and navigate the long and detailed story will appreciate this well-researched adventure. The Secret of the Sacred Scarab is the first book in a series that will feature Adam and Justin. There is a glossary of unfamiliar terms on the book website.
