What do an evil cat, a dusty museum, a several thousand-year-old curse, and Egyptian pharaoh Thusmose III have in common? Theodosia Elizabeth Throckmorton.
The poor kid who was blessed with that long name is the center of R. L. LaFevers' enjoyable 2007 release, following her and her archaeologist parents from London to Thebes to discover hidden antiquities...and keep Britian from tee-total danger. Actually, that last part Theo's parents don't know about, so keep it to yourself.
Whiel an evil-looking assistant curator is at the top of the suspect list when a rare and cursed artifact Theo's mother brings from Egypt goes missing, it turns out it's fallen into the hands of a small alliance that intend to use its magical properties to, in time, take power over all of Europe. But Theo, who possesses the talent of seeing curses in ancient objects, is on the case, and some fellow helpers (pickpocket Will and younger brother Henry) are helping her claim it back. But once the enchanted object, the "Heart of Egypt" as it's known, is returned to its rightful place in the dark depths of the tombs, will Britain be safe once again?
LaFevers is right on the ticket with this story and its fascinating tidbits of info about Egypt. Though the story in its entirety is a little far-fetched (big, nasty men relying on supposed Egyptian magic for world domination), it is quite entertaining to see Theo worm her way out of harm's grasp time and time again. And her sometimes-possessed cat Isis is a riot all on her own.
The action-filled voodoo-ish portions of the book aren't detailed enough to frighten the kiddies, so this would make a fascinating read for the younger kids. But beware - if they start giving the family cat mud baths to "remove curses", it's probably best they read something else.
The poor kid who was blessed with that long name is the center of R. L. LaFevers' enjoyable 2007 release, following her and her archaeologist parents from London to Thebes to discover hidden antiquities...and keep Britian from tee-total danger. Actually, that last part Theo's parents don't know about, so keep it to yourself.
Whiel an evil-looking assistant curator is at the top of the suspect list when a rare and cursed artifact Theo's mother brings from Egypt goes missing, it turns out it's fallen into the hands of a small alliance that intend to use its magical properties to, in time, take power over all of Europe. But Theo, who possesses the talent of seeing curses in ancient objects, is on the case, and some fellow helpers (pickpocket Will and younger brother Henry) are helping her claim it back. But once the enchanted object, the "Heart of Egypt" as it's known, is returned to its rightful place in the dark depths of the tombs, will Britain be safe once again?
LaFevers is right on the ticket with this story and its fascinating tidbits of info about Egypt. Though the story in its entirety is a little far-fetched (big, nasty men relying on supposed Egyptian magic for world domination), it is quite entertaining to see Theo worm her way out of harm's grasp time and time again. And her sometimes-possessed cat Isis is a riot all on her own.
The action-filled voodoo-ish portions of the book aren't detailed enough to frighten the kiddies, so this would make a fascinating read for the younger kids. But beware - if they start giving the family cat mud baths to "remove curses", it's probably best they read something else.
Reviewed by Candace Cunard for TeensReadToo.com
Theodosia Throckmorton, a precocious and self-assured eleven-year-old girl, can see the curses swirling around the Egyptian artifacts in London's Museum of Legends and Antiquities. Too bad the grown-ups won't listen to her. Her father, the head curator, and her mother, an archaeologist who makes frequent trips to Egypt to acquire new artifacts, don't understand why their daughter continues to give them protective amulets, or at least get them to wear gloves when handling cursed objects!
Good thing Theo's a smart girl; she takes it upon herself to find ways to un-curse the things her parents bring back to the museum, learning how to read hieroglyphics and perusing old papyrus documents about the legends and myths of ancient Egypt. She's not perfect--sometimes her solutions go awry, as when she accidentally transfers a curse to her pet cat, Isis--but her skills keep the museum in good order, leaving her parents none the wiser.
Things start to get bad when Theo's mother comes back from Egypt with a new artifact: the Heart of Egypt, a legendary object that carries with it a curse that could destroy all of Britain and plunge the world into chaos. When the Heart of Egypt is stolen from the museum before Theo can work out a way to dispel the curse, she's sent on a wild chase through London. With the help of her younger brother, Henry, and a young pickpocket, Sticky Will, Theo organizes a plan to find the Heart of Egypt and steal it back.
Theo is an innovative and interesting young girl, and her first-person narration is full of spunk and energy that shapes her character. The narrative voice was easily my favorite part of the storytelling; Theo's narration was compelling, really showing the world through her eyes. The supporting cast--heroes and villains alike--is rendered in great detail, so hat even those characters who might seem larger-than-life are just right for their setting. LaFevers paints a wonderful picture of 1906 London, with nods to the geopolitical tensions rocking Europe at that point, delivered through the perspective of a young girl who cares more for curses than for politics.
The plot moves along at a good pace, spending just enough time on each scene that the reader gets a sense of being there, all of which is only emphasized by the voice of the novel's protagonist. The conclusion is satisfying, but the story's larger questions are left unanswered, in preparation for a sequel I can't wait to read!
Theodosia Throckmorton, a precocious and self-assured eleven-year-old girl, can see the curses swirling around the Egyptian artifacts in London's Museum of Legends and Antiquities. Too bad the grown-ups won't listen to her. Her father, the head curator, and her mother, an archaeologist who makes frequent trips to Egypt to acquire new artifacts, don't understand why their daughter continues to give them protective amulets, or at least get them to wear gloves when handling cursed objects!
Good thing Theo's a smart girl; she takes it upon herself to find ways to un-curse the things her parents bring back to the museum, learning how to read hieroglyphics and perusing old papyrus documents about the legends and myths of ancient Egypt. She's not perfect--sometimes her solutions go awry, as when she accidentally transfers a curse to her pet cat, Isis--but her skills keep the museum in good order, leaving her parents none the wiser.
Things start to get bad when Theo's mother comes back from Egypt with a new artifact: the Heart of Egypt, a legendary object that carries with it a curse that could destroy all of Britain and plunge the world into chaos. When the Heart of Egypt is stolen from the museum before Theo can work out a way to dispel the curse, she's sent on a wild chase through London. With the help of her younger brother, Henry, and a young pickpocket, Sticky Will, Theo organizes a plan to find the Heart of Egypt and steal it back.
Theo is an innovative and interesting young girl, and her first-person narration is full of spunk and energy that shapes her character. The narrative voice was easily my favorite part of the storytelling; Theo's narration was compelling, really showing the world through her eyes. The supporting cast--heroes and villains alike--is rendered in great detail, so hat even those characters who might seem larger-than-life are just right for their setting. LaFevers paints a wonderful picture of 1906 London, with nods to the geopolitical tensions rocking Europe at that point, delivered through the perspective of a young girl who cares more for curses than for politics.
The plot moves along at a good pace, spending just enough time on each scene that the reader gets a sense of being there, all of which is only emphasized by the voice of the novel's protagonist. The conclusion is satisfying, but the story's larger questions are left unanswered, in preparation for a sequel I can't wait to read!
