jjares reviewed Tutankhamen Speaks (Tales & Legends for Reluctant Readers) on + 3294 more book reviews
The author, a retired English teacher, set out to write a book to entice reluctant readers. She used historically-based fiction to tell the tale of Tutankhamen's life and death. She did a great job with the vocabulary she chose for reluctant readers and people who struggle with reading. I taught special needs kids for years and I don't really see them eagerly picking up this book. There just aren't enough hooks in the story to keep them reading.
Overall score = 3.5 stars
Overall score = 3.5 stars
Andrew K. (kuligowskiandrewt) -
Cheryl Carpinello has taken on a challenge. She wants to write books that will entice the reluctant reader â especially the reluctant young male reader â to actually pick up a book, read a book, finish a book, and enjoy a book!!
I recently picked up and read a copy of one of the books in her âTales and Legends for Reluctant Readersâ series called âTutankhamen Speaksâ. In it, the famed Boy King of Ancient Egypt tells of his life, from the day he and his father first discussed his eventual (sooner than either expected, iot turned out) ascension to the throne to the day when he passed away. Presented as translations from the ancient scrolls, certain gaps appear in the narrative (âindecipherable â, âscroll tornâ, etc.) exist, but do not detract from the story being told.
Does this succeed in drawing in the reluctant reader? I cannot be sure â frankly, I cannot get my grandson to OPEN a book to find out if he'll read it. (Not unless he's forced, and that defeats the purpose, since I don't give him âassignmentsâ, leaving that task for his teachers.) I wonder if Tut's description of his marriage and his children â none of whom survived childbirth â would catch the attention of the young male reader. HOWEVER, certainly descriptions of animals, from the captive elephant to the threats of the Nile crocodile and hippopotamus, to the Pharoah's last ostrich hunt should produce an enthusiastic response in the target audience!! And, of course, some of the Egyptian names may produce some difficulties for the young reader â but patient reading should not only allow them to get past them BUT to give a sense of accomplishment once they are correctly viewed!!
After some contemplation, I decided that this book largely meets its goals, perhaps not perfectly but close enough to call it a success.
RATING: Four Stars
I recently picked up and read a copy of one of the books in her âTales and Legends for Reluctant Readersâ series called âTutankhamen Speaksâ. In it, the famed Boy King of Ancient Egypt tells of his life, from the day he and his father first discussed his eventual (sooner than either expected, iot turned out) ascension to the throne to the day when he passed away. Presented as translations from the ancient scrolls, certain gaps appear in the narrative (âindecipherable â, âscroll tornâ, etc.) exist, but do not detract from the story being told.
Does this succeed in drawing in the reluctant reader? I cannot be sure â frankly, I cannot get my grandson to OPEN a book to find out if he'll read it. (Not unless he's forced, and that defeats the purpose, since I don't give him âassignmentsâ, leaving that task for his teachers.) I wonder if Tut's description of his marriage and his children â none of whom survived childbirth â would catch the attention of the young male reader. HOWEVER, certainly descriptions of animals, from the captive elephant to the threats of the Nile crocodile and hippopotamus, to the Pharoah's last ostrich hunt should produce an enthusiastic response in the target audience!! And, of course, some of the Egyptian names may produce some difficulties for the young reader â but patient reading should not only allow them to get past them BUT to give a sense of accomplishment once they are correctly viewed!!
After some contemplation, I decided that this book largely meets its goals, perhaps not perfectly but close enough to call it a success.
RATING: Four Stars
