*Starred Review* "You'd be surprised by how many things come into the museum loaded with curses--bad ones," says 11-year-old Theodosia, whose parents run London's Museum of Legends and Antiquities. The twentieth century has just begun, and Theodosia's mum, an archaeologist, has recently returned from Egypt with crates of artefacts. Only Theodosia can feel the objects' dark magic, which, after consulting ancient texts, she has learned to remove. Then a sacred amulet disappears, and during her search, Theodosia stumbles into a terrifying battle between international secret societies. Readers won't look to this thrilling adventure for subtle characterizations (most fit squarely into good and evil camps) or neat end-knots in the sprawling plot's many threads. It's the delicious, precise, and atmospheric details (nicely extended in Tanaka's few, stylized illustrations) that will capture and hold readers, from the contents of Theodosia's curse-removing kit to descriptions of the museum after hours, when Theodosia sleeps in a sarcophagus to ward off the curses of "disgruntled dead things." Kids who feel overlooked by their own distracted parents may feel a tug of recognition as Theodosia yearns for attention, and those interested in archaeology will be drawn to the story's questions about the ownership and responsible treatment of ancient artefacts. A sure bet for Harry Potter fans as well as Joan Aiken's and Eva Ibbotson's readers. This imaginative, supernatural mystery will find word-of-mouth popularity. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
*Starred Review* "You'd be surprised by how many things come into the museum loaded with curses--bad ones," says 11-year-old Theodosia, whose parents run London's Museum of Legends and Antiquities. The twentieth century has just begun, and Theodosia's mum, an archaeologist, has recently returned from Egypt with crates of artefacts. Only Theodosia can feel the objects' dark magic, which, after consulting ancient texts, she has learned to remove. Then a sacred amulet disappears, and during her search, Theodosia stumbles into a terrifying battle between international secret societies. Readers won't look to this thrilling adventure for subtle characterizations (most fit squarely into good and evil camps) or neat end-knots in the sprawling plot's many threads. It's the delicious, precise, and atmospheric details (nicely extended in Tanaka's few, stylized illustrations) that will capture and hold readers, from the contents of Theodosia's curse-removing kit to descriptions of the museum after hours, when Theodosia sleeps in a sarcophagus to ward off the curses of "disgruntled dead things." Kids who feel overlooked by their own distracted parents may feel a tug of recognition as Theodosia yearns for attention, and those interested in archaeology will be drawn to the story's questions about the ownership and responsible treatment of ancient artefacts. A sure bet for Harry Potter fans as well as Joan Aiken's and Eva Ibbotson's readers. This imaginative, supernatural mystery will find word-of-mouth popularity. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
R.L. LaFevers lives in Southern California. Learn more at her
website: http: //www.rllafevers.com/
Yoko Tanaka lives in Los Angeles and Bangkok with her husband and
three cats. In addition to illustrating the Theodosia books, she
has also illustrated The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo and
a picture book, Sparrow Girl by Sara Pennypacker. Her artwork can
be found at yokotanaka.com
Intrepid Theosodia, age 11, narrates a fantasy steeped in invented
and authentic Egyptology, clashing secret societies and pre-WWI
European intrigue.
Kirkus Reviews It's the delicious, precise, and atmospheric details
(nicely extended in Tanaka's few, stylized illustrations) that will
capture and hold readers, from the contents of Theodosia's
curse-removing kit to descriptions of the museum after hours, when
Theodosia sleeps in a sarcophagus to ward off the curses of
"disgruntled dead things." Kids who feel overlooked by their own
distracted parents may feel a tug of recognition as Theodosia
yearns for attention, and those interested in archeology will be
drawn to the story's questions about the ownership and responsible
treatment of ancient artifacts. A sure bet for Harry Potter fans,
as well as Joan Aiken's and Eva Ibbotson's readers. This
imaginative, supernatural mystery will find word-of-mouth
popularity.
Booklist, ALA, Starred Review "Vivid descriptions of fog-shrouded
London and hot, dusty Cairo enhance the palpable gothic atmosphere,
while page-turning action and a plucky, determined heroine add to
the book's appeal. . . A fine bet for a booktalk to classes
studying ancient Egypt." School Library Journal "There are
surprises aplenty in LaFevers's spirited debut, a sort of Indiana
Jones for girls and a perfect blend of mystery and humor. . . .
Loads of evocative Egyptian history and an oh-so-plucky,
resourceful narrator make this the first volume in a series to
watch." Publishers Weekly, Starred "Danger, mysterious museums
stuffed with exotic treasures, and children who best adult
evildoers are surefire ways to engage young readers, and LaFevers
has combined them to good advantage here." Bulletin of the Center
for Children's Books "...with Theo Throckmorton...girls have a
truly independent role model." TimeOut New York "Readers interested
in archaeology will be drawn to the story's questions." Book Links
January 2008 Book Links, ALA --
Frankly, I'm not fond of surprises, as the ones around here tend to be rather wicked." There are surprises aplenty in LaFevers's spirited debut, a sort of Indiana Jones for girls and a perfect blend of mystery and humor. Set in turn-of-the-20th-century London, it involves 11-year-old Theodosia Throckmorton, who "assists" her parents in their Museum of Legends and Antiquities. But Theo is the only one who can tell when ancient artifacts arriving at the museum bear a curse--and as new acquisitions arrive, she makes it her business to secretly remove any lingering curses by using recipes she finds in her constant research. Her mother returns home from a dig with the Heart of Egypt, a scarab amulet that was used as a death marker for the Pharaohs. When the amulet goes missing, Theo's search for it leads her to Lord Wigmere, the leader of an underground society that watches for magical artifacts entering England. The Heart of Egypt, it turns out, possesses a particularly nasty curse, "designed to weaken a nation, to make it easy to conquer." Crops begin to fail and a flu epidemic overtakes the nation. To break the curse, the Heart must be returned to the tomb from which it was taken--and, of course, it falls to Theo to recover the Heart. Loads of evocative Egyptian history and an oh-so-plucky, resourceful narrator make this the first volume in a series to watch. Ages 9-12. (Apr.) Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.
Intrepid Theosodia, age 11, narrates a fantasy steeped in
invented and authentic Egyptology, clashing secret societies and
pre-WWI European intrigue.
Kirkus Reviews It's the delicious, precise, and atmospheric details
(nicely extended in Tanaka's few, stylized illustrations) that will
capture and hold readers, from the contents of Theodosia's
curse-removing kit to descriptions of the museum after hours, when
Theodosia sleeps in a sarcophagus to ward off the curses of
"disgruntled dead things." Kids who feel overlooked by their own
distracted parents may feel a tug of recognition as Theodosia
yearns for attention, and those interested in archeology will be
drawn to the story's questions about the ownership and responsible
treatment of ancient artifacts. A sure bet for Harry Potter fans,
as well as Joan Aiken's and Eva Ibbotson's readers. This
imaginative, supernatural mystery will find word-of-mouth
popularity.
Booklist, ALA, Starred Review "Vivid descriptions of fog-shrouded
London and hot, dusty Cairo enhance the palpable gothic atmosphere,
while page-turning action and a plucky, determined heroine add to
the book's appeal. . . A fine bet for a booktalk to classes
studying ancient Egypt." School Library Journal "There are
surprises aplenty in LaFevers's spirited debut, a sort of Indiana
Jones for girls and a perfect blend of mystery and humor. . . .
Loads of evocative Egyptian history and an oh-so-plucky,
resourceful narrator make this the first volume in a series to
watch." Publishers Weekly, Starred "Danger, mysterious museums
stuffed with exotic treasures, and children who best adult
evildoers are surefire ways to engage young readers, and LaFevers
has combined them to good advantage here." Bulletin of the Center
for Children's Books "...with Theo Throckmorton...girls have a
truly independent role model." TimeOut New York "Readers interested
in archaeology will be drawn to the story's questions." Book Links
January 2008 Book Links, ALA --
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