This review is part of the Green Books campaign . Today 100 bloggers are reviewing 100 great books printed in an environmentally friendly way. Our goal is to encourage publishers to get greener and readers to take the environment into consideration when purchasing books. This campaign is organized by Eco-Libris, a a green company working to green up the book industry by promoting the adoption of green practices, balancing out books by planting trees, and supporting green books. A full list of participating blogs and links to their reviews is available on Eco-Libris website . Logo designed by Susan Newman.
The Egyptian Chronicles bk 1
Gill Harvey
The Spitting Cobra is the first in a new series of four books set in ancient Egypt. The Horned Viper, the second Egyptian Chronicle, will be published in October 2009 and two further instalments will be released in 2010.
Each book is a fantastically atmospheric evocation of Egyptian life encased in an exciting adventure story. The boy and girl characters, Hopi and Isis, feature in each book and readers will be intrigued to follow their struggles for existence and adventure in Egypt circa 1150 BC.
Set in the legendary Valley of the Kings, The Spitting Cobra opens the series with a gripping adventure of royal proportions, as Isis and Hopi try to solve the mystery of who is stealing sacred treasures from the heavily guarded Pharaoh’s tombs.
REVIEW: As is mentioned at the top of this post this book is part of the “Green Reads” campaign. When I was first contacted by the organization putting it on I thought sure okay. Then I received the list of books that I had to choose from, at first I thought it would be hard to decide then I got to the children’s section and realized that it would be really easy.
It isn’t easy being an orphan and a cripple in 1150bc however Hopi knows that he and his sister Isis are lucky as they have been taken in by a family that has a daughter Isis age. He also knows that Isis has to be careful and make sure not to upset Mut the daughter to much.
When the family travels to another city to perform at a series of parties, they discover that all is not as it seems in the city, but Hopi for the first time since he became crippled is given the opportunity to shine and to start to become what his father had always wanted for him.
I really enjoyed this book, and my son Mat is reading it now, and he is in the 3rd grade. So far Mat is really liking the story. He struggles a bit with the names as they are rather hard names for a 3rd grader but beyond that he is doing great. As a parent I liked how the story showed the siblings working together to help right a wrong, and also being concerned with others well being. They always put each other first and are constantly looking out for each other.
One of the things that I really liked about this book was that at the end of this book the author explains some of the back story, what life was like, the Gods, the location. This is really helpful especially when kids ask questions about what they have read.
For those of you that are “Green” this book is published on FSC certified paper. As a family we try and go as “Green” as we can, because we understand that it is our responsibility to help to preserve our environment, because if we don’t then there won’t be much left for our grandchildren.
I give this book a 5 out of 5.
The book can be found here.
other books in the series…The sacred Scarab and Death Stalker will be published in 2010
I hadn't heard of this series before. Sounds like an interesting book on Ancient Egypt.
It is a brand new book. Everything that I found showed it coming out of the UK as both the author and publisher are located there.
sounds like an interesting set of books for kids. Thanks for the review of this green book