I don't normally read YA fiction. However, Cheryl
Carpinello's new release, Sons of the
Sphinx, interested me for two reasons: First, Rosa, the young protagonist,
can talk to the dead, and isn't too happy it. This is always a subject of
interest to me, in fact, Rosa shares her gift (or curse, depending on how you
look at it) with the protagonist Cass Adams in my own novel, They Call Me Crazy. Additionally, the
setting for the book is Ancient Egypt, a world I find fascinating in its own
right.
In Sons of the Sphinx,
Rosa travels back in time to help a young King Tut fulfill a prophecy that will
insure that his family is looked upon with honor in the future. Also, in the
course of their journey, Tut must release the soul of his queen, Ankhesenamun,
so they may be joined for all eternity.
It isn't the simplest of tasks, since they don't know exactly where
Ankhesenamun is buried and they have General Horremheb trying to keep them from
succeeding.
Rosa and Tut are very sleuthlike, in that they must discover
and interpret clues as to the final resting place of Ay, who will tell them
where Ankhesenamun is buried. It's an interesting pair, one teenager from the
past and one from the future, using what knowledge they have of the time to
move from one clue to another.
The historical detail was fascinating and well woven throughout
the narrative. The various landmarks and the terrain in general leapt from the
pages, placing the reader in an ancient, and somewhat exotic time. It has an
engaging and well developed plot, dynamic characters and was a fun read.
I'm sure young adults will enjoy the attention to detail and
the journey back in time.
You can buy Sons of the Sphinx at the following places online:
Cheryl Carpinello is a retired English teacher who hopes to inspire young
readers to read more through her Quest Books. Follow her at:
Check out her blog at:
