Maia of Thebes, 1463 B.C.

My 12-yr-old daughter is a reluctant reader and found the tale of Maia so engrossing she stayed up all night to finish the book and regaled us with the story over breakfast. Wonderful!!

I am a burgeoning HS parent. I was looking for read-aloud historical fiction for my first and second graders, as we begin the study of Ancient cultures, Egypt, Rome, and Greece. I found this book in the Public Library, and pre-read it. I found it a much less problematic offering for a parent (with convictions about what a child should know of the world at too early an age) than a comparable novel, The Golden Goblet, which is recommended in other HS 'lists.' While this book also seems to follow the modern dysfuctional literary penchant for a main character coming from tragedy and familial dysfuction- (Maia and her brother are orphans) could you folks not write- for ONCE- about a NORMAL family, where there is a father, mother, sibling, and dog/cat/horse, etc.? Sheesh!!!- the author skillfully blends in the feelings of ancient Egypt; it's heat, it's cultural beauty (as well as it's pagan oppression) it's animistic religion, and a host of good character qualities as well!! I found this book to be uplifting, and to posit what it means to have convictions- even when they need to be modified, in order to save the life of someone- which is refreshing from either situation ethics (what is good, is what is good..for you) or a narrow legalism (one must always do what is right...no matter what). In short, Ms. Turner gives us a memorable character, with human flaws, but with great human dignity, that any parent could draw analogies of how they want THEIR son/daughter to behave if found in a similar situation. I certainly noted the `cinderella' elements in the story, but they didn't bother me; what is children's fiction, anyway, but an entr?e into the real world, without all the sorrow, sin, and evil that will later plague us all? I have read the other reviews on this series, but am withholding judgment until I can read them myself. Since Scholastic has given us novels set during the three areas most SOTW/CHOW historical approaches to learning cover, (Egypt, Rome, Greece) I would hope that the other books in this series are up to Ms. Turner's level of writing, character development, and ease of entry into another time, another world. I would encourage Scholastic to give Ms. Turner another historical topic to write on- one that is overlooked for children of this age range, and to avoid any possible PC garbage- this is a distinct 'turn-off' for many HS parents.(Oh yes, there is some 'this is not what a woman should do' in this book- Maia knows (gasp!) how to write!!!!- but that is minor, considering the fact that women do that sort of thing today, and neither the West, nor the Founding Fathers seemed to view an illiterate female population as an asset (LOL) contrary to some feminazis in academia today.... She (Turner) deserves another title in the series!

It is 1493 B.C. and Egypt is a thriving empire under the rule of a female Pharoah, Hatshepsut. It is during this time that Maia lives, in the major city of Thebes. However Maia's life is cruel and harsh just like the waters of the Nile when it floods. Her and her brother were orphaned and left to live with their uncle and aunt. Maia's life is full of hardship as her uncle and aunt treat her poorly and constantly berate her. Maia knows she must find a way out before her life is ruined. She secretly pleads with her brother, Sethnet, to teach her how to read and write since he is studying to be a scribe. Sethnet finally does agree and the course of Maia's life is dramatically changed as she will use this new skill to her advantage and finally escapes Thebes and her unwelcome uncle. This book was a good edition to the Life and Times Series. Ann Turner has always been good at writing historical fiction and this book was another classic Ann Turner book. She successfully brings to life the daily working of Ancient Egypt and the intrigue that goes along with that era. Will be a good read for fans of the series.