by Vicky Alvear Shecter. Illustrated by Antoine Revoy. Secrets of the Ancient Gods series. 116 p. Boyds Mills Press, October, 2013. 9781590789957. (Finished copy courtesy of publisher.)
With much warning and caution about the possibility of being frightened and grossed out, first by the publisher, then by Anubis himself, the jackel-headed, snarky god of the dead guides us into the duat to begin our tour of the Underworld. Oops, Egyptian afterworld. He relates a brief overview of Egyptian history and the importance of the Nile river to Egyptian survival. Then, it's on to Ra's creation myth and the now indelible image of human-creation via Ra's giant loogies.
There's an awful lot of information packed into this slim volume as the reader travels through the twelve hours of Ra's nightly journey, filled, as promised with lots of gore and blood. A guide to the gods and demons, a glossary and extensive list of sources conclude the volume. The cover art is attention-grabbing but the interior black and white spreads are uneven, a few are a bit muddy, but most are serviceable, if a tad flat.
Of course, this begs pairing with Rick Riordan's Kane Chronicles. Kids who are curious about Egyptian mythology will find much to enjoy in Anubis Speaks!
I really enjoyed the author's biography of Cleopatra as well as her YA fiction, Cleopatra's Moon. Her knowledge of Egypt seems well-researched and encyclopedic, but more importantly, she can tell a darn good story. I am looking forward to the next installment in this series, Hades Speaks.
Author blog entry about the book.
Other blog reviews:
JeanLittleLibrary
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