Friday, January 7, 2011

The Red Pyramid (Kane Chronicles #1) by Rick Riordan

Release Date: May 4, 2010
Pages: 516 pages
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
Rating:
4 stars

Goodreads Summary: Since their mother's death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in London, her brother has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist, Dr. Julius Kane.

One night, Dr. Kane brings the siblings together for a "research experiment" at the British Museum, where he hopes to set things right for his family. Instead, he unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes him to oblivion and forces the children to flee for their lives.

Soon, Sadie and Carter discover that the gods of Egypt are waking, and the worst of them —Set— has his sights on the Kanes. To stop him, the siblings embark on a dangerous journey across the globe - a quest that brings them ever closer to the truth about their family and their links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs.
 
Review: Kudos to Rick Riordan for writing books with diverse main characters and doing it well. Carter and Sadie are biracial, their father is African American and their mother is Caucasian. Carter looks like his dad while Sadie looks like her mom and though the book does not belabor the point, it does mention how differently their lives are and how people treat them because of their appearance.

If you have read Riordan’s The Lightening Thief, you know the formula this book follows: children who are not aware of their true heritage, a parent gets kidnapped and the kids must save the day. Not to say this book is predictable, it’s an exciting and fun read. The Egyptian mythology is very cool and I like how Riordan takes the time to explain that the Egyptian deities are not God, but created beings with magical abilities.

The book will probably appeal to younger teen readers as Sadie and Cater are 12 and 14 years old. There really is no romance to speak of with is appropriate because of their age, but they do develop crushes. The end leaves the door open to sequels, and I look forward to what the siblings will get into next.  

Content: Clean

4 comments:

Melissa (i swim for oceans) said...

Great review! I really enjoyed this book...even if it followed the same formula as PJ. Great review! Have you read The Lost Hero?

I'm your newest follower, by the way! I found you through the blog hop :)

Truly Bookish said...

Thanks Melissa! I did read the Lost Hero and really enjoyed it too! Love the diversity in that book as well.

NC

Susan said...

So glad to have found you via the Hop. I have THE RED PYRAMID, but haven't delved into it yet. I'm so glad it features bi-racial characters, though, since my daughter (who's adopted) is bi-racial. My son loved THE LOST HERO. I haven't read that one yet either. Sheesh. I need to get on the ball!

writer girl said...

this is a really nice blog, I especially love how you comment on the content at the end of your reviews. I became a follower and look forward to reading your posts!!!

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