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Summary
Summary
An egotistical royal cat and his dung beetle sidekick track a jewelry thief in this hilarious new series set in ancient Egypt.
Nominated for an Edgar Award!
Can a lazy cat and a dung-obsessed beetle really crack a mystery? Ra relishes his role as the Pharaoh's beloved--and spoiled--cat. So when an amulet goes missing from the palace, Ra plans to keep enjoying his snacks and nap in the sun. But Ra's friend Khepri, a wise and industrious scarab beetle, insists on investigating in order to save the young servant girl who has been framed for the crime.
Once Ra gets going, he decides that being a Great Detective isn't so bad; in fact, he doesn't mind being hailed as "Protector of the Weak and Defender of Justice." The comically mismatched duo is on the case!
Wacky illustrations with fun historical details bring these oddball characters to life. Includes a glossary, pronunciation guide, and detailed author's note.
"An ingenious mystery full of entertaining details for fans of ancient Egypt."--Paula Harrison, author of the Rescue Princesses series
Author Notes
A. B. Greenfield once had four newborn kittens living in her closet and has loved cats ever since. She is the author of many books, and has won a PEN/Albrand Award, the Veolia Prix du Livre Environnement, and a Beacon of Freedom Award. Amy was raised in the United States and studied history at Oxford. She now lives with her family in England.
Sarah Horne is an award-winning illustrator. Her children's books include You Get What You Get by Julie Gassman and the Sesame Seade series by Clémentine Beauvais. Her design and advertising clients range from IKEA and Nike to The Sunday Times and Sesame Street . She lives in London.
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-5-Ra is Pharaoh's cat: a position of great honor, privilege, and feline laziness. Set in ancient Egypt, this lightly humorous mystery follows Ra's growth from self-centered lethargy to a true detective-with help from his friends. A precious amulet belonging to Pharaoh's wife has been stolen, and a young servant girl named Tedimut was framed for the crime. A kitchen cat approaches Ra seeking justice. Ra reluctantly accepts the challenge, with some prodding from his scarab beetle friend Khepri. Time is running short though; Pharaoh declares the theft treasonous, which is tantamount to a death sentence for the thief. The story is enhanced by delightful black-and-white illustrations. Ra's initial vanity is well balanced with the apparent steadfastness of his friendship with a dung-loving beetle. Proud and lazy as Ra may be, his unwavering loyalty to a vulnerable friend makes him a multidimensional character from the outset. An author's note and list of sources help clarify fact and fiction. -VERDICT A charming page-turner of a mystery; recommend to cat lovers and young Egyptologists.-Sara White, Seminole County Public Library, Casselberry, FL © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Ra is Pharaoh's Cat, exalted, proud, pampered, and very lazy.He lives for naps and snacks and views physical activity with horror. His friend Khepri, a scarab beetle, tries to get him moving, but to no avail. When Miu, a lowly kitchen cat, begs him to use his knowledge of the palace's secrets to help Tedimut, a young human girl falsely accused of stealing an amulet, he declines, appalled at the possibility of missing his next snack. Shamed into helping, he leads the way through the intricacies of the palace. They find Tedimut's hiding place, and after hearing her story, Ra decides to be the lead detective, with Khepri as his sidekick, to find the real thief. They track clues throughout the palace and get help from Aat, the Great Wife's leopard; Bebi, the pet baboon of Pharaoh's mother; and others. Overheard conversations, palace intrigue, chases, and loads of red herrings come into play before they find the surprise culprit and solve the mystery. Greenfield's tone is generally lighthearted, but there is an undertone concerning the nature of power. The exciting ancient setting, as well as the characters' idiosyncratic personalities and their delightful repartee, will appeal to young readers. Horne's pen-and-ink portraits, elongated and exaggerated, perfectly complement the seriocomic tone of the novel.Fast-paced adventure with a lot of charm. (glossary of names, author's note, source note, acknowledgements) (Historical fantasy/mystery. 8-11) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Ra revels in his life as the pharaoh's cat. It's an exquisite existence of naps, snacks, and being admired or, as his best friend Khepri (a scarab) uncharitably describes it, laziness. Ra is jolted out of his leisurely habits when scandal rocks the palace: a young servant girl has stolen the Great Wife's necklace and gone into hiding. As the palace guards search for the girl, Tedimut, her scrappy cat, Miu, comes to Ra for help. She knows Tedimut has been falsely accused, and after just the right amount of flattery, Ra agrees to find out who the real thief is, with Khepri as his sidekick. Their ensuing exploits are perfect for young gumshoes. Greenfield gives a clear breakdown of how to conduct an investigation, helmed primarily by Khepri, who proves to be the brains of the detective team. Greenfield also incorporates just the right amount of ancient Egyptian history, charmingly illustrated by Horne. Humor courses through the narrative, and Ra sheds some of his overabundant ego by the mystery's end.--Julia Smith Copyright 2018 Booklist
