The Red Pyramid

Gr 5—8—The first volume (Hyperion, 2010) in Rick Riordan's new series brings Egyptian mythology to life in a non-stop adventure. Since their mother's death, Sadie has lived in England with her grandparents and Carter has been with his father, an Egyptologist who roams the world. After six years, they are reunited when their father brings them to the British Museum. A fiery explosion causes their father to disappear, the kidnapping of the children, the apparent destruction of the Rosetta Stone, and the release of a group of gods intent on destroying the world. The siblings discover that their deliberate separation was caused by a fear about their combined magical powers and that they carry the blood of the pharaohs in their veins. In their effort to save the world and their father, they are assisted by many Egyptian gods. Narrators Kevin R. Free and Katherine Kellgren capture the different natures of the siblings and the personalities of the gods. Kellgren perfectly voices Sadie's impatience and arrogance, while Free makes Carter sound more cautious and cerebral. The story is told alternately by the siblings, offering two interpretations of the action. Listeners will be enthralled.—Edith Ching, Washington Latin Public Charter School, DC