Maia of Thebes, 1463 B.C.
Gr. 4-6. Thirteen-year-old Maia and her brother live with their aunt and their uncle, a temple priest, in ancient Thebes during the reign of Hatshepsut. Maia, whose brother is secretly teaching her to read and write, is inspired by the voices that only she can hear to ask a question in the temple implying her uncle has been stealing its grain. With her safety in jeopardy, Maia relies on her friends, her wits, and her skills as a scribe to survive. Eventually, her fate is decided by Queen Hatshepsut herself. The violence of the times is evident when Maia casts a fishing net into the Nile and draws up a severed hand, and readers are told that losing a hand for thievery may be her uncle's punishment. Other elements of ancient Egyptian society, religion, and law are incorporated into the story in less-sensational ways. Though the plot relies on coincidence, readers will want to follow Maia's story to the end. A historical novel from the publisher's Life and Times series.Carolyn PhelanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved