The Scroll of Alexandria

August 1, 2017

Gr 1-3-Lottie Lipton, nine years old in 1928, lives in a small apartment in London's British Museum with her great-uncle Bert, a professor of Egyptology. Surrounded by world history artifacts, Lottie, Uncle Bert, and the museum caretaker, Reg, encounter mysteries and help save artifacts from the head curator's underhanded decisions. In The Curse of the Cairo Cat, the golden Egyptian cat disappears just before its grand reveal at the exhibit's opening. In The Egyptian Enchantment, ancient statues come to life and make a mess before Lottie and her fellow detectives can find the spell to get them under control. In The Scroll of Alexandria, Lottie must lead an investigation to save the books in the museum's library. In The Secrets of the Stone, Lottie and crew work to find the missing Rosetta Stone and catch a thief. Each story in this series has similar introductions and plot structures, providing continuity for young readers. Varying contexts for each adventure provide ancient history lessons and a fresh set of problems for kids to navigate. Metcalf and Panagarry draw readers into the mysteries through direct address and interactive features (e.g., Did You Know?, Brain Teasers, Crack the Code, and Glossary sections). Just as David A. Adler's Cam Jansen uses her photographic memory to solve the mysteries around her, Lottie Lipton uses her logic and puzzle-solving skills to uncover the answers in these Night At the Museum-style mysteries. VERDICT This series provides an engaging look at ancient artifacts, word and number puzzles, and a strong, smart, and determined young female character. A solid addition to most collections.-Lindsay Persohn, University of South Florida, Tampa and Polk County Public Schools.

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