Tut--The Story of My Immortal Life

July 28, 2014
Hoover (Solstice) brings her interest in mythology to a middle-grade audience with this entertaining tale, which reimagines the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun as a perpetually 14-year-old immortal. Tut currently lives in Washington, D.C., with his older brother Gil (secretly the Sumerian hero Gilgamesh) and the god Horus (in the form of a one-eyed cat). When Tut’s ancient enemy, General Horemheb, resurfaces after thousands of years, Tut sees the opportunity for much-delayed revenge. As Tut tries to obtain a weapon that can kill an immortal, he and his allies contend with an apocalyptic plot brought about by the Cult of Set. Quirky interpretations of Egyptian gods abound as Tut tries to save the day, repeatedly confronted by cute yet mysterious Tia: is she ally or enemy? The entertaining premise and fast pace keep this adventure on track, while the way Hoover reimagines the Egyptian pantheon—Isis owning a chain of funeral parlors, for instance—is pleasantly reminiscent of Rick Riordan’s work. The only drawback is the number of questions left unanswered for future books. Ages 8–12. Agent: Laura Rennert and Lara Perkins, Andrea Brown Literary Agency.

July 1, 2014
Being an immortal 14-year-old pharaoh isn't all scepters and servants; there's also the overthrowing of a homicidal cult-and finishing one's homework. Shortly after Tutankhamun discovers that his uncle and trusted adviser, Horemheb, is part of the cult of Set, god of chaos, he also learns that Horemheb murdered the pharaoh's family and means to kill him, too. After a struggle at knifepoint in Tut's soon-to-be-tomb, an incantation from the Book of the Dead renders both nephew and uncle immortal, with only Tut managing to escape before the tomb is sealed. Flash forward 3,300 years to Washington, D.C. Tut is an eternal eighth-grader ("Why did I have to be fourteen? It was perpetual puberty") and has been coerced into another year of school by his immortal guardian, Gil (as in Gilgamesh). When Tut finds evidence of Horemheb and Set's cult in D.C., revenge becomes his obsession. Merging the voice of an outspoken contemporary 14-year-old with centuries-old expletives ("Holy Amun!") renders Tut both comedic and devoted to his origins. Gods and goddesses abound (Horus is Tut's one-eyed cat; Isis is a demented mortician), and at times the pages feel cluttered with deities who aren't particularly important to the story. Plagues, pestilence and floods in D.C. as threats don't feel all too threatening. Conversely, the tension between Tut and creepy Horemheb is a well-placed and -paced plot driver. A pyramid history buffs and fantasy fans will delight in excavating. (Fantasy. 11-14)

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September 1, 2014

Gr 4-8-While the basic plot is not new (boy becomes king, greedy uncle kills family to become "rightful" king, boy seeks revenge), readers will be pulled into this adventurous story of the young boy ruler and his ordeal. The story begins with Tut explaining how he became immortal 3,000 years ago; his greedy uncle kills his family to gain the throne and Tut is forever cursed to remain a 14-year-old middle schooler. Tut begins his plans for revenge against his Uncle Horemheb and the Cult of Set. The story is set in Washington, DC, where Tut must navigate through the city's monuments and tunnels. He brings along his new friend, Henry, who is much more focused on completing their Social Studies project, which, ironically, is about Tut himself and the funerary box. Readers also meet his immortal brother, Gilgamesh; and Horus, the very humanlike talking Egyptian god cat; and two school mates, Seth and Tia, who are yet to be identified as friends or enemies. Tut also has help from the army of shabtis whose only purpose is to serve him, and though they only stand six inches tall, they prove to be quite capable of protecting their monarch. They also provide a bit of comic relief with their quirky antics. Although the story begins at a rather slow pace, it quickly becomes a fast-moving adventure with surprising twists. The ending is satisfying, with a hint that a sequel may be in the works. The author provides historical notes about the real King Tutankhamen, which may spark an interest in learning more about Egyptian History. Fans of Rick Riordan's "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" series (Hyperion) will surely enjoy this title. A fine purchase for libraries where historically based adventures are in demand.-Martha Rico, El Paso ISD, TX

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