Mara, Daughter of the Nile

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This compelling story of adventure, romance, and intrigue, set in ancient Egypt, was written by the three-time Newbery Honor and Edgar Award winning author Eloise Jarvis McGraw. Mara is a proud and beautiful slave girl who yearns for freedom in ancient Egypt, under the rule ofQueen Hatshepsut. Mara is not like other slaves; she can read and write, as well as speak the language ofBabylonian. So, to barter for her freedom,she finds herself playing the dangerous role of double spy for two arch enemies-each of whom supports a contender for the throne of Egypt. Against her will, Mara finds herself falling in love with one of her masters, the noble Sheftu, and she starts to believe in his plans of restoring Thutmose III to the throne. But just when Mara is ready to offer Sheftu her help and her heart, her duplicity is discovered, and a battle ensues in which both Mara's life and the fate of Egypt are at stake. "Dangerous espionage, an unusual love story, and richly drawn background make this a book to capture quick and lasting interest."-Horn Book "Thoroughly engrossing."-Kirkus Reviews

Reviews

Dangerous espionage, an unusual love story, and richly drawn background make this a book to capture quick and lasting interest.Horn Book

Thoroughly engrossing.Kirkus Reviews

Author Bio

Eloise Jarvis McGrawwas an American author ofchildren's booksand young adult novels. She won theNewbery Honorthree times in three different decades, for her novelsMoccasin Trail(1952),The Golden Goblet(1962), andThe Moorchild(1997).A Really Weird Summer(1977) won anEdgar Awardfor Best Juvenile Mystery from theMystery Writers of America. McGraw had a very strong interest inhistory, and among the many books she wrote for children areGreensleeves,The Seventeenth Swap, andMara, Daughter of the Nile. ALewis Carroll Shelf Awardwas given toMoccasin Trailin 1963.She also contributed to theOz seriesstarted byL. Frank Baum; working with her daughter, graphic artist and librarian Lauren Lynn McGraw, she wroteMerry Go Round in Oz(the last of the Oz books issued by Baum's publisher) andThe Forbidden Fountain of Oz.