Book of the Dead

November 24, 2014
Northrop (Surrounded by Sharks) lays the groundwork for his five-book multiplatform TombQuest series, in which a 12-year-old boy and his know-it-all best friend fight immortal Egyptian menaces while readers participate via online games. Alex Sennefer suffers from a mysterious debilitating disease, which his Egyptologist mother cures by using a lost spell from the Book of the Dead. While the spell saves Alex’s life, it also brings evil mummies to life and summons a plague of scorpions, among other bizarre events. Using new magical abilities, Alex and his friend Ren attempt to fend off malevolent Death Walkers and the secretive Order, which has abducted Alex’s mother, along with the Lost Spells. Their only ally: scholarly Dr. Todtman, part of a group known as the Keepers. The story begins leisurely, as Northrop devotes attention to setup and worldbuilding, before shifting into high gear once the nature of the threat is revealed. If this installment doesn’t take full advantage of its Egyptian themes, it remains a fun read with solid action sequences and some gruesome imagery. Ages 8–12. Agent: Sara Crowe, Harvey Klinger.

November 15, 2014
Scholastic launches its latest multiplatform series, this one steeped in ancient Egyptian magic. Twelve-year-old Alex Sennefer is blessed with a mother who would risk everything for him, a best friend, Ren (short for Renata), who accepts him just as he is, and an insatiable hunger for anything having to do with ancient Egypt. It's a good thing that his second home is the famed Metropolitan Museum of Art, where his Egyptologist mother is preparing to open a groundbreaking new exhibition. If only his body would hang on long enough for him to see it. A lifetime of illness catches up with him, and he is pronounced dead by his doctors-but then Alex is suddenly pulled from the brink and awakens to discover he is not only alive, but also healthier than ever. Unfortunately, Alex isn't the only one being given a second chance at life. Almost immediately, he and Ren find themselves in a battle of ancient Egyptian proportions and embroiled in a quest to find his mysteriously missing mother and save the world. Like a preteen Indiana Jones and Lara Croft, Alex and Ren make a compelling duo, and Northrop balances pathos and action effectively to engage readers. Funny and smart, Alex and Ren are excellent companions for this fast-paced and scorpion-filled ride. (Adventure. 8-12)

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November 1, 2014

Gr 4-6-In this opening book of this new multiplatform series, sickly Alex Sennefer knows much about Ancient Egypt because his mom is an expert who works for New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. She and her colleagues have discovered the Lost Spells from the Egyptian Book of the Dead, which are coveted by a dark society of evil, undead Egyptian souls. When Alex's mother uses one of the spells to save his life, she unknowingly sets in motion a global reaction that finds blood raining down in London, undead things rising all over the world, and a scorpion epidemic in New York City. When she and the Spells disappear, Alex, his best friend Ren, and a mysterious scientist must try to find them while working against black magic and ancient evil. The plot moves quickly and will appeal to reluctant readers looking for adventure, danger, and minimal character development. There is also an online game component.-B. Allison Gray, Goleta Public Library, CA

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2015
Grades 3-6 Northrop kicks off the first in a planned multiplatform series with an exciting adventure rich in Egyptian mythology and magic. Twelve-year-old Alex spends most of his time with his best friend Ren (short for Renata), haunting the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where his mother is an Egyptologist and Ren's father is head of security. Alex, who has been seriously ill for most of his life, dies, and his mother uses the Egyptian Book of the Dead to restore him. In doing so, she unwittingly opens a door to the afterlife and releases the Death Walkers, evil ancients trapped between life and death. Alex's mom vanishes, and he and Ren become embroiled in a quest to save her and stop the Death Walkers from destroying the world. Alex and Ren are a brave and engaging pair, wisecracking their way through some frightening situations. Alex and his mother's devotion to each other is authentic without being overwrought, and Ren's complicated relationship with her parents adds a refreshing touch of realism. Likely to be a blockbuster.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2015
When Alex's mother uses ancient Egyptian scrolls to save his life, she inadvertently resurrects loathsome Death Walkers. After his mom disappears and a secret society emerges to use the scrolls' power for evil, Alex and best friend Ren must banish the mummies and rescue her. Despite a formulaic structure, this series (with an online component) provides ample mystery, action, and humor.

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)