Very Convincing Historical Fiction Based on Facts

The literary ploys are so well done in this book that the reader wonders if in fact it isn't nonfiction. The author makes it apparent how the world looked and seemed to King Tutankhamen from the ages of six through sixteen. What would it have been like to be
King Tutankhamen? This story is like time traveling to understand. The responsibilities he had could be compared and contrasted to what teens' lives are like today. Great read for group discussions. ( )

This was an interesting read. Closer to a diary than a narrative in some ways, but not dry by any means. It was an interesting way to learn more about the Boy King, and I think more advanced middle grade readers who are interested in Ancient Egypt will also enjoy it. At under one hundred pages it's a fairly quick read, but manages to weave a lot of information in without overloading the reader. It was a fun way to spend an afternoon, and explore history at the same time. ( )

This slim volumes look at the brief memories in young Tutankhamen’s life intertwined with legend and society norms. The author described the history of succession, beliefs, and royal life in terms young readers will understand. Responsibilities offset highlighted privileges. The young king’s life is a series of snippets in chronological order. Because this is a fictionalized account, the author does not provided source notes. ( )

On 4 November, 1922, archaeologist Howard Carter and his team discovered a tomb in the Egyptian Valley of the Kings, a tomb that he and his sponsor, Lord Carnarvon, weren’t even sure existed. It was the tomb of a little known king, a young man who’d taken the throne at around eight or nine, and had died around age 18: Tutankhamen. The young king, whose obscurity during his own time allowed his tomb to be forgotten, has now become one of the most well-known figures of ancient Egypt. But what do we know about the young king and his unexpected death at such an early age? What do we know about how he lived, how he felt about things like duty, responsibility and obligation, his emotions and opinions, his family life, and his love for his wife, Ankhesenpaaten? The mystery begins right away! Author Cheryl Carpinello, an ardent Egyptophile, reveals that one day she met the Egyptian scholar S.L. Wood, who mentioned that he’d found an ancient scroll, damaged in parts, in a basement room of the Cairo Museum. This appeared to be a scroll written by the young king, almost speaking to his people from beyond the grave. Was it a hoax? Did this scroll even exist? Read on to find out what the young king says in Tutankhamen Speaks.

Cheryl Carpinello has an extraordinary gift for being able to breathe life into what could be dry and dusty facts about people who, to the average person, are just names in a history book. Through wonderful, evocative and poignant descriptions, she takes us back in time to when a young boy lived in ancient Egypt, a boy who was in awe of his great father, and loved his half-sister Ankhesenpaaten. His memories of early childhood, descriptions of daily life in ancient times, his growing up years, the games he played, the ceremonies and, of course, the politics and religion are all examined for the interested reader. The author also includes interesting facts that readers may not be aware of, so interesting that these might quite change your thoughts of ancient Egyptian times and rulers. This is a wonderful read for all ages, and at the end of this short book, you’ll be left like me, wanting more. I truly enjoyed this! Five stars. ( )