The Red Pyramid
By: Rick Riordan
Larger than life adventure, with a side of Egyptian mythology.
Kelly: ☻☻☻☻
Boy Reader: ☻☻☻☻
Boy Reader: ☻☻☻☻
Many a parent has snuck vegetables into foods that kids love. Rick Riordan does the same thing with books. His bestselling novels teach Greek, Roman and Egyptian mythology -- wrapped up in a thoroughly modern epic adventure. The Red Pyramid is carrots hidden in pizza crust.
Siblings Carter and Sadie Kane dictate the story of their efforts to save the Earth in hopes of recruiting other kids who are descended from the pharaohs. Their royal blood connects them to the Egyptian gods who are battling amongst themselves. It is up to Carter and Sadie to restore balance and banish chaos.
While the over-the-top adventure is thrilling, the attempt to connect with the reader falls a little flat. The idea is that, if you are reading the book, it found its way to you for a reason; you are descended from the pharaohs and have a role in the fight too. Since I picked the book up at the library, and, based on the number of pages that were stuck together by a sugary substance, I was not the first to read it; it is probably safe to assume no one is waiting for me to commune with an Egyptian goddess and right the wrongs in the universe.
This is the first book in the Kane Chronicles trilogy and tallies a hefty 514 pages. It comes in audiobook or graphic novel if that page count seems daunting, or, for a shorter Rick Riordan starter, try the Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson/New York Times children's bestseller/major motion picture).
Boy Reader rates Rick Riordan as his favorite writer of all times, and the Heroes of Olympus as his favorite series. If any of his grandparents are reading this and want to know what to get him for Christmas, he'd like the latest offerings -- Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes and The Sword of Summer.
Siblings Carter and Sadie Kane dictate the story of their efforts to save the Earth in hopes of recruiting other kids who are descended from the pharaohs. Their royal blood connects them to the Egyptian gods who are battling amongst themselves. It is up to Carter and Sadie to restore balance and banish chaos.
While the over-the-top adventure is thrilling, the attempt to connect with the reader falls a little flat. The idea is that, if you are reading the book, it found its way to you for a reason; you are descended from the pharaohs and have a role in the fight too. Since I picked the book up at the library, and, based on the number of pages that were stuck together by a sugary substance, I was not the first to read it; it is probably safe to assume no one is waiting for me to commune with an Egyptian goddess and right the wrongs in the universe.
This is the first book in the Kane Chronicles trilogy and tallies a hefty 514 pages. It comes in audiobook or graphic novel if that page count seems daunting, or, for a shorter Rick Riordan starter, try the Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson/New York Times children's bestseller/major motion picture).
Boy Reader rates Rick Riordan as his favorite writer of all times, and the Heroes of Olympus as his favorite series. If any of his grandparents are reading this and want to know what to get him for Christmas, he'd like the latest offerings -- Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes and The Sword of Summer.