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Mara, Daughter of the Nile

4.2 of 5 stars 4.20 · rating details · 3,668 ratings · 389 reviews

Mara is a proud and beautiful slave girl who yearns for freedom. In order to gain it, 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 T...more

Paperback, 288 pages

Published October 1st 1985 by Puffin (first published 1953)

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Oct 02, 2012 Anne Osterlund rated it 5 of 5 stars

Mara is a slave girl in Ancient Egypt. Determined to change her fortune and be free. No matter what it takes. When a messenger from Queen Hatshepsut purchases Mara and makes her an offer to spy and act the part of a royal interpreter, our heroine sees her chance.

But then Sheftu, a scribe who is not a scribe, decides he has a hold over her as well and hires her to spy for the King Thutmos III instead. Which Mara realizes is also a chance.

And all these chances add up to . . . something very much o...more

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Aug 20, 2008 Arwen rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone!

Shelves: five-star, to-read-and-read-to

I love this book. I don't remember when I first read it but I recently finished reading it again. It is set in ancient Egypt, during the reign of Hatshepsut. The setting is vivid and detailed, bringing the era to life for the reader. One of my favorite passages is near the end of the book, where view switches to that of Nuit, Goddess of the Sky. Nuit begins to follow the characters at the climax of the book but is momentarily distracted by the beauty of her starry reflection in the river Nile.

Th...more

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Mar 12, 2008 Sophia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, ya, 2008, reread

I loved this in junior high and dug it out again for a "light" read -- it's actually more intense than I remembered, but still fun. For being written in 1953, Mara is a surprisingly strong female character, a slave-turned-spy for two opposing masters. She's smart, quick on her feet, speaks Babylonian, plays both sides, and even stands up under torture. The romance novel aspects are the least interesting elements, not because they're particularly silly but just because McGraw's beautiful descript...more

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Dec 06, 2011 Katie rated it 3 of 5 stars

A spellbinding tale of Egyptian court intrigue, love, slavery, betrayal; it was assigned as a reading for 7th grade, but it is remarkably sensual for such an age. Definitely would not recommend it for 12 year olds.

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Mar 21, 2007 Kate rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: youth-lit, favorites

I am going to open up my heart to you guys. I read this book when I was, oh, maybe 7 or 8, and it was my favorite book for YEARS. I re-read it countless times. It was the only book from my childhood I brought with me to college. It may have been, in large part, the reason my mom once bought me a t-shirt that said "Kathleen" in - wait for it -HIEROGLYPHICS.

I have no idea if this is actually a good book or not. I loved it so much as a kid that I couldn't possibly give an impartial opinion even now...more

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Dec 30, 2008 Danielle rated it 5 of 5 stars

I must have read this first in middle school - probably found it by snooping around the historical fiction section of my library. Goodness, I love this book - and this author. If you are a fan of historical fiction, or simply of good stories, you really should look into her other works.

As you can probably guess by the title, this work is set in ancient Egypt. I won't write a synopsis, but I will list a few of the things this book features in case you're considering giving it a try.

- Your typical...more

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Apr 07, 2013 Gale rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ancient-civilzations-young-adult

A MINX IN THE LAND OF THE SPHYNX!

Mara is a tough, gritty guttersnipe of a slave girl--with a dream of freedom and enough wealth to never endure hunger, dirt, whippings or psychological abuse again. Remarkable for her blue eyes, quick wit and saucy tongue, she is abruptly sold to an agent of Queen Hatshepsut--a female Pharaoh. Mara is to serve as an interpreter for a Babylonian-speaking princess (unwilling, unwanted, homesick). Actually Mara must be a spy because she will have freer access to t...more A MINX IN THE LAND OF THE SPHYNX!

Mara is a tough, gritty guttersnipe of a slave girl--with a dream of freedom and enough wealth to never endure hunger, dirt, whippings or psychological abuse again. Remarkable for her blue eyes, quick wit and saucy tongue, she is abruptly sold to an agent of Queen Hatshepsut--a female Pharaoh. Mara is to serve as an interpreter for a Babylonian-speaking princess (unwilling, unwanted, homesick). Actually Mara must be a spy because she will have freer access to the golden prison of the young man who would be Pharaoh, instead of his ambitious half-sister.

Caught eavesdropping during a leisurely journey up the Nile, Mara is forced to serve a handsome courtier, who is secretly plotting a revolution which will set Thutmose 3 on the throne. She is now trapped into working as a double agent, which requires a cool mind and a glib tongue to stave off disaster. But her heart proves as treacherous as the Queen's icy smile, for it refuses to betray young Lord Sheftu when she h! as the opportunity. Beneath their friendly, suspicious banter, there is a growing attraction, which can wreak havoc with their carefully hatched schemes--for and against each other.

MARA is more an adult novel, but the 17-year-old heroine has a strong personality which will appeal to teenage readers as well: she reminds one of BIRDY (medieval setting) and ELLA (European Fantasy). The author has done her ancient Egyptian homework: she intertwines much information about their lifestyle--dress, arts, food, religion, architecture, royal politics, etc. And no respectable novel set in Egypt could omit the inevitable grave-robbing attempt. Daring plot twists keep us on pins and needles as Mara threads her way cautiously through a labyrinth of deception and murderous intrigue. Just a pawn between two powerful enemies, TRUST NO ONE should be her motto for survival in the Golden Palace.

Beneath the obvious layer of plot, McGraw includes character development as well, fleshing her out beyond a stylized, flat personality. It takes a Canaanite princess to teach Mara the true meaning of the real Egypt--to lift her above her stubborn selfishness. This is an action-packed Romance Read. Add Mara to your list of spunky heroines.

(March 25, 2011. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)
(less)

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Jan 09, 2013 Gwyneth rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

What pulls a reader into a good book? Adventure? Political intrigue? The impossible? Overcoming the impossible? Great characters? Romance? I could go on and on but I don't need to, I've found a book that has everything my pretty little bookworm heart could want.
I'm not usually a big historical fiction fan but this has everything wonderful in writing. Story, characters, setting, style, etc. How can I fault it for lacking dragons and wizards when it has more than some fantasy (my preferred genre...more What pulls a reader into a good book? Adventure? Political intrigue? The impossible? Overcoming the impossible? Great characters? Romance? I could go on and on but I don't need to, I've found a book that has everything my pretty little bookworm heart could want.
I'm not usually a big historical fiction fan but this has everything wonderful in writing. Story, characters, setting, style, etc. How can I fault it for lacking dragons and wizards when it has more than some fantasy (my preferred genre) novels?

The writing style is timeless and beautiful. Perfectly capturing the harsh world Mara lives in while also describing the wild untamed beauty and cleverness of Mara herself. The description of ancient Egypt seems so real I felt as though I was there as well, and from my (albeit limited) knowledge of the setting this is an accurate portrayal of the time and place.
All of the characters have the same intricate realness about them. I believe that these people could have existed, they're all so beautifully described and developed. Each has their own unique and well thought out personality without fitting into any stereo type, the best way I can describe them is human. Really truly beautifully human. They show all the best of humanity, even in their flaws.
This is one of the only instances where the main character is my favorite but I love Mara. She starts out smart to a fault, manipulative, prideful and selfish, but also wild, and with an earnest desire for freedom. As the story goes on and she learns from her mistakes and flaws she also realizes that she's way in over her head and refuses to betray those who at the beginning are more foes than anything else. The loyalty and self sacrifice she shows by the end is beautiful and one of my favorite parts of the story, that moment is one of my favorite in all literature.

A beautifully crafted story, revolving around a spirited and in her own way charming protagonist and fellow pawns in an insane scheme. A must read for avid readers, historical fiction fans, and teenage girls alike. It more than deserves five stars.(less)

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Dec 30, 2012 LG (A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-star, historical, format-print, acquired-library

I first read this book when I was a teen. For the longest time, all I could remember about it was that the main character got whipped within an inch of her life near the end and that her shoulders were still healing when the romantic storyline was wrapped up. I also remembered not quite liking Sheftu, but I couldn't remember why. A comment on Smart Bitches, Trashy Books reminded me of the book's title and author. My first thought was, "Must request this via ILL!" So I did.

Even though it's danger...more

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May 24, 2012 Hillary Muller rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-literature-13-25, ya-literature-class

Mara, Daughter of the Nile, is set in ancient Egypt during the reign of Hatshepsut. Mara is a slave girl who has the unique ability to speak both Babylonian and Egyptian. Because of this talent she is recruited as a spy and is assigned to work for the Babylonian princess that lives in the palace. Mara is smart and witty, and determined to provide for herself and get her freedom. During this time there is a rebellion going on against Hatshepsut and Mara becomes a double agent, playing both sides...more

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Apr 19, 2011 Alisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

I read this book when I was in junior high or maybe high school and absolutely loved it. I've re-read it probably a dozen times since then, although it's now probably been almost a decade since I last picked it up, so I might feel differently about it if I were to re-read it now. It does seem to appeal more to women than men, since it's told from a woman's point of view and there's a love story entwined in it, but I don't know that I would classify it as a chick book. Set in Ancient Egypt, this...more

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Jan 12, 2011 Ithlilian rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

I was surprised to see this book shelved in the juvenile section at the library, and surprised at it's age 9-12 suggestion. The main character, Mara, is 17, not 12, and there is certainly a love story and references to sex. I'm an adult and I enjoyed it, but I'm not going to tell anyone what they can and cannot read.

Mara is a strong heroine and very likable. She is intelligent, cunning, and more than a bit mischievous. I loved reading about her stealing bread in the market in the beginning of th...more

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Jan 03, 2010 Alana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, young-adult

Mara is a teenaged slave girl in ancient Egypt, but she yearns to spend her days doing something more interesting than ironing and often slips out to explore the town - regardless of the consequences. On one such escapade, the beautiful and quick-witted Mara catches the attention of two rival spymasters, and she soon finds herself under the employ of both.

Clever Mara determines to earn her freedom, and extend her current life of luxury, by playing both sides against the middle until she can dete...more Mara is a teenaged slave girl in ancient Egypt, but she yearns to spend her days doing something more interesting than ironing and often slips out to explore the town - regardless of the consequences. On one such escapade, the beautiful and quick-witted Mara catches the attention of two rival spymasters, and she soon finds herself under the employ of both.

Clever Mara determines to earn her freedom, and extend her current life of luxury, by playing both sides against the middle until she can determine who will be the ultimate winner in the struggle between Queen Hatshepsut and her half-brother Thutmose III. But she finds herself more and more drawn to the rebellious aristocrat Sheftu who is using her as the very messenger she is employed to discover and thwart. With the growing impatience of her master goading her to action, she soon finds herself in the middle of dangerous betrayals and distrust - but which side can she choose? And will either side let her live?

Personally, I didn't much care for the portrayal of Hatshepsut - she's always been a figure I rather admired, and the situation with her half-brother doesn't quite accord with my memories of Egyptian history [ETA: turns out this was the accepted historical interpretation when this was written. Only later did evidence of Hatshepsut's beneficial rule come out]. My main quibble, however - which is easily explained by not wanting to bog the story down - is that there didn't seem to be enough detail about the intrigue within the palace walls. Too much time seemed to be spent sitting in the inn rather than outwitting those who might find her out.

Other than that, this was a highly entertaining story. Mara relies on herself - her own bravery, and her own intelligence rather than waiting around to be rescued. Her strength is beautifully juxtaposed with the clinging insecurity of the Canaanite princess; but Mara also learns about the Canaanites different culture and grows to appreciate their differences - and to bring out the strengths of the princess as well.

A wonderful spy and romance story set in ancient Egypt that is sure to entrance young adults - with the romance, danger, and Mara's cleverness this should appeal to girls and boys alike. The author presents an interesting view of life at court, glimpses into both Egyptian and Syrian customs, and compelling portrayals of one of the more controversial eras of Egyptian history. This is certain to spark greater interest in a fascinating civilization.(less)

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Dec 31, 2011 Karen Ireland-Phillips rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the book that triggered my interest in Ancient Egypt, when I was 10 or 11*. (I eventually learned much history and how to read hieroglyphics, a skill that's rusted from disuse.) I knew the book existed, I remembered reading it but not the title or author, or enough of the plot to go looking for it. Luckily, it was mentioned in a book discussion in C. J. Cherryh's Wave Without A Shore website, allowing me to find and re-read it. [return]Set during the reign of Hatshepsut, the Pharoah Quee...more This is the book that triggered my interest in Ancient Egypt, when I was 10 or 11*. (I eventually learned much history and how to read hieroglyphics, a skill that's rusted from disuse.) I knew the book existed, I remembered reading it but not the title or author, or enough of the plot to go looking for it. Luckily, it was mentioned in a book discussion in C. J. Cherryh's Wave Without A Shore website, allowing me to find and re-read it. [return]Set during the reign of Hatshepsut, the Pharoah Queen, Mara is a beautiful, willful, blue-eyed(!) slave who can speak Babylonian in addition to her native Egyptian. This skill leads to her purchase by an agent of the Queen for a job that may lead to her freedom. Mara is to serve as the interpreter to a Babylonian wife chosen by Hatshepsut for her half-brother, Thutmose, while also serving as a spy to discover who is providing communication and support – and how - for Thutmose’s plan to overthrow Hatshepsut. En route to this assignment, Mara meets the compelling young noble Sheftu , and is caught precipitously in the role of double agent, serving both the Pharoah and her brother. [return]Romance, danger, misunderstandings and high drama ensue. I can’t discuss the plot in any detail without spoilers, but stalwart Sheftu undertakes a massively dangerous errand to bankroll Thutmose’s rebellion, leading to the revelation of Mara’s double role. [return]Sometimes returning to the books of your childhood can be dangerous. The first thing that struck me was the casual misogyny and stereotyped roles of the three major female characters. Of course Hatshepsut isn’t fit to be Pharoah – she’s a woman, it offends the gods. Not only that, she spends too much money and wages too few wars. There’s disproportionate emphasis on physical beauty. The Babylonian princess is fat and therefore disgusting, redeemed only by her cleverness in the last few chapters. The women are all schemers – conniving being presented as an integral part of the female psyche. Classism and racism are rampant too, of course.[return]The second issue is how fast and loose McGraw played with the actual history. Hatshepsut was not overthrown; her rule made important military, economic and diplomatic contributions to Egypt. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatsheps... final surprise was the prominence of the romantic storyline. I’m all admiration for how smoothly McGraw pulled me into the drama of the romance; the dance of do they/don’t they as the story unfolds and Mara must choose her very dangerous path. [return]This is a simplistic but not unsophisticated quick read. It is a YA, but with some fairly adult overtones. Definitely worth reading. [return]*I was pretty precocious.(less)

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Dec 13, 2011 Annaa rated it 2 of 5 stars

Frightened, Mara realized all she knew, all her careless stealing, had brought her to this crazy adventure. Mara, a common slave girl, is sick of her cruel and unforgiving master, Zasha. She runs off into the market square, and gets noticed by a mysterious man in a white cloak...and gets bought for a secret mission. As a spy, Mara had to sail to Abydos on the Silver Beetle, where she falls in love with a nobleman by the name of Lord Sheftu. Sheftu, a mysterious man turns out to be a rebel agains...more

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May 06, 2012 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adults

One of the best books I read as a teenager. I dont know how many times I found myself re-reading it but every time was well worth it.

Mara, Daughter of the Nile is a story of a Slave who by looks alone should not be a slave, She has blue eyes and a tong that she cant seem to get a hold of, and if that's not bad enough she is intelligent to boot. Through a series of event's she ends up in a silent but deadly war between the queen of Egypt and her brother who by rights seeks to take his place as P...more

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Nov 18, 2011 Gabrielle rated it 5 of 5 stars

this is an amazing book!

I read this book two years ago in sixth grade. Mcgraw is so great at making you feel like you were there back in ancient egypt seeing, smellin, tasting... in this book i felt like me and Mara were best friends... you are there when she is beaten, captured, almost killed, rescued, and loved... my favorite flower is an egyptian blue lotus because it always reminds me of this story and how great a book this was....

Mara daughter of the nile:

Mara Daughter of the Nile is about...more

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Aug 04, 2012 Megan Franks rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, egypt, historical-fiction

Mara--a slave girl who speaks both Egyptian and Babylonian--is purchased to become a spy for pharaoh's court to help uncover the plot to overthrow her rule and to restore her brother on the throne where he rightfully belonged. (Yes, I said "her." The pharaoh in question is Hatshepsut--Egypt's first female queen--and her brother was Thutmose III.) If Mara can gather information on the rebels, she will win her freedom.

But then she met this boy... a really cute boy with a larger-than-life personali...more

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Sep 15, 2009 Katie Hutchison Irion rated it 4 of 5 stars

I read this on the recommendation of my good friend Traci. I guess she used to read it all the time in junior high and I always shunned it. I finally took her up on the offer and read it.
While I thought the first part was rather slow going, I ended up really enjoying it and wanting to read and finish it. The writing is great and so is the story.
The story is about Mara. She is a slave in ancient Egypt but is quickly bought by an official in the queen's court. She is commissioned to be a spy and...more

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Jul 26, 2009 Jean rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 14, 2011 Christy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Christy by: My younger self, 50 years ago

Mara, a beautiful Egyptian slave girl, is recruited to spy against King Tut, who is living under the thumb of his sister, now on the throne. But wait, Mara is also recruited to spy against the queen, by a handsome young nobleman who is the secret friend of King Tut. You know she’ll have to play one side against the other, to come out alive, and you can also guess that she’s going to fall in love with the nobleman. I was entranced by the book in ninth grade, and rereading it, I was captivated all...more

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Mar 05, 2011 Cassie Rodgers rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read this book for the first time in sixth grade, and every few years I pull it out again. Fifteen years later and I still love it. Ancient Egypt has always been an interesting topic for me, and I love novels set in that time period because they flesh out the figures painted on pyramid walls. The plot of the book is somewhat familiar, in the fact that the basic points could be used in any time period with a few tweaks and modifications. That does not make the book any less exciting and intense...more

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Aug 13, 2011 Nessíma Tavariel rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone and everyone!

Shelves: favourites, historical-fiction, the-best-of-the-best

I lovedlovedloved this book! Well written with a super exciting plot, real characters that come to life on the pages, and a vivid Ancient Egyptian setting. This book draws you in so you can't put it down. This is one of my new favorites! I would recommend this book to anyone.

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Jul 26, 2010 Gracie rated it 3 of 5 stars

You probably read a book by Eloise Jarvis McGraw in middle school and just don't remember it. This book was written forever and a day ago but that doesn't diminish it's charm. All around it's a good story. Exciting from start to finish. If you like ancient Egypt, go for it. Just don't expect to find another book like it. Now a days we are so accustomed to our favorite books having a sequel (or seven!) that when we find a book that stands alone we are somewhat thrown off when we finish a good boo...more

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Dec 31, 2010 Kaitlyn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: school-readers

This is one of my favorite books! I actually read it because it was a school reader, and I'm so glad I did. This story is about Mara a young egyptian slave who hates her master. One day when her master sells her to a mysterious man, and this man tells her she is to be a spy, and that she will receive an award and be free if she does her mission well, her dreams seem to be coming true! But then she meets the crafty young man Sheftu, and before she knows it finds herself working as a double spy!...more

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Jan 22, 2009 Daria rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fic

This was...this had been...one of the greatest books of all time. I remember reading it in 6th grade, and fell in love with it head over heels. Great twisting, nail-biting suspense, and a beautiful ending (as was the SPOILER!!! torture scene. OK, so people may think me weird for finding torture scenes beautiful, but it was really well-written). The heroine is strongheaded, and absolutely relatable to. The romance is of the best kind - not too much, and yet almost not enough to satisfy the reader...more

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Dec 02, 2008 Anna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: school-books

Absoloutly loved it! She seized her chances and she would let go of her chances. She risked her life to save others. And during it all she found her one true love.She has a warm, crafty heart that everyone will love!

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Feb 22, 2012 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, great-clean-reads-for-ya, read-over-and-over

This is one of my all time favorite books. Great characters. Beautiful setting. Mysterious and woven plot.

I've never read a book set in Egypt, but I've always liked the desert/pyramid/pharaohs setting. Plus, when I heard it was about a spy, I was even more intrigued. However, I was still unsure because I was in the mood for a romance and I didn't want anything that was a historical fiction trying to be a romance. Wow, was I wrong. This is also one of the most romantic books I've read.

My favorit...more This is one of my all time favorite books. Great characters. Beautiful setting. Mysterious and woven plot.

I've never read a book set in Egypt, but I've always liked the desert/pyramid/pharaohs setting. Plus, when I heard it was about a spy, I was even more intrigued. However, I was still unsure because I was in the mood for a romance and I didn't want anything that was a historical fiction trying to be a romance. Wow, was I wrong. This is also one of the most romantic books I've read.

My favorite part about the book is Mara. Seriously, she's probably one of my favorite protagonists ever. She was smart and witty, strong and tough, and had an attitude. She was wonderfully flawed. She actually had some pretty major selfishness going on in the beginning that I really got to see her grow out of over the course of the book.

Oh, Sheftu. He was wonderful. Besides being swoon-worthy, he's extremely smart and mature. He's a lord and totally acts the part. I was riveted by his every word and action he was that intriguing. He's so unique, I can't really describe him. But, needless to say, I love him to death.

The mystery aspect of the story was beautifully crafted. It wasn't a typical mystery, but more a mystery/suspense that kept me constantly turning pages. I really had no idea what was going to happened and even though it wasn't constant action, I stayed up way too late into the night trying to figure out what Mara was going to discover next. By the climax, I was biting my nails and ready to throw the book across the room all because of Sheftu. When a book can evoke that kind of emotion, it's definitely a keeper.

The minor characters really added a lot without bogging down our main characters or the flow of the story. The princess from Israel kind of got on my nerves, but I loved the ship captain. I was terrified of our villain - even though he wasn't a typical take over the world or killing our main characters kind of guy.

Ms. McGraw must have really done a lot of research on ancient Egypt, because I was take a hold of and pulled right into the book. She not only included what things looked like and the overall feeling of being in a marketplace, but gave me the sounds and smells. I loved the culture and it made me want to read more from Egypt!

This is going on my shelf for keeps and one I'll read over and over again.

As for content, this was a clean book. Sexual: kissing. Language: sometimes they swore on some of the Egyptian gods. Violence: mild. Other: There was a lot of mention of the Egyptian gods as it was a big part of the Egyptians' lives. (less)

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Nov 09, 2012 Anastasia [I'm Wonderstruck...] rated it 4 of 5 stars

Where do I begin with this book? It is witty, charming, and suspenseful all rolled into one. The myriad of Egyptian references made the world in this book come alive, and really set the tone for the story.

Mara is a sharp-tongued Egyptian slave who wishes more than anything for freedom. So when she is offered the chance, of course she takes it. However, the game in which she has cast herself into is quite a dangerous one, and Mara soon realizes that it will be trickier to achieve her freedom tha...more Where do I begin with this book? It is witty, charming, and suspenseful all rolled into one. The myriad of Egyptian references made the world in this book come alive, and really set the tone for the story.

Mara is a sharp-tongued Egyptian slave who wishes more than anything for freedom. So when she is offered the chance, of course she takes it. However, the game in which she has cast herself into is quite a dangerous one, and Mara soon realizes that it will be trickier to achieve her freedom than she initially thought—especially when she’s working for two men.

The writing flowed smoothly, and occasionally McGraw would treat us to lines like these:

“Ra, the Sun God, had once more sailed his golden bark across the sky of Egypt. Over the high blue dome and into the West he had moved, as from time immemorial—unhurried, serene, remote from the anxious scurryings of his white-clad worshippers below. He left darkness in his wake as he sailed the Dark River. At last he climbed into the East again, heralded by a rosy glow, bringing a burst of radiance as he crossed the horizon.…He was indifferent. Aloof, rigid in his perfection, wreathed in everlasting flames, he sailed slowly to his zenith and down his unchanging path once more into the West.” (pg. 181)

Even something as simple as this:

“She was building dreams like palaces.” (pg. 211)

Every character I eventually grew fond of, including the minor ones. I believe that my favorite was Inanni, the Canaanite princess. At first, I was upset that Mara and everyone else was so mean to her—I mean, she’s been sent away to be married to a man she doesn’t know in a foreign country! A little compassion would have been appreciated! But I guess Mara grew to like her more in the end. :)

Eventually, everything wrapped up in a satisfying manner. I would recommend this to all age groups, because it is so much more than a historical fiction middle grade novel. Even though I read this for school, it hardly felt like an assignment. I guarantee you will think the same about it if you read it, too. (less)

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May 28, 2012 Melissa Hood rated it 5 of 5 stars

A fabulous, fast paced, well written piece Historical fiction.

Set during the reign of Egyptian Pharaoh,Queen Hatsheput. This book has a revolution, secrecy, espionage, murder, a love story, and endearing main characters.

Characters were fully developed. Culture was explained and description of new objects to the reader were done in such a way the reader will easily see what is happening. Romantic in the sense that things can come true, good of a loved one is more important than the good of self...more

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About Eloise Jarvis McGraw

Eloise Jarvis McGraw was an author of children's books. She was awarded the Newbery Honor three times in three different decades, for her novels Moccasin Trail (1952), The Golden Goblet (1962), and The Moorchild (1997). A Really Weird Summer (1977) won an Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery from the Mystery Writers of America. McGraw had a very strong interest in history, and among the many book...more

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“You are both daring and unscrupulous, and you think fast. I have been looking for a person with those particular characteristics. Also I noticed you speak Babylonian.” — 6 people liked it

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Mara, Daughter of the Nile

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