Ranofer struggles to thwart the plottings of his evil brother, Gebu, so he can become master goldsmith like their father in this exciting tale of a...
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Jan 06, 2012
Ann
rated it: 
I must have read this book at least six times when I was a kid, but I had not read it in at least fifteen years. I was surprised, because many of the scenes that I most vividly remember came in the last 50 or so pages of the book, rather than being the main action of the story.
I still enjoy the book as an adult. I think what I like best about it is the same aspect that I love about the Little House books: the intense attention to detail of daily life. Talking about the book with a te More...
I still enjoy the book as an adult. I think what I like best about it is the same aspect that I love about the Little House books: the intense attention to detail of daily life. Talking about the book with a te More...
Oct 21, 2010
Dawn
rated it: 
The rising action of this novel took 14 out of 16 chapters. Once the climax was reached, I found it to be a bit boring. The main character is chased rather quickly through a tomb and then escapes (low suspense during the actual chase). The resolution was wrapped up in the last chapter and I felt letdown after following his awful life, we do not know what happens to his tormentor (only implied). I had to be creative to engage students in the story, thankfully they were motivated by ancient Egyp
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Jan 20, 2009
Emma the Dork
rated it: 
amazing. a great action story, i also read this in class
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Jan 12, 2009
Alice
rated it:
To continue my series on apprentices who learn maturity, this time we visit ancient Egypt. The apprentice Ranofer had shown some promise in goldworking, but he is removed from this position by his evil brother who is using him for his own nefarious purposes. By the end of the story, Evil Brother has been caught and Ranofer is apprenticed to the best goldsmith in town.
This is basically a children's detective story, not a coming of age story. Lots of running around and spying and disco More...
This is basically a children's detective story, not a coming of age story. Lots of running around and spying and disco More...
Mar 17, 2011
Thom
rated it: 
The Golden Goblet -
First off, I loved this book. Sometimes I get these "nerd-cravings" for things like vikings, Star Wars, ancient Egypt, The Legend of Zelda, japanese history, Transformers, Legos, dinosaurs (dinosaurs are cool and you know it), etc. I'm in my Egypt phase right now, and my wife suggested I look for some good ancient egyptian kid's books to quench my thirst.
The Golden Goblet was a really fun read. It's a Newberry Honor book from '61, and I'm guessi More...
First off, I loved this book. Sometimes I get these "nerd-cravings" for things like vikings, Star Wars, ancient Egypt, The Legend of Zelda, japanese history, Transformers, Legos, dinosaurs (dinosaurs are cool and you know it), etc. I'm in my Egypt phase right now, and my wife suggested I look for some good ancient egyptian kid's books to quench my thirst.
The Golden Goblet was a really fun read. It's a Newberry Honor book from '61, and I'm guessi More...
Jan 13, 2012
J. Leigh
rated it:
My nephews gave me this book to read, as they often do when they find something they really enjoy. I haven't read many good books set in ancient Egypt, so I was eager to see how well this one was written.
I really enjoyed this book. It was refreshing and uniquely voiced -- I thought the author did a lovely job of creating a sense of the very different culture explored in her story. The dialogue was appropriately...foreign, but still understandable for young readers, and I enjoyed t More...
I really enjoyed this book. It was refreshing and uniquely voiced -- I thought the author did a lovely job of creating a sense of the very different culture explored in her story. The dialogue was appropriately...foreign, but still understandable for young readers, and I enjoyed t More...
Oct 04, 2011
Karen
rated it:
I just finished reading this aloud to my 12 year old daughter (it came with her Sonlight homeschool curriculum). It started out very slow! I had a hard time keeping her interested until the last 5 chapters when she made me read the whole thing through to the end.
It is a pretty good story about a boy, Ranofer, that because of circumstances beyond his control lives a very crappy life. A trusted friend of his father's and goldsmith he wants to apprentice to, tells him that as soon as h More...
It is a pretty good story about a boy, Ranofer, that because of circumstances beyond his control lives a very crappy life. A trusted friend of his father's and goldsmith he wants to apprentice to, tells him that as soon as h More...
Jul 18, 2011
Megan
rated it:
Ranofer's life changes forever on the day that his father dies. Once a talented goldsmith, he becomes little more than a slave once his brutal half-brother, Gebu, takes him in as an orphan. When he discovers that Gebu is a thief, things become even more precarious and difficult in his world. If only he could run away and live on the outskirts of the desert, but he has no skills, no food, no donkey... His future seems bleak until the day he discovers a golden goblet. Could it be the one things th
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Jan 19, 2012
Kenna.
rated it: 
HAHA ! I think I'm cheating a bit when I let myself click 'read'.
You see, this book was assigned in my 7th grade history class to read outside of school. No one read it. Okay, a few select people did... (cough*nerds*cough) but I went to a fancy goody two shoes type of middle school... so it was kind of a big deal. Everyone was just like... this book is so boring, I would rather skim over some of it & take the D.
The day of the test came around, and some kids had stayed up all More...
You see, this book was assigned in my 7th grade history class to read outside of school. No one read it. Okay, a few select people did... (cough*nerds*cough) but I went to a fancy goody two shoes type of middle school... so it was kind of a big deal. Everyone was just like... this book is so boring, I would rather skim over some of it & take the D.
The day of the test came around, and some kids had stayed up all More...
Jun 03, 2010
JoAnn
rated it:
If it was available I would have given three and a half stars, but because she is the author of my all time favorite book from childhood, Mara, Daughter of the Nile, I am rounding up to four.
The plot is much simpler than in Mara, but there is a lot of interesting detail about ancient Egypt woven into the story. I think this would be a wonderful story to share with preteen-aged students who are studying ancient Egypt.
It could lead to discussions of the roles and responsibilities and More...
The plot is much simpler than in Mara, but there is a lot of interesting detail about ancient Egypt woven into the story. I think this would be a wonderful story to share with preteen-aged students who are studying ancient Egypt.
It could lead to discussions of the roles and responsibilities and More...
Nov 20, 2009
Eric
rated it:
I read this with a group of seventh graders, and I feel like it was even a bit too straightforward for them. That is, it doesn't really raise any ethical questions about life as is so important for books geared towards readers of this age to do. The morality is clear and dull, though the historical aspect is mildly engaging. Although it's fun at parts, The Golden Goblet simply doesn't have any deeper layers of meaning that would classify it, in my opinion, as worthy a book for a young reader as,
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May 29, 2010
Siyao
rated it:
I learned that all LA/SS teachers are monsters sent by the devil!
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Oct 11, 2010
Sasha
rated it:
This book is about a boy named Ranofer who worked for a goldsmith as a porter. His father Thutra died and he has to live with his half brother Gebu. Gebu abuses him and yells at him almost every day. Ranofer finds out that Gebu was stealing from the goldsmiths shop. One day Ranofer find a golden goblet in Gebu's room. He suspects that he is stealing from a tomb. Ranofer follows Gebu and Wenamon(Gebu's really good friend). He tells The Queen Of Egypt that they are stealing from the tomb.Gebu and
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Feb 09, 2011
Emily
rated it:
The golden goblet is of a boy named Ranofer who lives in Egypt with his half-brother Gebu.Ranofer worked in the goldsmith to become a great goldsmith like his father Thutra.While working in the gold shop some gold was being stolen by a wine maler named Ibni who gives it to Gebu.Ranofer found out and told his friend Hequet about it and Gebu didn't steal anymore gold from the goldshop.Because Ranofer found out about the gold stealings he has to be a sonecutter's apprentis Gebus apperntis.Ranofer a
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Jul 25, 2009
Ruben
rated it:
I really liked this book when I was 11, and I really liked this book twenty-one years later. Somehow Eloise Jarvis McGraw makes Ranofer, the main character, easily relatable without turning him into a kid that thinks, talks and acts like a twentieth century American kid who happens to be living in ancient Egypt. To me, that's one of the most annoying things about historical fiction: the author tries to make the main characters more likable by making them just like us, no matter what century o
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Oct 10, 2010
Well the book was good and it it had alot of vocabulary.It is about ranofer a boy who wants to become a goldsmith but his bother Gebu whants him to bue a stone cutter..but Ranofer notices that there is something going on between Gebu and Wenomen...So he gets together with Ancient and hequet and have a plan to see that is going on.Then Ranofer finds out that Gebu has been hiding the golden goblet! then follows them into a tomb and then has the corige to tell someone...Then Gebu and Wenomen get ca
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Apr 02, 2011
This was part of my homeschool curriculum for World History Class. The vocabulary was easy and the plot was simple. The book was O.K. It was a bit boring in the beginning and it's one of those books that you have to re-read cause you find yourself thinking about something else. The ending was very predictable so it was not much of a "gripping" book. The writing itself was very good. Creative sentences and good descriptions. I recommend her other books such as "Mara, Daughter of th
Sep 12, 2011
Karen
rated it:
This is a good historical fiction children's book if studying Egypt during the time of the pharaohs--very interesting, characters were engaging, no language problems, seemed accurate compared to my limited knowledge of the belief system/many gods of that time. This would obviously be a discussion point with kids in contrasting Christianity's view. I give it a 3 instead of 4 because of the simplicity of the plot and the lack of thought-provoking problems--more of a simple, fun read.
Nov 10, 2009
Michael
rated it:
I had to read this book as a class assignment for Social studies. we got to choose out of four books one to read. They all were related to Ancient Egypt, which we were studying at the time. This book turned out pretty good, even thogh a bit boring at times. Just from the main character's point of view, I learned a lot abou how important a role religion played in Ancient Egypt. I also learned a ton about The civillization's culture, daily life, and social structure. Good read.
Apr 01, 2011
Dawn
rated it:
My son and I enjoyed yet another historical fiction novel by this talented author. This one is about a boy who lives in Ancient Egypt. He is the son of a master goldsmith and longs to follow in his father's footsteps. But, when his father dies, he finds himself in the care of his cruel older brother. You'll have to read the book to find out what happens when he discovers a golden goblet in his brother's room that obviously had been stolen from a tomb.
Sep 22, 2010
Erin
rated it:
This book, which takes place in Ancient Egypt, has an exciting plot. My favorite part, however, is the ending. The queen asks Ranofer, the main character, what he wants as his reward. Ranofer replies that he wants a donkey! :) The reason I rated this book with only two stars was because there are many references to the false gods of ancient Egypt. When I read this book aloud to my children in homeschool, I omitted all those parts!
Jul 26, 2011
Theresa
rated it:
an impressive book found in a suggestion book for books for kids who don't like to read. A thrilling story based in historical fiction actually confrunting the controversy of grave robbers in ancient egypt. A young boy is taking from his dreams beated and staved by an angry half brother who cares not for him. he finds that his tormentor has not scruples not only in his treatement but also in respect to cultural norms, and expectations.
Aug 01, 2011
Tashaeagar
rated it:
I really liked this book! I read it out loud to my kids and they liked it too. We had to look up a lot of Egyptian words that we didn't know in the beginning, but now we know them and we had a good time learning about Egyptians and the City of the Dead and one little boys struggle of being put in the care of his abusive half brother and his dreams of becoming a master goldsmith. It captured us and we couldn't put it down.
Jul 04, 2011
Jill
rated it:
it was hard to disengage from this novel after i closed the book. GREAT read! fiction set in ancient egypt - well paced and well developed characters. a boy's father dies and he is sent to live with his evil step brother. he does the best he can to endure the hard knocks his brother puts him through...ultimately he triumphs in a significant and life changing albeit very humble way.
Oct 10, 2010
Meghan
rated it:
Ranofer wants to a master goldsmith more than anything in the world. Ranofer lives in ancient Egypt with his evil half-brother Gebu. Ranofer doesn’t know that Gebu is a tomb robber until Heqet, and the Ancient turn into spys. Ranofer follows Gebu to a tomb .Wenoma thinks there being followed but Gebu doesn’t think so. Ranofer tell Queen Tiy and got rewarded a donkey.
Apr 27, 2011
Kimberly
rated it:
B was reading this for his Ancient History and since I haven't seen or read it before, I read with him so I could discuss it. I found it wonderfully well written. He couldn't put it down, and neither could I. Yes, it's written for young adults (middle school, actually), but when a parent and 4th grader can love the same book, that's something wonderful!
Dec 01, 2011
Ria
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I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this book. So far this is my favorite school read-aloud, even though God King: A Story in the Days of King Hezekiah was almost as good.
Dec 26, 2011
Barbara
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Blake read this at school as part of a unit on Ancient Egypt, and I read it too. I thought it started well, and the integration of some historical information was well done, but I didn't think much of the plot, and found the ending abrupt and implausible. Sort of surprised it was a Newbery Honor winner.
Dec 10, 2010
Amy
rated it:
All the kids gave this book 5 stars. It had everything you want in a kids book. Actions, mystery and a loveable main charater. This book went along perfectly with our history. They kids think this book was as good as Summer of the Monkeys, I still think Summer of the Monkeys is the best.
Dec 10, 2009
Vicki
rated it:
Ranofer! This poor kid. We read this book as part of a unit study on Ancient Egypt (I'm a homeschooling mom). It was an exciting book to read aloud. It deals with child abuse, so be warned. I changed some words while reading to soften it a bit. Happy ending, though. Ranofer is a survivor.
