The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw is an exciting story about a boy named Ranofer in ancient Egypt. Despite a setting that took place long in the past, Ranofer manages to be relatable to people today, especially kids in their early teens and pre-teens. He has a dilemma in that while he has a job he likes (working for a goldsmith) his guardian, (his abusive half brother) won't allow him to be an apprentice to his kind and considerate boss. Things would be different if his parents were still alive. But his mom died having him, and his dad died a few months before of some undisclosed illness. Still, Ranofer at least likes his job, and the few friends he makes, even though he doesn't like the strange, unnaturally polite man who gives him wine skins every few days and tells him to take them home to his brother. He starts suspecting that there are stolen bits of gold in the wine skins and that his brother and the man are working together. But before he gets brave enough to tell anyone who can help him, things get worse when his brother forces him to quit his job and come work for the stone cutters. Ranofer doesn't want to be a stone cutter! He wants to be a goldsmith like his father was, and the nice man he had worked for. And what is Ranofer to do when he begins to see evidence that his brother is not only stealing bits of gold from goldsmiths, but stealing from graves as well? Will Ranofer find the courage to do what is right and will people believe him when he does?