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The Magnificent Mummy Maker
Left behind in a family of super-achievers, young Andy wishes that he, too, could do something special, until a class trip to an Egyptian exhibit causes him to interact with a mummy, an encounter that leaves him with strange powers. Reprint.
144 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1995
12 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
About the author
Elvira Woodruff
32 books86 followersElvira Woodruff is an American children's author known for blending fantasy and history in her stories. Born in Somerville, New Jersey, she studied English literature at Adelphi and Boston University. Before becoming a writer, she worked a variety of jobs and later found inspiration while working as a librarian in Easton, Pennsylvania. Woodruff has published numerous children's books, including George Washington's Socks, The Memory Coat, and Dear Levi. Her work has been praised for its engaging storytelling and historical depth. Throughout her career, she has created imaginative, heartfelt stories that continue to captivate young readers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
March 19, 2013
My 7 year old nephew chose this book for me to read to him before bedtime. So, since I didn't read to him every single day, it took us a while to finish, but we finally finished today.
This story is very sweet and has so many messages. Andy's mother passed away when he was young. His father did the best he could to raise him as a single father. That is until he found Marie and re-married. Marie seemed nice, the bad thing is that she brought her son, Jason, or Mr. Know-it-all-blue-ribbon-for-everything, the same age as Andy. The good thing about his father and Marie's marriage is Winks, his baby sister, whom he loves. Andy has always wanted to know more about his real mother, but his dad never wants to talk about her. Andy always saw himself as average, or below average living with such a genius. When their fifth grade classes decide to do a unit on Ancient Egypt and visit the museum to see a real mummy something unexpected happens. As he's visiting the exhibit, he gets a funny feeling when he leans over the case to see the mummy. All of a sudden, he is magnificent and whatever he wishes seems to come true. Andy must use the wishes wisely and learn how to accept not only his new family, but himself as well.
I have to admit, I teared up a couple of times reading this book when Andy was talking about his mom. My nephew probably didn't really get that part since he was falling asleep most of the times I read him the story. Either way, I loved this book and am glad he picked it to read together.
This story is very sweet and has so many messages. Andy's mother passed away when he was young. His father did the best he could to raise him as a single father. That is until he found Marie and re-married. Marie seemed nice, the bad thing is that she brought her son, Jason, or Mr. Know-it-all-blue-ribbon-for-everything, the same age as Andy. The good thing about his father and Marie's marriage is Winks, his baby sister, whom he loves. Andy has always wanted to know more about his real mother, but his dad never wants to talk about her. Andy always saw himself as average, or below average living with such a genius. When their fifth grade classes decide to do a unit on Ancient Egypt and visit the museum to see a real mummy something unexpected happens. As he's visiting the exhibit, he gets a funny feeling when he leans over the case to see the mummy. All of a sudden, he is magnificent and whatever he wishes seems to come true. Andy must use the wishes wisely and learn how to accept not only his new family, but himself as well.
I have to admit, I teared up a couple of times reading this book when Andy was talking about his mom. My nephew probably didn't really get that part since he was falling asleep most of the times I read him the story. Either way, I loved this book and am glad he picked it to read together.
September 3, 2020
Fue un libro lleno de historia, haciendo que sea bastante informativo y divertido ya que al final de esta historia nos transmite un mensaje tan lindo que debemos darnos cuenta de que trata. Un libro bastante recomendable, el final no fue el mejor pero la trama fue bastante interesante para evaluarlo con 5 estrellas.
Le pongo 5/5 ya que engancha desde la primera página y por transmitir sentimientos y emociones a través de las letras.
Le pongo 5/5 ya que engancha desde la primera página y por transmitir sentimientos y emociones a través de las letras.
August 28, 2022
Alright, I wanted to fit in a random read for today. I had heard of this one so when I saw it in the wild, I got it. I want to get through the books I now own that I hadn't read yet as that is growing, which I imagine a lot can relate to. Thus, here we are. This is a random Scholastic book from 1994 by Elvira Woodruff. She isn't the biggest but she had notable works back then and sitll does a few things these days. Her website has a list of links to other author sites and the only one I knew was David Lubar, so she has taste at least.
I was interested based on the summary and it ended up being pretty good. It's not without faults but it was pretty solid. Andy Manetti is an average ten year old, who isn't the smartest student, just getting by with Cs and such. In contrast, his step brother is amazing, being the best at everything and getting all the praise, with dad often commenting about how Andy doesn't apply himself as much.
Doesn't help that Jason is quite the bragger. One day, Andi's class visits the museum and sees this mummy. Basically, Andy touches her and gets this weird feeling. Soon after, he finds himself doing way better at thing like art and math, even creating a fake mummy of his own that everyone fawns over. Plus, some wishes he makes start coming tree.
He's pretty cool now but soon maybe will all have negatives consequences. So to get the negatives out of the way, the writing can be a bit clunky. It's mostly fine but there are awkward bits with the dialouge being a bit stiff. There are a bits like that are awkward. Story wise there's less wrong but it does take a bit to get to the mummy stuff. Once we do it's all good, I wish we got to play with the concept a bit more but it tends up playing ambiguous with it so that is a tad limiting.
Also, they say "Magnificent" so much that if you played a drinking game with it, you'd be dead after two chapters. Otherwise, it's good. Elvira tends to do historical fiction and that does show with a bunch of educational stuff early on about mummies and such. Some of it is important to the story and what goes down.
Andy is a decently relatable protagonist who is likable as Jason is indeed a braggy jerk. He's got a step mother and thankfully she's nice and he's even nice to her, he likes her so we get to "you're not my real mom" stuff. Oh and he's got a little sister he bonds with, that was refreshing. The family stuff is important, as Andy's birth mom died when he was young and Jason's birth dad basically left for California.
We mostly explore Andy's side, and how it affects him and dad. It gets into emotional stuff that worked pretty well. That props this one up, as we eventually get into Jason and see maybe where his bragging comes from and all that. I wish he could have been toned down but ah well. There are little subtle bits that stack up well, making this aspect well rounded.
As for the magic mummy stuff, it's fun enough when we get into it. They eventually try to make it ambiguous, maybe everything is a coincidence, maybe this mummy ghost (yeah that's what it might be specifically) is behind this but is being subtle. It works fine although a couple things don't add up if you assume this is not fully magic, I assume it is but mummy ghost wasn't powerful enough to do super far.
The ending goes on a bit too long but otherwise it builds up a good moment with the dad that wraps it up nicely. No pun intended. As a whole, it's a well rounded story with solid emotional stuff that explores the characters well. It's a few steps away from being truly magnificent but it is still a solid read. It was a bit better than expected in some areas as it went along and it overall works well.
I'd reccomend it. It's not thge most mummy filled book ever it fares well as far these middle grade mummy books go I think. That's about it, glad I got it out of the way. Also, cover is by Broeck Steadman of Ghosts of Fear Street fame, neat.
I was interested based on the summary and it ended up being pretty good. It's not without faults but it was pretty solid. Andy Manetti is an average ten year old, who isn't the smartest student, just getting by with Cs and such. In contrast, his step brother is amazing, being the best at everything and getting all the praise, with dad often commenting about how Andy doesn't apply himself as much.
Doesn't help that Jason is quite the bragger. One day, Andi's class visits the museum and sees this mummy. Basically, Andy touches her and gets this weird feeling. Soon after, he finds himself doing way better at thing like art and math, even creating a fake mummy of his own that everyone fawns over. Plus, some wishes he makes start coming tree.
He's pretty cool now but soon maybe will all have negatives consequences. So to get the negatives out of the way, the writing can be a bit clunky. It's mostly fine but there are awkward bits with the dialouge being a bit stiff. There are a bits like that are awkward. Story wise there's less wrong but it does take a bit to get to the mummy stuff. Once we do it's all good, I wish we got to play with the concept a bit more but it tends up playing ambiguous with it so that is a tad limiting.
Also, they say "Magnificent" so much that if you played a drinking game with it, you'd be dead after two chapters. Otherwise, it's good. Elvira tends to do historical fiction and that does show with a bunch of educational stuff early on about mummies and such. Some of it is important to the story and what goes down.
Andy is a decently relatable protagonist who is likable as Jason is indeed a braggy jerk. He's got a step mother and thankfully she's nice and he's even nice to her, he likes her so we get to "you're not my real mom" stuff. Oh and he's got a little sister he bonds with, that was refreshing. The family stuff is important, as Andy's birth mom died when he was young and Jason's birth dad basically left for California.
We mostly explore Andy's side, and how it affects him and dad. It gets into emotional stuff that worked pretty well. That props this one up, as we eventually get into Jason and see maybe where his bragging comes from and all that. I wish he could have been toned down but ah well. There are little subtle bits that stack up well, making this aspect well rounded.
As for the magic mummy stuff, it's fun enough when we get into it. They eventually try to make it ambiguous, maybe everything is a coincidence, maybe this mummy ghost (yeah that's what it might be specifically) is behind this but is being subtle. It works fine although a couple things don't add up if you assume this is not fully magic, I assume it is but mummy ghost wasn't powerful enough to do super far.
The ending goes on a bit too long but otherwise it builds up a good moment with the dad that wraps it up nicely. No pun intended. As a whole, it's a well rounded story with solid emotional stuff that explores the characters well. It's a few steps away from being truly magnificent but it is still a solid read. It was a bit better than expected in some areas as it went along and it overall works well.
I'd reccomend it. It's not thge most mummy filled book ever it fares well as far these middle grade mummy books go I think. That's about it, glad I got it out of the way. Also, cover is by Broeck Steadman of Ghosts of Fear Street fame, neat.
August 29, 2011
I recently took a road trip with my kids and we listened to this audio book on the way. It was great - one of the quietest trips we had ever done. Every time a disc finished, the kids begged for the next one as they were so engrossed in the story.
The story is cute, it is about a ten year old boy named Andy, whose mother died when he was a baby and whose father has remarried. His new step mother comes with a new step brother, also a ten year old boy, but one who is good at doing everything he sets his mind to, unlike Andy. Andy is average, not gifted like his step brother, Jason. He feels left out and lonely and he misses his mom.
Woodruff does a good job here, exploring the feelings that kids of blended families would feel, all of the mixed up emotions, resentments and assumptions. I can really imagine the kids feeling and acting the way that she presents and this would probably be comforting for kids who are in similar situations - or who feel sibling rivalry even without the blended family part.
There is also a great fantasy element to the book, with Andy channeling the spirit of the mummy. This part is a bit spooky and mysterious and adds a fun tension to the book. I love the imagination the author uses here and how it is used to ultimately resolve the story.
I can see middle grade kids really enjoying this book, especially if they have an interest in mythology.
The story is cute, it is about a ten year old boy named Andy, whose mother died when he was a baby and whose father has remarried. His new step mother comes with a new step brother, also a ten year old boy, but one who is good at doing everything he sets his mind to, unlike Andy. Andy is average, not gifted like his step brother, Jason. He feels left out and lonely and he misses his mom.
Woodruff does a good job here, exploring the feelings that kids of blended families would feel, all of the mixed up emotions, resentments and assumptions. I can really imagine the kids feeling and acting the way that she presents and this would probably be comforting for kids who are in similar situations - or who feel sibling rivalry even without the blended family part.
There is also a great fantasy element to the book, with Andy channeling the spirit of the mummy. This part is a bit spooky and mysterious and adds a fun tension to the book. I love the imagination the author uses here and how it is used to ultimately resolve the story.
I can see middle grade kids really enjoying this book, especially if they have an interest in mythology.
September 28, 2009
Very cute, well written, great story! I would definately let my child read this book.
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November 22, 2020This book was better in my childhood imagination, but I'm still glad someone on Goodreads helped me find it again.
November 12, 2017
El vaig llegir de petit. Crec que em va agradar.
April 13, 2019
This book is for young readers - grade school age. It was okay but not what I expected. I have read other books by this author I liked better.
August 23, 2020
I like that the author turned an angry situation into something happy.
February 25, 2021
What a wonderful read for the Egyptology details at an apropos level for young readers BUT also for the insights into blended family relationships, academics v sports, self esteem...
May 29, 2022
Goosebumps but with more feels. I loved this sweet story.
June 8, 2025
I read this book in middle school. I remember really enjoying it as I too grew up in a blended family.
March 30, 2008
According to the insert at the back of the book, Elvira Woodruff was inspired to write The Magnificent Mummy Maker based on an actual school project mummy she had seen on one of her many classroom appearances. The real mummy was made by a pair of girls but in the novel it's done by Andy who wants one chance at doing something better than his step-brother, Jason (aka "Mr. Genius").
The Magnificent Mummy Maker has the same theme of competition between siblings of blended families as Yours Turly Shirley. Of the two, Andy's relations with Jason and their younger half-sister strikes me as more realistic than that of Shirley and Jackie. Woodruff gives each family member a chance to voice his or her feelings and perspectives which makes for a more interesting and believable story.
Mummy Maker isn't just a story of sibling rivalry, it also has a strong fantasy element. The mummy that Andy draws in school is inspired by the mummy of a priestess the class sees in the local museum. After seeing her, Andy believes that her ka has entered his body and has started to grant him wishes. Through these wishes Andy and Jason learn to be better brothers and to appreciate their family situation.
The Magnificent Mummy Maker has the same theme of competition between siblings of blended families as Yours Turly Shirley. Of the two, Andy's relations with Jason and their younger half-sister strikes me as more realistic than that of Shirley and Jackie. Woodruff gives each family member a chance to voice his or her feelings and perspectives which makes for a more interesting and believable story.
Mummy Maker isn't just a story of sibling rivalry, it also has a strong fantasy element. The mummy that Andy draws in school is inspired by the mummy of a priestess the class sees in the local museum. After seeing her, Andy believes that her ka has entered his body and has started to grant him wishes. Through these wishes Andy and Jason learn to be better brothers and to appreciate their family situation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2016
My love of reading started when i was young, and it gives me immense pleasure to provide books to Spread the Word Nevada, an organization that passes them on to children in the community. They are a terrific organization supporting an important cause. If your local I encourage you to check them out. For those living further a field, look in your own community, their may already be a similar program in place. And if not, you can always help start one.
http://spreadthewordnevada.org/
Myself, I go out on the weekends and
shop thrift store and bulk book lots to rescue books and donate them. Sometimes I'll find a book I remember reading when I was young and will read it again before passing it on.
I don't rate these books using my normal scale, instead I give most of them three stars. This isn't a Criticism of the book, simply my way of rating them as good for children.
April 22, 2014
Drawn in by the promise of some Egyptian lore, I picked this up. A great story that revolves around a blended family and the rivalry between the two same aged boys. One an overachiever and the other and underachiever. The project for school is about ancient Egypt. The overachiever steals the step-brother's idea and everything he touchs always turns to prize-winning gold. But will it this time? On the class's field trip to the museum, the mummy's spirit seem to enter the underachiever and he produces the most amazing paper replica of the mummy. So good it ends up making him the center of attention from both students and teachers. Finally, he is the prize winner. This does not sit well with the previously center-of-attention brother and he realized that this attention comes with a price. The mummy also comes with an ability to have wishes granted, but only so many. If you make one too many wishes, you will be left in despair. What to wish for? Did he wish for the right thing?
December 6, 2011
In this book, Andy is nothing compared to his know-it-all brother, Jason. Jason is his stepmoms son from another marriage. But, unlike fariytales, his stepmother is really nice and awesome to be around, just like his baby sister, Winks. Winks' real name is Vannesa, but she winks alot, so the name just stuck there. On a school field trip, Andy meets a very special mummy. The next day at school, Andy somehow makes a magnificent painted mumuy for his project. The mummy is something other than just a painting. Andy feels as if he can just think a wish, stare at the mummy, and the wish will come true. But he has to be carefull, especially for what he wishes for
August 23, 2016
Has a mummy’s spirit really moved into Andy’s body?!
What do you do when it seems like everyone in your family has done something magnificent—everyone, that is, except you? That’s Andy’s problem. He just wants to do something special.
When his class visits an Egyptian exhibit, he figures it’ll be just another field trip. But he’s wrong, because somehow a mummy’s spirit seems to have given him a weird magic power. Suddenly, Andy’s magnificent—all he has to do is wish for whatever he wants! But being extraordinary has its drawbacks. And Andy soon learns to be very, very careful of what he wishes for….
What do you do when it seems like everyone in your family has done something magnificent—everyone, that is, except you? That’s Andy’s problem. He just wants to do something special.
When his class visits an Egyptian exhibit, he figures it’ll be just another field trip. But he’s wrong, because somehow a mummy’s spirit seems to have given him a weird magic power. Suddenly, Andy’s magnificent—all he has to do is wish for whatever he wants! But being extraordinary has its drawbacks. And Andy soon learns to be very, very careful of what he wishes for….
August 10, 2014
I am trying to go through all my children's books and read them so I can decide if I want to keep them or not. I read this book last night.
I enjoyed this story of a melded family. A boy named Andy and his new family. His mother died when he was 2 months old. His father has remarried and he has a brother the same age and a younger sister. His new brother is gifted and Andy feels stupid and doesn't try hard.
He is in the fifth grade and they are studying Egypt. This is when things change for Andy. He feels different after visiting the Museum and the Egyptian display. Very cute story.
I enjoyed this story of a melded family. A boy named Andy and his new family. His mother died when he was 2 months old. His father has remarried and he has a brother the same age and a younger sister. His new brother is gifted and Andy feels stupid and doesn't try hard.
He is in the fifth grade and they are studying Egypt. This is when things change for Andy. He feels different after visiting the Museum and the Egyptian display. Very cute story.
June 15, 2014
Not creepy, which is a good thing, considering the teaser of a mummy's spirit entering a boy's body. I don't think that most people would really learn anything new about Egyptian history by reading this book, but I enjoyed the story. I liked the dynamics of the family and the difficulty Andy had in deciding his last wish, with all of its consequences.
G
G
December 2, 2016
the tittle of this book is called "the magnificent Mummy maker" by Elvira woodruff.This book was about a kid who his mother died and only had his dad. it also talks about how he made a made a traceout out of a mummy when he was not looking.I give this book 3 stars because I did not really understand it.
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April 23, 2008 A boy went to the musion whent whit is class. The boy went to the mummy plas were he
April 30, 2011
A cute, fun book for this age level. A hint of spooky supernatural doings as well.
June 25, 2011
Good lessons about trying hard in school & accepting others.plus acute story
March 16, 2013
It was alright, not my kind of read.
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August 16, 2013This book is the perfect complement to the unit on mummies we study in Read 180.
February 18, 2015
I know I read this one, because I remember the ending very well. I have no idea when though.
July 14, 2015
"The Magnificent Mummy Maker" - written by Elvira Woodruff and published in 1994 by Scholastic. I really enjoyed this middle-grade school story, as I have all Woodruff's other books.
February 18, 2021
Read it when I was 9 or 10. loved every minute of it :)
July 1, 2023
Sweet book. Nice break from my longer/heavier reads.
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December 11, 2017very nice book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews