SOLVED. Juvenile historical fiction set in ancient egypt about a spoiled boy who runs away from home [s]

[Angeline]

I can only remember a couple scenes from the book.

I think he runs away from home but I am not sure, he's wealthy and is ignorant of how common people live. At one point he's hungry so he eats some food he's not supposed to. Either he stole some food from a person's house or it was food meant as an altar offering to a god. I think the food is dates. He's subsequently caught and scolded for it.

In another part he runs into an old man/old woman who tells him that a relative has gone to work in the morning and hasn't returned. I think the relative is a son/grandson who is a fisherman. This old person is concerned that the son/grandson has fallen into the river nile and gotten killed by a hippo or crocodile.

The main character offers to write a prayer to a god (sobek?) for the son/grandson's safe return.

I remember very clearly that a big deal was made about the MC being able to write/read as those skills were not common among non-wealthy people in that time period.

Anyone ever read this book?

[Ayshe]

I haven't. Could it be Scarab for Luck: A Story of Ancient Egypt by Enid LaMonte Meadowcroft?

[Angeline]

Ayshe wrote: "I haven't. Could it be Scarab for Luck: A Story of Ancient Egypt by Enid LaMonte Meadowcroft?"
Let me check it out and see if it's the one. Thank you!

[Kate]

Be sure to let us know if that was your book, Angeline. We crave closure!

[Angeline]

looked for this book to verify but couldn't get a copy anywhere! Sorry guys :(

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Angeline, are you still looking for this or did you find it?

[Angeline]

I finally got a copy of this book recently and it was Scarab for Luck. Sorry I didn’t come back to this sooner!

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Terrific. Thanks for letting us know.