|
 . . . a magical sandstorm, just one of the many perils that the young hero must face in his journey through the desert . . . What do a poor Egyptian orphan and an aristocratic Greek "army brat" have in common? Not much--but they travel together up the River Nile to the Sacred City, carrying a statue of a most unlikely goddess. What they hope to find is a beautiful princess who is doomed to a life of power and wealth--and denied what she really wants. Bata, the Egyptian boy, intends to present the statue to the princess; Hector, the Greek, has much bolder plans. But when they reach their destination, they find the challenge just beginning. They must undertake a perilous journey, racing against time to save Egypt from a violent fate.
THE UGLY GODDESS not only provides lively plot and likeable characters, but also a historically accurate excursion to a little-known but fascinating time in Egypt's history. And the statue of Taweret, the "ugly goddess" herself, really exists! SOME QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT--- Do you think Hector was right in trying to get Bata to question his beliefs? How do you feel about Bata's decision that the "old gods" are true? What will become of Meret? Do you think her adventures will have a lasting effect on her life? How would you explain the ancient Egyptians' belief in deities that looked so strange? A common idea about ancient Egypt is that the pharaoh was an all-powerful and cruel tyrant. How would you compare that view with the image of Pharaoh in this story? |
