Mara is a proud and beautiful slave girl who yearns for freedom in ancient Egypt, under the rule of Queen Hatshepsut. Unlike other slaves, Mara can read and write, as well as speak the language of Babylonian. So, to barter for her freedom, she finds herself playing the dangerous role of a double spy for two arch enemies - each of whom supports a contender for the throne of Egypt. Except, Mara finds herself falling in love with one of her masters, the noble Sheftu, and is beginning to believe in his plans of restoring Thutmose III to the throne. But if her duplicity is discovered, a battle will surely begin, in which both Mara's life and the fate of Egypt are at stake.

 

This book has been graded for interest at 12+ years.

There are 304 pages in this book. This book was published 2018 by Penguin Putnam Inc .

Eloise Jarvis McGraw (1915-2000) was an American author of children's books and young adult novels. Her novels were named Newbery Honor Books three times in three different decades: Moccasin Trail (1952), The Golden Goblet (1962), and The Moorchild (1997). A Really Weird Summer (1977) won an Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery from the Mystery Writers of America. McGraw had a strong interest in history, and among the many books she wrote for children are Greensleeves, The Seventeenth Swap, a light-hearted tale for younger children. McGraw also contributed to the Oz series started by L. Frank Baum. Eloise Jarvis McGraw was married to William Corbin McGraw, and had two children, Peter and Lauren. She lived much of her life in Oregon, where her first novel, Sawdust in His Shoes, is set.