Reviews

The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

minty's review

4.0

I know I read this when I was a kid, but I remembered nothing. It's kind of a simplistic little YA vignette, though there is some actual drama later in the book. I was impressed by the diverse cast of characters and the way the kids model such good interactions. Very sweet.

4thcaballero's review against another edition

funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

alltheradreads's review against another edition

2.0

it’s bizarre how a book from your childhood can stick with you so much that you remember the details of the disturbing illustrations and the specific names of the characters and how your fourth grade class named the pet parakeet petey in honor of the bird in the book… and also how scary it was when you thought the professor was about to kidnap and murder the kids?!?? 😵

i for SURE had an egypt-fascination era as a kid (anyone else?!) — there was a cleopatra halloween costume, a hieroglyphics book i tried to learn how to write from, even a chicken mummification extra credit project that went horribly wrong in the backyard at one point… 🤢

but about the book, it definitely had a dark tone to it and some heavy/somber themes, and probably wouldn’t be one i’d readily share with kiddos now, but it’s an award winner and a classic, so what do i know!

jcarsrud's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 I enjoyed the characters and love their imaginative Egypt game. Many kids today don’t play like that, so it was fun to see what life was like before entertainment gaming systems. It was too long and I got bored in the middle. The last 30 pages were more interesting and I just wished that it had moved more swiftly.

rfelt's review against another edition

3.0

It's a cute, clever book. Better for elementary school, ending was a bit predictable. Still a fun, quick little read.

jaybles's review against another edition

dark funny hopeful mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

erin_oriordan_is_reading_again's review

4.0

A childhood favorite.

rajaraks's review

5.0

So I read this when I was maybe 10 years old? I was really into Egypt and wanted to be an archaeologist. This book was so attractive to me then. And now, rereading it as an adult... wow, I don't remember picking up on a lot of seemingly "adult" themes like murder(?!) and absent parents.

I love that the cast of characters is diverse in both age and cultural background and that the kids are clever in a "kid way". I know when I was around their ages, I thought I was pretty smart. I'm not entirely sure if I would have been as well-spoken but the feeling is there. There are some "To Kill a Mockingbird" vibes but without the heaviness of the racial theme. (I also haven't read "To Kill a Mockingbird" since I was in grade school, so maybe the similarities are only in my head.)

Anyway, if I hadn't read this when I was younger, I probably would have given this 4-stars, but there's a ton of nostalgia that went along with re-reading this, so 5-stars. I'm biased :)

reindeerbandit's review against another edition

5.0

i did not realize this was a book for the youths when i got it, and i realized that very quickly while reading, but it was fun! these kids were so clever. as a former child who was way too into egyptians myself, i only wanted to join in on their game.

thatchickengirl23's review against another edition

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes