The Red Pyramid

By Rick Riordan
Carter, 14, and Sadie, 12, (brother and sister) have grown up apart. He has traveled all over the world with his Egyptologist father, Dr. Julius Kane, while Sadie has lived in London with their grandparents. Their mother passed away under mysterious circumstances, so when their father arrives in London and wants to take them both on a private tour of the British Museum, all is not necessarily what it seems. The evening ends with the apparent destruction of the Rosetta Stone, the disappearance of Dr. Kane, and the kidnapping of Carter and Sadie. More insidiously, it leads to the release of five Egyptian gods, including Set, who is their mortal enemy. Carter and Sadie discover the secrets of their family heritage and their ability to work magic as they realize that their task will be to save humanity from Set, who is building a destructive red pyramid inside Camelback Mountain in Phoenix.

This book is written as an audio recording that both children made. Occasionally they interrupt the story with a quip to their sibling. Funny book and full of Egyptian history.

*Warnings: Some swearing - mainly Sadie - who grew up in London and uses the English swear words.

The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel

Michael Scott
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Sophie and Josh Newman think their summer jobs at a coffee shop and a bookshop across the street are just perfect. Then strange things start happening - goons show up at the bookstore and kidnap the owner's wife - the owner of the coffee shop - and they also get away with a book that has important meaning to Nick Flemming, the bookstore owner (aka Nicholas Flamel). Join Sophie and Josh on an incredible adventure full of magical powers and wondrous creatures.

Enchantress from the Stars

Sylvia Louise Engdahl

Publisher: Hallideay Lithograph Corporation and in Canada by McClelland and Stewart, Ltd.

A Newberry Honor Award Book (1970)

Elana is a student at the Federation's Anthropological center. She wants to become and agent and save Youngling civilizations. When she sneaks aboard a mission she finds herself in a totally new world and accomplishing tasks she had not learned about in school. The first local she meets believes she is an Enchantress and that sets the whole plan into motion. Join Elana, her father, Evvrek - her bethrothed, Georyn - the local and other characters for a journey filled with fantasy and science fiction.

Warnings: This book is not a light easy read - it feels heavy and like there is a deeper meaning to everything.

The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp

By Rick Yancey

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing, Children’s Books, USA

Alfred Kropp, age 15, just doesn’t fit in. He’s too big, too awkward, and extremely unintelligent. At least, that’s what everyone says. He lives with his uncle, Farrell – his only living family he knows of. When a get rich quick scheme is presented, Uncle Farrell will stop at nothing to get the money. This puts Alfred into an extraordinary adventure full of modern day knights, robed men dressed in black, a helicopter strike, a high-speed motorcycle/car attack, mystery, and betrayal. A wonderful adventure story.

Would suggest – for someone who likes action movies and the history of King Arthur.

Warnings: Some swear words, violence, some graphic deaths (heads flying through the air, ect.)