The Eye of Ra

Written by Ben Gartner

This book is the first in a series of fast-moving time-travel adventures for middle-grade readers.

Sarah and Jack are in the midst of preparing to move from Colorado to Maryland. While on a hiking adventure, they discover a cave. Sarah cannot contain her curiosity and she entices her brother to follow her.

They enter a portal that leads them to ancient Egypt where the siblings meet Zach, the son of an architect who is building the pyramids. The threesome will encounter crocodiles, cobras and assorted dangers of the Nile as they try to uncover who is beheading statues and stealing from tombs.

Will this brother and sister find their way back to the cave entrance? How will this adventure change their lives going forward?

This book is well-written with interesting characters and plot lines. Recommended especially for readers in grades three through six.

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Meeting of the Mustangs

Written by Cathy Kennedy

Charming tale of less than one hundred pages focusing on the meanderings of a black mustang colt. As a young colt he loved to chase butterflies, playing with the other newborns. Traveling with the herd, he faced many dangers including attacks by a mountain lion and bear. One day he is separated from the herd. His travels will bring him across the lands of Kansas, New Mexico, Colorado and Oklahoma. The colt must face wildfires and hunter’s traps. One fateful day he is lassoed and brought to the barn of a ranch. A young girl named Paula tries to win his devotion, but he is afraid and that leads to being taken away once more. A kind rancher tries to tame him, but the mustang feels he must escape once more. An unexpected accident on the road leads to a chance meeting with Tyler that will change both of their lives forever.

This tale is written from the viewpoint of the black mustang. It is almost a stream of consciousness, while the plot moves along there is not a central thread. The author does an excellent job of securing empathy with the colt. Children who love or own horses will identify with the protagonist. The ending came as a surprise. I would love to see a sequel as I would love to see that story fleshed out. I would especially recommend the book to middle grade readers and teen audiences.

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