Book of the Dead

TombQuest #1

by Michael Northrop

From the team that brought you The 39 Clues and Spirit Animals comes a brand-new epic Egyptian adventure!

Nothing can save eleven-year-old Alex Sennefer’s life. That’s what all the doctors say, but his mother knows it’s not true. She knows that the Lost Spells — the most powerful piece of the Egyptian Book of the Dead — can crack open a door to the afterlife and pull her son back from the brink. But when she uses the spells, five evil ancients known as the Death Walkers are also brought back to life.

Now terrible things are starting to happen. Mummies are awakening. New York is overrun with scorpion messengers. And worst of all, Alex’s mom and the Lost Spells have both disappeared. Alex and his best friend, Ren, will do anything to save his mom and save the world . . . even if that means going head-to-head with a Death Walker who has been plotting his revenge for 3,000 years.

Read the book, then continue the adventure online! Build your own Egyptian maze, hide treasure and protect it with traps, then challenge your friends to play through!

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Adventure, Fiction, Mythology, Mystery, Childrens

197 pages, Paperback

First published January 27, 2015

About the author

Michael Northrop is the New York Times bestselling author of 13 books for kids and teens, including the middle-grade adventure series TombQuest and the hit graphic novel Dear Justice League. His first young adult novel, Gentlemen, earned him a Publishers Weekly Flying Start citation, and his second, Trapped, was an Indie Next List selection. His first middle-grade novel, Plunked, was named one of the best children's books of the year by the New York Public Library and was selected for NPR's Backseat Book Club. He is originally from Salisbury, Connecticut, a small town in the foothills of the Berkshire mountains, where he mastered the arts of BB gun shooting, tree climbing, and field goal kicking with only moderate injuries. After graduating from NYU, he worked at Sports Illustrated Kids magazine for 12 years, the last five of those as baseball editor.

Reviews

[Sonja Rosa Lisa ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ich finde das Alte Ägypten sehr faszinierend, daher ist diese Buchreihe eigentlich perfekt für mich. Hier im ersten Band lernen wir Alex und seine Freundin Renata kennen, beide 12 Jahre alt. Alex Mutter und Rens Vater arbeiten beide im New Yorker Metropolitan Museum. Alex Mutter bereitet gerade eine Ausstellung vor, in der geheimnisvolle Schriftrollen mit "Verlorenen Sprüchen" gezeigt werden sollen. Angeblich sollen diese Sprüche Tote wieder zum Leben erwecken können.

Als Alex, der schwer herzkrank ist, beinahe stirbt, wendet seine Mutter die "Verlorenen Sprüche" an und rettet damit Alex das Leben. Allerdings hat sie mit ihrem Tun auch fünf bösen Todgängern wieder Leben eingehaucht...

Die ganze Geschichte ist sehr rasant, actionreich und stellenweise auch angenehm gruselig. Mumien erwachen, es wimmelt vor giftigen Skorpionen, es geht um Leben und Tod...

Das Buch richtet sich an Kinder ab neun. Hier bin ich mir manchmal unsicher gewesen, ob das schon das richtige Alter ist.

Ich hatte aber viel Spaß an dieser temporeichen Geschichte und dieser ganzen Thematik rund um den Totenkult des Alten Ägyptens. Es war sehr spannend und sehr unterhaltsam, und nun freue ich mich auf den zweiten Band!

[Isa Cantos (Crónicas de una Merodeadora) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alguien: Isa, estudiaste Periodismo, ¿verdad?
Isa: Sí...
Alguien: Ohhh, ¿y cuál fue la asignatura que más te gustó?
Isa: Pues... eh, ¿qué te digo yo? Jajaja, las optativas.
Alguien: o.O
Isa: Sí, sí, vi cosas sobre las religiones orientales, el budismo, hinduísmo... también vi la mitología nórdica, griega, romana, japonesa, egipcia, sumeria. ¡Eran lo máximo!

Y eso, señoras y señores, es la razón por la que adoro los libros que sacan mi vena de amante de la mitología y las culturas antiguas. TombQuest: El Libro de los Muertos logra ese cometido. Aquí, Michael Northrop nos cuenta la historia de Álex, un chico de unos 12 años que desde siempre ha sufrido una enfermedad misteriosa que le produce muchísimo dolor si no toma su medicación. Su madre es un importante miembro del ala Egipcia de un museo, así que Álex y su mejor amiga Ren son apasionados del tema por extensión. Lo interesante en el libro empieza cuando una nueva colección egipcia está por llegar al museo y todo empieza a salirse de control: fenómenos inexplicables, ataques y personajes misteriosos por doquier. Muy pronto, Álex y Ren entenderán que las consecuencias de jugar con la vida y la muerte son peligrosas y que, tras una gran infracción, se habrá desatado el caos. Ya no sólo sus vidas están en peligro, sino las de los seres que aman y, así, tendrán que hacer todo lo que esté en sus manos para vencer a las fuerzas antiguas que amenazan con destruirlo todo a su paso.

Si bien TombQuest: El Libro de los Muertos es un libro más infantil que juvenil, lo disfruté muchísimo por su trama sencilla, pero bien fundamentada; por su humor tan fresco y ñoño; y, finalmente, porque, como vieron al principio, soy una amante de las historias raras. Y, déjenme decirles que hay pocos mitos e historias más extrañas que aquellas del antiguo Egipto.

Para mí, esta es una saga que promete engancharte con cada una de sus entregas y estoy ansiosa por ver cómo siguen las aventuras de Álex y Ren, ahora en Londres, si no lo recuerdo mal. Hay muchísimas cosas en juego dentro de la trama y quiero ver cómo se las ingenia Northrop para entrelazar más elementos de la mitología egipcia en un contexto actual.

Posdata: si has leído este libro, entiendes por qué me he unido al club de ¡JODER, no quiero leer más la palabra "escorpiones" en mi vida!

[✦BookishlyRichie✦ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 STARS!!!

I'm going to be honest, though this was fun and had a lot of action I kept falling asleep during it and I know it had a lot to do with me being sick but even now as I'm better I still knocked out a few times while reading this. I was really hoping I'd love the heck out of it, but it was a good read, nothing spectacular or amazing. Would I recommend it? yeah, for something short and quick.

I'm not sure I'll be reading the rest of the series, but if they have them at my library I'll give the second one a go sometime soon. There won't be a Book Thoughts video on this, but I will talk about it more in my wrap up at the end of the month. Happy Reading! :)

- Richard

[Tina➹ lives in Fandoms · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Silver Stars
with Golden Sparks

quick read
Egyptian mythology
Middle Grade
Good characters
fun & cute
mysterious intriguing plot
cool cover!

I really enjoyed it.

[Abdollah zarei · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5
توقع داشتم قوی تر باشه. شخصیت پردازیش ضعیف بود. پرسی جکسون پراخت به غایت قوی تری داشت. اساطر و خدایان پرسی هم خیلی بهتر و جالب معرفی شدن اما توی این مجموعه لااقل جلد اول زیاد به خدایان و اساطیر اشاره ای نمی شه و از نیمه ی کتاب صرف یسری حوادث پی دیپی و پشت سر هم هست

[Kyoko SWords · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 y no hay mucho que decir.
Es una historia entretenida y que de seguro me hubiese emocionado mucho leer cuando tuviese 14 años.
Muchas de la cosas que pasa son muy inverosímiles, incluso para una lectura infantil. Aún así debo admitir que lo disfruté por lo puntual que es. Es refrescante leer este tipo de historias de vez en cuando. Cuando lo empecé a leer no pude evitar hacer una semejanza con Percy Jackson... pero nada que ver. Percy definitivamente está a otro nivel.
Sin embargo, es un EXCELENTE libro infantil.

[Chester Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nuestro personaje principal es Alex, un niño peculiar y con serios problemas de salud que ningún doctor ha podido descifrar y mucho menos curar. Su madre es una egiptóloga del Museo Metropolitano de Nueva York y Alex pasa la mayoría de su tiempo ahí junto a su mejor amiga Ren (cuyo padre trabajaba con la mamá de Alex).

La "novedad" en el museo (por llamarla de alguna manera) era la llegada de unos papiros extraños con el nombre "El libro de los muertos" que Alex y Ren logran ver sólo una vez.

Cuando la vida de Alex corre serio peligro, su madre en desesperación utiliza unos viejos hechizos llamados Hechizos Perdidos (valga la redundancia) que cumplen su misión de ayudar a Alex pero también logran desatar unos sucesos casi apocalípticos en varias partes del mundo. Y Alex hará todo lo posible por detenerlos para encontrar a su madre que había desaparecido.

Me gustó mucho. Es un libro juvenil casi infantil lleno de aventuras. No esperaba mucho de él por lo mismo, así que en ningún momento me decepcionó porque no tenía realmente expectativas. Muy al contrario, me gustó más de lo que esperaba. Como siempre he dicho, si un libro juvenil/infantil toca temas que le pueda dejar algún conocimiento interesante al lector a mi me gustará, y así pasó con éste libro.

Creo es justo el compararlo con libros como los de Percy Jackson (pero un tanto más infantiles) por el hecho de mezclar mitología con la época moderna. Pero en lo particular me gustó y me entretuvo más Tombquest que el primer libro de Percy Jackson (¡No me odien!). No sé, se me hizo interesante.

El único problema es que sentí que el autor estiraba escenas irrelevantes y acortaba otras más importantes. Siento que la culminación del problema fue muy abrupta. Te pasas el libro entero queriendo llegar a ese punto, y como que acaba muy rápido. Por eso no le dí una calificación completa al libro, porque me hubiera gustado que se desarrollara un poco mejor ese final.

La narrativa es bastante sencilla, muy fácil y rápida de leer, aunque la letra es un poco pequeña y a mí, que tengo mala vista, eso me perjudica mucho, además que es un libro bastante corto para un lector adulto como yo pero siento tiene la longitud perfecta para un lector joven. Es la primera parte de lo que creo es una saga, y honestamente espero poder continuarla porque sí me gustó.

Sobre la edición, es una belleza. Es de tapa dura sin sobrecubierta. En el interior hay dibujos de jeroglíficos y otras ilustraciones muy bonitas. Además de que lo que se ve amarillo en la portada en realidad es dorado y brilla. La imagen del libro es simplemente perfecta.

¿Lo recomiendo? Sí, mucho. Siento que los niños a partir de los 12 años y los adolescentes lo van a disfrutar mucho. Tiene acción y aventura, y los personajes los harán utilizar la imaginación.

[Stephanie]

I just need to note here that I didn't add this book because of Lost Tomb brainrot!!!! Becky recommended it

stop judging me

stop

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is kind of boring.

[Joseph Sanchez · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is definitely a book for kids. The quality of description is fair to poor. The dialogue is weak. The plot is inventive, but at the edge of ridiculous. I mean really, a boy who just about died (was dead for two minutes in the hospital) is allowed to participate in a dangerous series of exploits that require a lot of physical strength, stamina, and mental stability. He has recently "lost" his mother, and is in the care of a stranger who knowingly puts the boy and his young female friend in harm's way. Aside from the ridiculousness, supernatural activity is starting to pick up around the world without much notice except for newspaper reporters who seem to reveal the happenings, but never convey enough seriousness to get authorities to take action or even consider conducting investigations into these occurrences. Given all of this, the story is not bad, and the sequels may be better, giving this series a chance to develop into a hit. Egyptian mythology and stories can be intriguing. Many children will pick up this book for that reason alone.

[Love of Hopeless Causes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so impressed I listened to the whole tale with my editor's hat on, waiting for a book party foul: none detected. If someone asked what to study in this age range, I'd recommend this. It does a massive amount of work at breakneck speed when origin tales often bog down.

Granted, I can't much comment on emotional aspect or content choice, since I wasn't reader-listening, I did notice there was an X-files swap of Alex as the feeling character, and Ren as the logic type.

Lot's of payoffs with clear stakes in this adventure tale, well told. Even more so since I have no game knowledge and this falls outside of my typical content choices of Adult Gygaxian Fantasy. Audiobook recommended.

[Natasha Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reseñado en mi blog Nanny Books

El libro de los muertos es la primera novela de la saga Tombquest, tiene una preciosa edición en tapa dura con ilustraciones y una historia ágil y cautivante.

Álex ha estado toda su vida afectado por una extraña enfermedad que le causa dolores crónicos. Nadie sabe exactamente qué es. Pero eso no le impide recorrer el Museo en donde trabaja su madre. Allí tiene una amiga, Ren, que no lo juzga por su lento caminar. Y una obsesión por la exposición de reliquias egipcias.

Con cierta idea de que la historia se parecería a lo que suele escribir Rick Riordan, me preparé para encontrar protagonistas heroicos. Sin embargo, el estilo de Northrop se diferencia rápidamente. Aquí no tenemos semidioses guapos luchando, aquí tenemos preadolescentes comunes aburridos del día a día que se chocan contra algo sobrenatural.

Hay magia, claro que sí. La cultura egipcia cobra vida trayendo todos sus mitos al mundo actual. Muertos que resucitan, escarabajos y escorpiones, poderes extraños, etc. Hay un gran manejo de información que baja para el lector de manera sencilla y prolija. No es necesario tener conocimientos previos de Egipto para entender lo que ocurre en la historia.

"Ellos tienen un culto a la muerte. Y nosotros tenemos un club de lectura."

Una aventura llena de acción, peligro y misterio. Cargada con mucho humor, además. Los personajes se hacen querer rápidamente. Eso siempre es algo bueno. Mi personaje favorito ha sido Álex, no se las da de héroe, no teme mostrar sus inquietudes respecto al problemón en el que se ha metido y siempre tiene algo divertido que decir. De los enemigos mucho no sabemos, seguramente sea una seguidilla de malos, en la eterna lucha entre el bien y el mal, pero eso lo descubriremos en las continaciones.

El libro de los muertos es una novela sencilla, de entretenimiento básico pero efectivo, que logra engancharte y que se puede leer de un tirón. Fluctuando entre lo infantil y lo juvenil, queda muy recomendado para las almas aventureras y amantes de lo mitológico.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had hints of the Mummy but for the younger generation. I know my nephews will have a good time reading this book. Alex and Ren are relatable characters. Even for a girl Ren is cool. I point this out because I myself had no issues with her but boys being boys who are still at the stage of girls are gross, will like her too. They will not find this a girl book but a cool book about Ancient Egypt, fighting the undead, good action, and a fast read. Another thing that I liked about this book is that the author did not use a lot of huge words that are not easy to pronounce or ones that I would have to look up in a dictionary This is important when writing for this age group that you don't talk down to the readers but you also make it in easy and understandable language. There are five books in this series total. This one starts out the series nicely and the next one is sure to delight and have tons more action. Also, you can go online at www.scholastic.com/tombquest and play a game that goes along with this series but building your our tomb and traps.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I started this all like "yaaaay fun, adventure, middle-grade to end my evening!"
And then I realized, "yaaaaay fairly accurate depiction of chronic illness, dying children, and survivors guilt!"

So not what I was expecting. But good! Really exciting, very fast-paced, and good characterization. I especially love Ren. I love how she and Alex understand each other because they've both spent so much of their lives pretending to be something they're not: healthy and clever. Just all around very cool little things that make a huge difference to how the book reads.

The copy I read was 1.) an ARC and so I don't know if it can be registered online, and 2.) not mine, so I didn't bother trying. But I love the idea of the online part of the book. It's a great concept.

Good book, definitely one I'd recommend for my students, and I'm interested to read more of them!

[Lena's Version · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ay, si me hubiera cogido este libro con 11-14 años, lo hubiera disfrutado sobremanera. Aun así, me ha encantado, por que todo el tema mitológico de Egipto me fascina, y ha sido toda una aventura un poco al estilo Percy Jackson pero más infantil. Los protas jovencillos y el ritmo rápido y sin apenas descripciones o detalles más elaborados, a estas alturas, me impide disfrutarlo en su totalidad. Pero tiene buena materia prima para encantar a todos los que se acerquen por primera vez al mundo de la fantasía y mitología literaria.

[Miniikaty · Rating 3 out of 5]

El libro de los muertos nos trae una aventura llena de acción, magia y peligros adentrándose en la civilización egipcia de manera brillante. Un libro que desde lo más pequeños a los mayores puede disfrutar.

Reseña completa: http://letraslibrosymas.blogspot.com....

[Cindy Roa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un libro divertido, que con guuuusto le recomendaría a niños de 10-12 años :) muy del estilo de Percy Jackson, pero con una mitología de la que no había leído mucho, como es el caso de la egipcia. Quedé con el suspenso de seguir las aventuras de Ren y Álex, ¡ya veremos!

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parents need to know that Book of the Dead is the first book in the multimedia TombQuest series. Kids who read the series (five books are planned) can go to the website and do their own tomb quest with a character they create. There also are places on the site to write fan fiction, interact with the author, and chat on the message boards. In this start to the history-adventure series, kids follow the story of Alex, a terminally ill boy whose mother, an Egyptologist at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, uses lost spells from the Book of the Dead to bring Alex back. In the process she unleashes some Egyptian baddies: mummies, scorpions, and evil followers. There's a kidnapping, a few scorpion stings, some dangerous booby traps, and magic fighting. Alex and his friend Ren see lots of small dead animals, get attacked by a giant stinger, and hear that people they don't know have been killed. Although this isn't as thorough a look at Egyptology as Rick Riordan's Kane Chronicles series, it's an accessible introduction, especially for action-loving reluctant readers.



Educational value


A bit of Egyptology 101, with mentions of canopic jars, mummies, what animals mythologically represented (such as the hyena and the scarab beetle), the Book of the Dead, and the Temple of Dendur. Much talk of the Metropolitan Museum in New York City and its exhibits, and one very important fact about scorpions: The small ones, not the big ones, are much more venomous.


Positive messages

Good vs. evil is the main struggle here. The evil forces are put in motion by a mother not able to let go of her dying son, so was what she did good or evil? Not that the book dwells on this much -- it's more focused on loyalty to friends and bravery.


Positive role models

Alex's mom does everything she can to save her son Alex, in the process unleashing evil into the world. Alex and Ren are loyal and brave friends.


Violence & scariness

Alex, the main character, in chronic pain, collapses and nearly dies at the hospital. A boy in Egypt is captured in the night, with no mention of whether he is killed. Alex's mom is kidnapped. Some mentions of human deaths, but the main characters only see a mass grave of small animals. Two people get stung by scorpions that swarm through NYC. Some fighting with magic where air is pulled from a man's lungs and others are brainwashed into hitting another man with tools. Booby traps (knives, a pit), and one murderous mummy with a giant stinger attacks.


Language

Not applicable


This is from commonsensemedia.org



Booklist January 1, 2015 (Vol. 111, No. 9)

Grades 3-6. Northrop kicks off the first in a planned multiplatform series with an exciting adventure rich in Egyptian mythology and magic. Twelve-year-old Alex spends most of his time with his best friend Ren (short for Renata), haunting the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where his mother is an Egyptologist and Ren’s father is head of security. Alex, who has been seriously ill for most of his life, dies, and his mother uses the Egyptian Book of the Dead to restore him. In doing so, she unwittingly opens a door to the afterlife and releases the Death Walkers, evil ancients trapped between life and death. Alex’s mom vanishes, and he and Ren become embroiled in a quest to save her and stop the Death Walkers from destroying the world. Alex and Ren are a brave and engaging pair, wisecracking their way through some frightening situations. Alex and his mother’s devotion to each other is authentic without being overwrought, and Ren’s complicated relationship with her parents adds a refreshing touch of realism. Likely to be a blockbuster.



Kirkus Reviews November 15, 2014

Scholastic launches its latest multiplatform series, this one steeped in ancient Egyptian magic. Twelve-year-old Alex Sennefer is blessed with a mother who would risk everything for him, a best friend, Ren (short for Renata), who accepts him just as he is, and an insatiable hunger for anything having to do with ancient Egypt. It's a good thing that his second home is the famed Metropolitan Museum of Art, where his Egyptologist mother is preparing to open a groundbreaking new exhibition. If only his body would hang on long enough for him to see it. A lifetime of illness catches up with him, and he is pronounced dead by his doctors--but then Alex is suddenly pulled from the brink and awakens to discover he is not only alive, but also healthier than ever. Unfortunately, Alex isn't the only one being given a second chance at life. Almost immediately, he and Ren find themselves in a battle of ancient Egyptian proportions and embroiled in a quest to find his mysteriously missing mother and save the world. Like a preteen Indiana Jones and Lara Croft, Alex and Ren make a compelling duo, and Northrop balances pathos and action effectively to engage readers. Funny and smart, Alex and Ren are excellent companions for this fast-paced and scorpion-filled ride. (Adventure. 8-12)



Publishers Weekly November 24, 2014

Northrop (Surrounded by Sharks) lays the groundwork for his five-book multiplatform TombQuest series, in which a 12-year-old boy and his know-it-all best friend fight immortal Egyptian menaces while readers participate via online games. Alex Sennefer suffers from a mysterious debilitating disease, which his Egyptologist mother cures by using a lost spell from the Book of the Dead. While the spell saves Alex's life, it also brings evil mummies to life and summons a plague of scorpions, among other bizarre events. Using new magical abilities, Alex and his friend Ren attempt to fend off malevolent Death Walkers and the secretive Order, which has abducted Alex's mother, along with the Lost Spells. Their only ally: scholarly Dr. Todtman, part of a group known as the Keepers. The story begins leisurely, as Northrop devotes attention to setup and worldbuilding, before shifting into high gear once the nature of the threat is revealed. If this installment doesn't take full advantage of its Egyptian themes, it remains a fun read with solid action sequences and some gruesome imagery. Ages 8-12. Agent: Sara Crowe, Harvey Klinger. (Jan.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.



School Library Journal November 1, 2014

Gr 4-6-In this opening book of this new multiplatform series, sickly Alex Sennefer knows much about Ancient Egypt because his mom is an expert who works for New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. She and her colleagues have discovered the Lost Spells from the Egyptian Book of the Dead, which are coveted by a dark society of evil, undead Egyptian souls. When Alex's mother uses one of the spells to save his life, she unknowingly sets in motion a global reaction that finds blood raining down in London, undead things rising all over the world, and a scorpion epidemic in New York City. When she and the Spells disappear, Alex, his best friend Ren, and a mysterious scientist must try to find them while working against black magic and ancient evil. The plot moves quickly and will appeal to reluctant readers looking for adventure, danger, and minimal character development. There is also an online game component.-B. Allison Gray, Goleta Public Library, CA (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

[July C. B · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 estrellas.

A veces, leo libros middle grade solamente porque parecen divertidos; este es un claro ejemplo. Esta es una historia super rápida de leer, que me ha sacado de un parón lector. Al principio me recordaba un poco a Percy Jackson, pero las comparaciones terminan enseguida porque la historia se sostiene sola.

La mamá de Alex, que trabaja en un museo egipcio, salvó la vida de su hijo usando un amuleto. Ahora, parece que como consecuencia está ocurriendo una serie de fenómenos extraños alrededor del mundo. Las momias se levantan, los escarabajos invaden las ciudades... y, de alguna manera, Alex puede ser la clave para salvar al mundo.

A mí siempre me ha gustado leer sobre la cultura egipcia, y esta saga se centra en un aspecto fundamental para ellos; los rituales de la muerte, y la vida después de la muerte. Pero no de una forma muy seria. Como ven por la sinopsis, pueden esperar amuletos con poderes místicos y momias levantándose de sus tumbas entre estas páginas.

La narración es en tercera persona, desde el punto de vista de distintos personajes, y me parece un muy buen recurso, ya que te ayuda a comprender las motivaciones de todos los personajes, incluso los villanos, aunque no estén del todo desarrollados por lo corto que es el libro. De los protagonistas, Ren es mi favorita, la adoro y quiero más capítulos desde su perspectiva.

Algo que me resultó muy interesante del libro es una pregunta moral que plantea de forma sutil. La madre de Alex usa los conjuros para salvar a su hijo, porque está desesperada y haría lo que sea por él. Pero esto tiene gravísimas consecuencias. Podemos ver en una escena del comienzo del libro cómo salvarle la vida a Alex costó la vida de otro niño, en cierta manera, y quién sabe a cuántos más. Pero yo no estoy segura de que no haría lo mismo en esa situación.

En fin, si les interesa en lo más mínimo, léanlo. El libro de los muertos es un inicio de saga entretenido, ágil y con personajes carismáticos. Además, la edición en español es preciosa, de tapa dura y con jeroglíficos por todas partes jajaja

[elmarcapaginasbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Reseña completa en: http://elmarcapaginasbooks.blogspot.c...

Alex es un chico de 12 años común y corriente, que a raíz de una enfermedad no puede hacer una vida normal, no va a la escuela, no corre con otros niños, no juega con la pelota, etc, su vida se resume en estar encerrado en su casa o en su defecto, en el museo donde trabaja su madre, por suerte para él, uno de sus empleados tiene una hija llamada Ren con la que comparte una fuerte amistad.

Alex cada vez esta mas enfermo, y a escondidas de su madre toma pastillas que le quitan momentáneamente el dolor, él no quiere preocuparle ni molestarla, en unos días se inaugura una nueva atracción en el museo, ‘’el libro de los muertos’’ se encuentra en el museo y será exhibido, según la cultura egipcia este libro es capaz de traer a la vida personas que ya murieron y esto a nuestro protagonista lo apasiona y lo lleva a investigar, pero una noche un dolor agudo lo deja inconsciente en el suelo, producto de esto es ingresado en un hospital, pero lamentablemente su enfermedad esta muy avanzada y no hay nada que hacer, Alex esta vivo gracias a una maquina que respira por el, su madre, desesperada recurre al ultimo ápice de esperanza, los conjuros del libro de los muertos.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alex is dying and no one knows why. For eleven years Alex has been prodded and poked and had to suffer great pain. Good thing his mother is an archeologist and understands the writing on the scrolls of the Book of the Dead. She will do anything to save her son but when she uses the scrolls she also unleashes the Death Walkers.

But someone takes Alex's mother and together with his best friend Ren, he must try to find her as none of the police seem to be doing anything to do that. Only Ren and Alex and one other see the Stung Man rise and begin to walk again. If they find the Stung Man, Alex knows he will also find his mother.

Is he right?

I thought the book was very cute and obviously written for a preteen which was done very well. This was a nice break from heavier stuff and still suspenseful. Highly recommended for that age group and anyone needing just a cute read. I actually listened to this and thought the reader did a wonderful job of keeping the pace fast.

[Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

just so you all know i finished this book wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
back when i was still in second grade.it was a tiny bit scary, ................................................................................................................................................................................
but..........................................................................................................................................................................
that did NOT stop me from finishing it.it was a great book and i hope you read it. ....................................
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[Josereads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una historia que hubiese disfrutado mucho más siendo un poco más joven, pero aun así la disfrute. El personaje de Alex tiene mucha influencia por Indiana Jones, y Ren sirve de dos formas, para dar humor y es la fiel acompañante de Alex, y es por eso que espero que el los siguientes títulos de la saga ella libere su potencial. Sobre la mitología en sí, le falta mucho, pero mucho, aunque cabe la posibilidad de que mejore más. En pocas palabras en un historia entretenida, fácil de leer y divertida. ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

[aliesha · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first saw this book I was like I’m not going to read it but actually I read it and I loved it I read half of #2. So the book is about a boy that can’t breath very well so he needed his medicine but his mom wasn’t there and so then he did it by himself then later his mom disappeared and so him and some friends are tryin to find where his mom is at and yeah it is a good book hopefully you will read it.

[Aarón Asmat Aranda · Rating 2 out of 5]

*2.5*
Seguramente si lo hubiera leído muchos años atrás me hubiera gustado más. Y no es que me haya gustado poco solo porque es una historia infantil, sino que sentí era bastante aburrido aun siendo infantil. Tienes elementos interesantes, pero creo que el hecho de que un libro sea para un público más "simple" no tiene que hacer que la historia sea tan sosa como esta.
Puntuación neutral para el comienzo de una saga que no creo seguir.

[Yukimaru Hatake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un libro entretenido con una edición preciosa, a ver que tal los siguientes. :D

[Preston · Rating 5 out of 5]

TombQuest was a very interesting book to read. The book always left me wanting to read more. The way Alex learns about his mom’s secret life and where he is from leaves me guessing about what else he doesn’t know. His journey to find the Lost Spells and his mother is full of action and mysteries.
I recommend this book to anyone that loves non-fiction and magic. This story is also a little informative on the Egyptian culture. Alex is using his mom’s ancient scarab to fight the Death walkers that took her. Also, he needs to get a hold of the Lost Spells before they do, or it could be the end of the world. In conclusion, I recommend this book for people of all ages especially if you like to be on the edge of your seat.

[Dayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review also appeared on my blog: Book Addict 24-7

I received a copy via my job in exchange for an honest review

Book of the Dead by Michael Northrop is a fun middle grade novel set in New York City. Though definitely not a mind-twister or a head scratcher, Northrop's latest novel (and first novel in a soon-to-be series) is a lot of fun and slightly reminiscent of other adventurous books that deal with mythology, yet with a unique and curious twist.

Alex, the protagonist, is a sickly child and though we aren't really told what he has (I'm guessing this becomes more clear as the series progresses), we feel for him. Here's a kid who should be running around and being a kid, but is almost crippled by a mysterious illness that basically kills him. The fun of the novel begins when his mother, an egyptologist, takes the situation into her own hands. From the moment Alex wakes up, the world he knows is completely changed and our adventure begins.

I found myself drawn to this book because it looked like a great, light read full of adventure. I loved the pacing and how the storyline is more action-driven than anything else. Northrop remains true to the story by focusing mainly on the mystery at hand and the creepiness of the situation. For example, there's a passage that shows the darkness of Northrop's prose: "He may not consume your bodies...but he will certainly take your souls" (Northrop). It even made me think of how much middle grade books have changed. It's like the veil between what kids perceive as violence and what adults perceive as violence is slowly being lifted. I'm an adult and I was a bit spooked.

While the action is definitely a huge appeal, I did find myself feeling a bit old while reading this. Yes, I know that this is a 9-12 novel, but sometimes the descriptive tone kind of clashed with the characters' dialogue. The tone felt youngish and out of place in such a dark world. It was like Northrop was taking an older teen story and occasionally remembered that this was actually for a younger demographic.

Other than the occasional slip in tone, I really did enjoy this book. The mystery was fun and light and the conclusion gave us some closure, while still leaving the possibility for a fun sequel.

I would recommend this to readers looking for a light adventure set in NYC. If you liked Rick RIordan, you might like this one, since it's like a light version of Percy Jackson in a much smaller package.

Happy reading!

[Erik This Kid Reviews Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synopsis: You know that life isn’t good when you’re 12 and you’re gonna die. The doctors don’t know what disease you have and they can’t help you. That’s Alex Sennefer’s life. That is, until his archaeologist/museum curator mom (think Indiana Jones – she works for the Metropolitan Museum of Art) finds the Lost Spells of the Egyptian Book of the Dead, and uses it to bring Alex back from the dead (he had been dead for 10 seconds). Great, right? Well now a bunch of strange stuff is going on – museum mummies changing positions, strange weather patterns – and an ancient cult rising. The Death Walkers threaten everything in the world and Alex (and his best friend, Ren (who is a girl)) have to stop them.

What I Liked: This is a great start to a new series. There are 5 books planned for the series with the last one being published in March or April of 2016. Unlike Scholastic’s other multiplatform series, Tombquest will be written by just Mr. Northrop (the other series have different authors writing different books). Multiplatform means there is an online game to go with the books. I think that’s cool and a way to bring kids into reading when they may not be so interested in reading. Mr. Northrop really built up a great story. Alex is a great character, and Ren really reminds me of one of my classmates. The beginning of the book is a bit tense because Alex is always sick, but it builds up for the adventure that is going to happen. The book is non-stop action-packed. The dialogue was hilarious and very realistic. Plus, the online game for it is really cool!

The game is easy to use and appropriate for kids. It requires a Scholastic account (free to sign up for). I think it would have been better to have an example of the game on the main page so kids and parents could read what it is about before signing into it, but that’s only a minor point. The graphics are very cool. You can build your own tomb and raid others’. It is a nice compliment to the book.

I like how there are lots of little touches in the book – like the chapters are numbered with Egyptian numbers and there is an Egyptian alphabet in the back of the book. Mr. Northrop wrote a great adventure with a satisfying ending but left a ton of questions and plenty to write about in the next book. I am looking forward to the next adventure!

*NOTE* I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Karissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Tombquest series. This series is “designed” by the same people who worked on the Infinity Ring series and the Spirit Animals series. I have read some of the Spirit Animals books and they weren’t my favorite. However, I kept picking this book up and looking at it and finally decided to get it when I saw it at my son’s book fair at school. There are five books planned for this series and they will all be written by Northrop.

Eleven year old Alex has suffered from sickness his whole life and it’s getting worse. After a horrible attack the doctors are worried he won’t recover. That’s when his mom, who is an Egyptologist, uses one of the Lost Spells from the Book of the Dead to save him. Unfortunately she unlocks a doorway that does more than save Alex’s life. Now strange things are happening all over the world and Alex’s mom has disappeared. Alex will stop at nothing to save her.

I really enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I was going to. There is a lot of mystery in here, some creepy parts, some good action, and some magic. I really enjoyed it all. The book was fast-paced and easy to read.

I liked Alex as a character and wanted to know more about his illness. After his mom uses the Lost Spells on him he starts gaining endurance and this leaves the reader wondering what else about Alex will change as the series continues.

I loved that him and his mother have an open and loving relationship. I also enjoyed the friendship between him and Ren. Ren was another fun character, she is a girl and has a lot of spunk. I enjoyed that there was both a main boy and girl character; this makes the story accessible and fun for both genders.

The plot was well done, pretty much the story is just getting started here. I loved the Egyptian mythology throughout too. The story is exciting and fast-paced and was easy to engage with. I gave it to my 8 year old son and he is reading it now, so we will see what he thinks.

We have not checked out the game yet, but plan to in a few weeks when we are moved into our new house.

Overall an excellent start to a new series. I thought the book was fast-paced, exciting, and really well done. I thoroughly enjoyed the mythology, the characters, and the plot. I can’t wait to read the second book in the series, Amulet Keepers. Recommended to those who enjoy mysteries with some action, mythology, and magic.