Beth’s Reviews > The Gypsy Game > Status Update

4. As the MC of the first book puts it, “What I think is — it’s just too depressing.”

3. So what the reader is left with is a rather uncompelling and drawn out plot without imagination games or much fun.

I wanted a sequel to The Egypt Game. This isn’t it. Even if it was a separate stand alone book I wouldn’t care for it, but given that it’s supposed to be a continuation of a story I loved, it really falls flat.

2. In the first place, it’s a bait and switch. There is no “Gypsy game.” I won’t go into details in case you want to read for yourself.

The broad reason why is a very good one: in doing research for their make-believe, the kids learn about what life was really like for the real life Romani people. The book doesn’t shy away from it (in a kid-appropriate manner). It isn’t good for a “game.” At all.

1. So the first book was one of my favorites as a child. A group of kids hanging out in a vacant yard, pretending to be ancient Egyptians, making stuff up, acting things out. Loved it. I remembered that the sequel was nowhere near as good, but couldn’t remember why. Well, now I’ve reread both as an adult, and…Wow.